Modeling Next-Gen Characters in Maya
Learn critical modeling techniques and a production workflow for creating clean topology, working within polygon restrictions, and building from reference art. Software required: Maya 2008 and up.
What you'll learn
Learn critical modeling techniques and a production workflow for creating clean topology, working within polygon restrictions, and building from reference art. Contains over 5 hours of project-based training for artists learning the creative processes of modeling characters for next-generation games. Popular highlights include: Blocking-in Form; Primitive Modeling; Adding Muscle Definition; Modeling in Symmetry; Working within Polygon Budgets; Checking Silhouettes for Appeal; Critiquing Models with Paint-overs; Creating Efficient Geometry; Reducing Model Resolution Manually; Strategically Adding Detail; Creating the Illusion of Detail; Building to Reference Art; Checking Models at Multiple Scales; Creating Useful Topology; Simplifying Shapes; Working with Multiple Pieces; Extruding Geometry to Add Detail; Building Tubes and Pipes with Curves; Combining Vertices with Merge; Quickly Adding Geometry with Bridge Tool. Software required: Maya 2008 and up.
Table of contents
- Blocking in the Torso / Armor 12m
- Blocking in the Head and Arms 10m
- Blocking in the Lower Body 12m
- Breaking up the Upper Armor 11m
- Finishing the Upper Armor Pieces 13m
- Detailing the Head 11m
- Adding More Detail to the Head 10m
- Finishing the Head 12m
- Adding Hero Tubes to the Head 11m
- Creating Secondary Tubes 9m
- Detailing an Arm and Duplicating 6m
- Detailing the Arm Band 8m
- Beginning the Hand and Adding Fingers 12m
- Finishing the Hand 8m
- Adding the Glove Armor 6m
- Adding Shoulder Guards 8m
- Detailing the Abdomen 9m
- Modeling the Pelvis 7m
- Detailing the Leg 9m
- Adding Thigh and Knee Plates 12m
- Building the Lower Leg Armor 13m
- Building the Boot 11m
- Detailing the Boot 12m
- Starting the Gun 10m
- Integrating the Gun into the Arm 11m
- Finishing the Gun 13m
- Adding Final Details 15m
- Checking and Reducing Polygon Count Manually 14m
- Using Maya's Polygon Reduction Tool 5m
- Checking Your Model Using Paint-overs 5m
About the author
Justin thrives as a lead modeling author at Pluralsight. Growing up, Justin found a deep interest for the computer graphics industry after watching movies like Jurassic Park, Toy Story, and The Abyss. His ambition would lead him to work at Sony Imageworks in Los Angeles on movies like Monster House and Surf's Up. Justin has also had numerous articles, tutorials, and images published in 3D World and 3D Artist. As an author, Justin enjoys collaborating with fellow authors, especially on project... more