Parting Thoughts

table of contents

As you move forward from this book, we would like to offer you the advice of Maya artists in production settings. This advice might give you some understanding of the attitude and style of professionals who create art for a living.

On Techniques

Production animators at large studios usually work in teams of three or more. A philosophy of sharing techniques and supporting fellow animators pervades most successful studios . Some typical comments:

"You don't really know a technique until you've done it in a production setting. Several times!"

"Always be looking to improve, not only as a software user but as an artist. Inspiration can come from unlikely sources."

"Learn from everyone, and be ready to return the favor."

"Don't hoard your knowledge! Share with all those around you. It will benefit the project, and you will gain respect among your peers."

"Reference is a valuable thing. Don't have so much pride to think you don't need reference materials. It will save you time and sanity . Besides, it's always nice to show your supervisors that it really does look that way when they say 'But it doesn't look enough like a tree '"

"Ask questions when you don't understand. There's no shame in not knowing every facet of the software."

"Don't always ask the Maya gurus. Occasionally, ask newer animators, too. They'll often present a unique spin on the issue that lets you see the problem from a different angle, and sometimes it's the angle you need to solve the problem."

"There is nearly always a faster, easier way. Look for it."

"In your down time, look for different ways to get things done. Faster isn't always better, and finding new ways to do things can spark new processes and creative methods for later use."

On Starting a Career in Animation

Starting a career as a professional computer animator is something of a hurdle . Aspiring animators are judged by their past work and attitude. The studio might be willing to accept some shortcomings, but in general they hire only artists who can begin producing on the first day. Some comments on the subject:

"Get apprentice work any way you can. Student and personal work is looked on very differently from production work that included an actual client and deadline. Work for free at first, if necessary, and find clients from any market that would benefit from animation."

"Study the trades (trade magazines such as Computer Graphics World and Cinefex ) until you understand the business well enough to just skim them for relevant detail instead of having to read everything line by line to understand it."

"Once you've entered into the industry, help others the same way you were helped. It's a small industry and good talent moves quickly."

"See and be seen, show up at any industry events you are able to get yourself into, and introduce yourself casually."

"Admit your skill boundaries when you begin professionally. There's a tendency in new animators to overextend themselves and promise too much, too soon."

"Don't miss deadlines. Don't commit to deadlines you are likely to miss ."

Going Further

This book has presented many variations and ideas on the main tutorial scene with a spooky house and a creature who lives there. Develop a variation on this theme (a character and the character's environment) as a personal project, and use the techniques you have learned to build a complex project of your own.

Use the final, rendered movies of these projects to solicit some low-stress production work ”perhaps a spinning logo for a Web site or a clever graphic that a charity could use in its publications . Use your network of friends and family to find a group or business that could benefit from your animation skills, but will not demand perfection or hold you to an early deadline.

Join the online Maya community and interact.



Maya 4. 5 Fundamentals
Maya 4.5 Fundamentals
ISBN: 0735713278
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 201

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