Maya Versions and Flavors

This book covers Maya 7 for Windows and Mac OS X (10.4+). With Maya 7, there's little difference between the Windows and Mac versions, at least in the features covered here. However, whenever a disparity in functionality exists, we'll point it out.

Let's take a closer look at the different flavors of Maya for Windows:

• Maya Complete comes with a full set of modeling tools for working with NURBS, polygons, and subdivision surfaces. It also includes advanced character animation tools, dynamics (the use of physics to simulate real-world forces), and effects. Maya Complete is everything you need to get started doing production work for games, video, and film.

• Maya Unlimited includes all of Maya Complete's tools and features, plus Maya Cloth, Maya Fur, Advanced Modeling Tools, Fluid Dynamics, and Maya Live for Matchmoving.

Because this book is for beginning to intermediate users, it covers only those features and tools found in both versions.

What's new in Maya 7?

Maya 7 boasts improvements in almost all areas, including dozens of minor changes to make the workflow smoother, as well as some new major features in modeling, rendering, and rigging.

Changes of note include greatly improved poly modeling and UV tools, enhanced integration with Photoshop and Illustrator, and more robust hair and fur tools.

Also new in Maya 7 are toon rendering features that allow you to create images with outlines and simple, flat shading. These features allow you create the illusion of hand-drawn images and traditional cel-shaded animations.

Maya 7 now comes with full body inverse kinematics (IK) supporta new IK solver that uses the whole skeleton of the character in resolving any adjustments. Full body IK's strength lies in easily poseable characters and integration with Motion Builder technology.

For a full list of all the new improvements in Maya 7, go to www.alias.com/eng/products-services/maya/new/index.shtml.