Maya Notes

 How to navigate and use the Maya interface

Use CREATE menu to insert a 3D text to help navigate the interface using the 3 buttons of the mouse.

 Orbit the view port >Alt+leftmouse button

 Pan the view port > Alt+wheel
 Zoom > Alt+Rightmouse

F- Key Zooms to the Frame to focus on the object

Using the 3D objects in space instead of moving the camera

Keys used include the commands found on the Toolbox

 Objects in Maya have 3 coordinates. X,Y and Z

 The channel box this list 3D basic parameters space

Move-(W)- Transform Gizmo gives the pivot point of where the object is displayed/positioned on my
screen the 3 arrows rep the direction of movement against x,y & Z (confirm the changes on the channel
box) Ctrl+Z for Undoing the Moves except Camera moves

 Gizmo allows other movements that affects more than one plane ie both the x and y plane
together by either clicking on the red, green, blue, or icon (Plane constrains) that allows
to constrain movement into different direction on the plane (confirm the changes on the
channel box)
 The little box at the junction of the gizmo allows a parallel movement of the object against the
camera it affects all the 3 directions

Explain using a diagram (Greece pencil)

 You can as well type the values directly into the channel box e.g. +10 or -10 against any of the 3
axis
 You can select any of the transformation on the channel box and use the wheel/middle mouse
button to move on the viewport to move the object. NB this also allows you to go back to the
origin of the object if you have run out of the undo options. To do this select the 3 translate
boxes and type 0 then Enter
 To change the size of the transform gizmo press on the + button and – button to reduce on the
same.

Rotate-(E)- similar to Move but a little bit different allow to rotate an object on the 3D space red (x),

Yellow (y) and Green (Z).

Scale-(R)- used for changing the size of an object

 The junction box allows you to scale an object proportionately affecting all the 3 axis together.
  Using one axis will stretch or squash the object only on the direction

NB learn to master the shortcut Keys from the Keyboard R G B = X Y Z

 Saving in Maya

Create a folder for Your work so as to allow Maya to save the work as a project.

 File > Project Window >New folder > Location.

 File > Save scene As > Name.0001 > increment and save.

 Manipulating Object

Attribute editor stores specific properties of the selected object use Ctrl+ A to access the same

Properties are placed on the Nodes

 EXPERIMENT using Type1 Node