3D Animation & Data Visualization in Autodesk Maya

Create 12 data point spheres in Maya by duplicating along the x axis, then map monthly values by translating Y with an expression. Compare the result to a spreadsheet graph.

Master rigging a curve in Maya by isolating it in the outliner, selecting control vertices, and creating clusters to parent with spheres, so the tube follows the curve during animation.

Learn to animate in Maya using a line graph rig, quickly select clusters by name, organize with display layers, and key translate Y at 24 frames per second.

Learn to create a springy bounce in Maya by adding new keyframes, offsetting frames, and refining timing with the graph editor for smooth, appealing motion.

In Maya, model a chart background with x and y axes, bevel edges, and snap vertices, then duplicate and rotate components to align a clean, rounded backdrop.

Create month labels in Maya with the text tool and type attribute node. Adjust font size and alignment, and position on the grid.

Assign new materials to the background using a blen shader, then switch to Lambert and adjust color with RGB values and HSV through Hypershade.

Add lights and grids, duplicate and align objects with the grid, adjust scale, and set ambient and directional lighting; then render a playblast to preview framing.

Animate a render cam in Maya, set framing with auto keying, then export a playblast as an image sequence or QuickTime movie with a transparent background.

Import an image sequence from Maya into After Effects, set 24 fps, apply a subtract mask and vignette, extend duration, add a time-freeze hold, and render with H.264.

Isolate the red balls with key light, composite into one layer, and apply an alpha inverted matte glow in After Effects to enhance a line chart visualization in Maya.

Create a six-bar bar graph in Maya, focusing on render quality with lights, shading, and materials; bevel edges, duplicate bars, set pivots, and prepare an infinity background for animation.

Execute bar animation and lattice adjustments in Maya by aligning to a grid, tweaking grid increments and colors, and using auto keyframe to reset and set keyframes.

Explore how the dope sheet and scene summary offset keyframes, delaying the bars by 50 frames and six-frame steps, then preview the camera view and render.

Learn to add materials in Maya using Arnold's standard surface, assign a background and bars, adjust bevels, and prepare for lighting in the next lesson.

Explore lighting in Maya using Arnold, combining directional and mesh lights to create a moody rim light; adjust exposure, color, specular, roughness, and add fill to reveal the front.

Create a back room light in Maya, adjust exposure and color, and use Arnold emission to improve the render; add a fractal-based bump map to the floor for subtle roughness.

Add text in maya to create a bar graph, duplicate elements, apply a white surface shader, and align with the grid before prepping a camera move for the next lesson.

Set up the project, name the render sequence, and configure a 200-frame HD render with name.number.extension, using Arnold, to manage noise via sampling adjustments and note render time implications.

Import an image sequence, set 32-bit color, and refine bar graph visuals in After Effects. Animate text, apply glow with an inverted alpha matte, and optimize rendering for Maya.

Start with a square, scale and bend it into a circle to build a 100 percent pie chart base in Maya, using subdivisions, edge loops, smoothing, lighting, and shading.

Clean and standardize a template rig in maya by centering the pivot and using a parent constraint with maintain offset to keep the handle attached while duplicating for reuse.

Duplicate the entire rig with its geometry using duplicate special to create independent copies, assign unique names to child nodes, and preserve the input graph for each copy’s own percentages.

Position a pie chart by rotating pieces along the y axis with the manipulator, using middle mouse drag, and adjust y scales to show segments and prep for animation.

Animate a three-piece pie chart in Maya by keyframing z rotation and visibility to fan out from the largest piece, with counter-keying for a smooth domino effect.

Color a pie chart, build a readable legend with Arnold standard shaders, and add text labels that stay facing the camera using an aim constraint.

Adjust the pie chart animation by centering the pivot, animating text and lines, and offsetting keyframes in Maya, then refine with camera framing, lighting, materials, and render setup.

Create a glass-like material in Maya using Arnold by tuning transmission and RGB color values, and ensure the shape node opaque is off to render transparent glass shadows.

Visualize a 3D map in Maya using displacement height maps driven by grayscale textures, leveraging shading, hyper shade, and Photoshop workflows to finalize the render.

Apply a texture as a displacement map in Maya and adjust subdivisions and iterations for defined height. Reverse the displacement and add lighting to enhance render view.

Learn to clean map borders in Photoshop by selecting borders with color range, expanding the selection, painting on a new layer, and updating textures in Maya with refreshed swatches.

Learn to fix color value discrepancies in Photoshop using color range, expand selections, and brightness adjustments, then export and refresh in Maya to improve borders and height differentiation.

Polish your Maya renders by refining overlay text in Photoshop, tuning shader specular weight to reduce noise, and cleaning edges to improve displacement maps for cleaner lighting and camera moves.

Set up Skydome lights and Arnold render to brighten the scene, animate a camera with keyframes, refine displacement and shadows, and enable ambient occlusion for a polished render.