Here’s an example of the space scene with finished animation
Animation Basics
Maya: Animation
Info
This page goes trhough some important fundamentals in regards to animating in Maya. I’ve included a space scene here to play with, but the videos go through the basic elements of aniamting in Maya.
Contents (0:12hr)
1.1 – Space Scene Animation
2.1 – Native Browser
2.2 – Maya Preferences
2.3 – Changing Framerate
2.4 – Setting Keys
2.5 – Channel Box Slider
2.6 – Moving Keys
2.7 – Graph Editor Navigation
2.8 – Graph Moving Keys
2.9 – Animation Tangents
2.10 – Recovering UI Elements
Instructor
Andrew Silke
Scene File Example (0 mins)
Video 1.1: Basic Animation with the Space Scene (0:11 mins)
[iframely]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-8AM_SXPFw[/iframely]
Video Notes
Animation Week 1
**Some videos are best viewed in HD, you can change the settings to HD in each video as view fullscreen to see the detail.
Scene Files
MayaSpaceship Project Files zipped
Instructions
1. Set your project directory to MayaSpaceship
2. Open 01_AnimStart.mb
3. 02_AnimComplete.mb is an example of a finished scene with animation
Animation basics in Maya (11 mins)
The following videos cover animation basics in Maya
Video 2.1: Switch to native OS File Browser in Maya (0:22 mins)
[iframely]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6are0cd1fUw[/iframely]
Video Notes
Class Notes
Setting Preferences
Opening with the native MacOS window settings
Window > Settings/Preferences > Preferences > Files Projects > File Dialog > OS Native = On
Video 2.2: Animation Preferences in Maya (0:15 mins)
[iframely]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erOwA4Qla9w[/iframely]
Video Notes
Animation Settings for things like fcurve defaults
Window > Settings/Preferences > Preferences > Animation
Video 2.3: Changing the Framerate in Maya (0:18 mins)
[iframely]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IppBH1ffkaQ[/iframely]
Video Notes
Changing the Frame Rate (FPS)
We’ll be working in 25fps after this week.
Window > Settings/Preferences > Preferences > Settings > Time > PAL (25fps)
Video 2.4: Setting Key Frames (0:32 mins)
[iframely]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30wvL_kcD_o[/iframely]
Video Notes
Setting Keys
Set key for translate = shift w
Set Key for Rotation = shift e
Set Key for Scale = shift r
Set key for all = s
Set Key for one attribute = (right click on attribute name in the channel box) right click set key
Video 2.5: Channel Box Slider (0:41 mins)
[iframely]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APweFQajtIA[/iframely]
Video Notes
Using the Channel Box as a slider
Click on the attribute name in the channel box.
– middle click drag in the 3d window.
– shift makes it go faste
– ctrl makes it go slower
Video 2.6: Moving Keys in The Time Slider (0:59 mins)
[iframely]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfLz-QHbYU8[/iframely]
Video Notes
Moving Keys in the Time Slider
To select in the time slider.
– Hold down shift and click on the key
– Hold down shift and click drag over many keys
To move
Click in the middle of the red area and drag
To Scale
Click on the tiny arrows at each end of the red selection, drag out to scale.
Video 2.7: Navigating The Graph Editor (1:30 mins)
[iframely]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPFX4H9wsPs[/iframely]
Video Notes
Navigating the Graph Editor
In the graph editor you navigate like other 3d windows.
pan = hold alt, middle click drag
zoom = hold alt, right click drag
To zoom on one axis = hold alt and shift then right click drag (in the desired direction)
Video 2.8: Moving, Scaling and Snapping Keys in the graph editor in Maya (3:22 mins)
[iframely]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdmWZUM-uL0[/iframely]
Video Notes
Moving Scaling And Snapping Keys in the Graph Editor
Move Keys
Select the move tool = w
Move = middle click drag
Move Keys on One Axis
Select the move tool = w
Move = hold shift and middle click drag in a direction
Numerical Move
Select the time number input area at the top of the graph editor. Make sure you highlight the number for either time or value. Type the following
To Add 10: +=10
To Subtract 10: -=10
Scale keys
Select the move tool = r
Scale = middle click drag
Scale Keys on One Axis
Select the scale tool = r
Scale = hold shift and middle click drag in a direction
Numerical Scale
graph editor > edit > scale (option box)
To Snap Keys
graph editor > Edit > Snap
or
click the time snap icon (a magnet) or value snap icon (a magnet)
and move the keys a little, they will snap into place.
Video 2.9: The Animation Tangents (3:19 mins)
[iframely]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKXX6EoLSjQ[/iframely]
Video Notes
Tangent Types
There’s a few tangent types in Maya the main ones are
– Auto (Automatically tries to be smart about what your tangents should do)
– Spline (tangent point or average the next and previous keys)
– Linear (straight lines)
– Flat (flattens all the tangents)
– Stepped (for animatic and storyboard like animation, or on/off animation)
Video 2.10: Recovering Time and Range Sliders in Maya (0:39 mins)
[iframely]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRKrv1cQQ8A[/iframely]
Video Notes
How to show the Time Slider and Range Slider
If you loose the Time Slider or Range Slider
– Right click on the dotted grey area next to any toolbar. Click on
– Time Slider or Range Slider