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I have never used Maya. I think I recieved the e-mail because I am the Network Systems & Software Package Distr. at work (a k-12 schoold district). I'm usually asked to evaluate software, and participate in future budgeting projections.

We have been using AutoCad for the past few years. I still haven't created zen install pkgs. for all of the included software like inventor, and a few other discs. The latest version annoyed me, as they went to a USB Dongle approach to validate software. Not a great thing for us to leave plugged into a lab. I just hate dongels.

A few of the CAD design students actually prefer to use blender, which makes sense. As they use it at home. These students are pretty advanced modelers, and some of their work would be on par with some of our talented people here. I got the free DBC for schools installed, still trying to get the administration to purchase licenses for DBpro for the student computers. Although currently DB is not part of the curriculum, students work on it in groups during free periods, lunch, study hall, and after school where I stay after and monitor the lab.

So since I have most of the summer (I am off this year for summer, working out some medical issues) I have time to test out some software, like this Maya Personal Learning Edition.

Any help in guding me how to get the most out of Maya trial would be appreciated? I just don't know anything about how Maya differs from other modelers. What is the Ups & Downs? Just the basics I guess, that will give me a direction to look at.

there are heaps of tutes around.

this is a good repository

http://www.learning-maya.com/23-0-modeling-tutorials.html
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/tutorials/


get used to the spacebar menu system its great once you get the hang of it.

Thanks indi, you are always helping me. I really regret my attitude when I came back to the boards. Your willingness to give information to everyone is great.

"Ramble On..."

its all good mate, I was just being silly in that photo, Im actually a lot kinder then that photo suggests. but yeah I have my moments like anyone else

http://www.thehobbitguy.com <- you'll end up using this form of modeling most, although not to the same detail level heh

I've recently being using spline-poly modeling more for vehicles, as doing them a reasonable polycount for modern games isn't as simple as it was 5years ago when you had budgets of 1,500 heh

Unfortunately there aren't many tutorials for this in Maya online, only Max which is bizzare as it's quite a good form of modeling for those who like to 3D sketch more. best part of doing it that way is the scalability really of the polygon output using a mesh-cage.

think the main difference you'll find over Max is the viewport gadget (damn useful for never having to really leave perspective 3d mode), and the main controls. much much much better polygon tools too (imo).

if you load it up, you'll have some tutorial videos that get you into the absolute basics of development. only thing that irritates me about the newest builds is they've changed the object creation from click and a standard 1.0, 1.0, 1.0 of the object appearing; now you have to manually drag the size to create. PLE is too distracting to use in non-wireframe modes due to the watermark. imo is totally overkill as they could simply hook to the "print screen" button, and take a watermarked image if it's used rather than perminantly have it on.