If you’re working with Maya, the high-power 3D rendering tool by Alias Systems, there might be some new things to add to your holiday wish-list. Alias has released six new learning tools, and since they are targeted at three different groups of Maya users, there’s something for everyone.
For the new Maya user comes two new DVD titles: Maya 5 Beginner’s Guide | Rendering, and Maya 5 Beginner’s Guide | Dynamics. Both priced at US$34.99, the guides complete the company’s series of introductory training tools, each aimed a different facet of the application.
Game developers meanwhile can learn from two new titles, both by LucasArts game development experts. Maya Techniques | Character Articulation for Games authored by Jeremie Talbot and Maya Techniques | Developing an Environment Toolkit by Nathan Martz each retail for $129.99 and both provide information on real world game development.
For the film and production expert there are also two new titles. Maya Techniques |Flow Workflows includes techniques and footage from Tom Kluyskens of Weta Digital, the production company that brought “Lord of the Rings” to the big screen. This $129.99 title will be available December 9, 2003. Meanwhile, Maya Techniques | Previsualization (also $129.99) comes from Pepe Valencia and Dan Ziegler of Sony Picture Imageworks, and discusses the increasingly popular topic of previsualization.
These new learning tools, as well as the dozens of existing tutorial products are available on the company’s Web site.