Getting to grips with Autodesk Maya

Clearly Maya is a massive programme. Already I've been pulling my hair out trying to grasp even the simplest tasks here. Using the VTC website and youtube for online tutorials has helped me get to grips with the basic tools and controls of Maya (e.g. moving, rotating and scaling objects).

So I understand a little now of how to create basic models and apply textures. But when it comes to animating to create a domino effect I found this site was the most helpful.

http://www.everything4maya.com/index.php?link=tutdynamics&tutname=domino2_001

The site also contains this video. It explains how to create the objects and apply the dynamics to them so that they can interact in the virtual space as real objects.

To start off I created a simple flat surface using the polygon tool and assigned a wooden texture for the surface. I now have my surface for the action to take place!

Next I once again use the polygon tool to create a small domino.

Using the dynamics menu we can give the objects some qualities that will cause them to react together in an animation! First the table needs to be solid, but resist any other objects. For this I assign a 'passive rigid body' to the table. 

Next the domino wants to sit on the table but it will react to the objects around it. So I assign 'active rigid body' and also assign a gravity field to it. When the dominoes are lined up then pushed, this should cause the dominoes to drop!

The domino must be placed close to the tables surface, but not actually touch it. This is important when applying rigid bodies and fields. Place it too close and dominoes could start falling through the table!

This short review explains a little about the use of dynamics within Autodesk Maya 2011.

Then duplicate and line up!

Next I create a ramp for the a ball to roll down and knock the dominoes. First a simple polygon is created to make bar. Its aligned so it points down towards the dominoes. Then duplicate and set up alongside the first half of the ramp. Select the two parts and create 'passive rigid body'.

Next we need a ball to go down the ramp and knock the dominoes over. This is placed at the top of the ramp so that it is just above it, but not touching. Then we can apply 'active rigid body' and 'gravity' to the ball.

I should now be able to see this as an animation. First, the count at the bottom right needs to be set so that it plays enough frames to see the entire animation.

Now we can see it in action!

But there is a problem. The ball simply bounces straight through the duplicated dominoes, only hitting the original domino. It seems the dynamics of the object wont copy for each duplicate and trying to add the dynamics again seems to not work either. So only option now is go back and create the dominoes again and apply the dynamics to them collectively! A template of the domino,without dynamics, can be kept on the side of the work area in case another duplicate is needed. 

The dynamics are a great feature in Maya. So I will be looking more into this once the scene is set!

Moodboards and ideas

The new task requires us to learn Maya, then create a 30-60 second animation based on a domino effect of reactions. These videos are good for refences on how this could be shown as well as images collected into a moodboard.



This video shows a different sort of chain reaction. The matches all light as one is lit in the corner. I like this video as the lighting effect is also very interesting as the matches burn (casting shadows as though it were a forest). Also as the fire dies out the remaining burned matches with the glowing embers is another really cool effect! It might be interesting to experiment with this in maya to create the same lighting effect!

This quick moodboard (created in photoshop) shows a few different variations on dominoes and how their design can be used! I love the stonehenge dominoes and it would be .fun to try to incorporate this idea into the animation somehow!








http://express.howstuffworks.com/autopsy-vending.htm

Then I started to think about other chain reactions that happen everyday in normal circumstances, such as a vending machine. The chain reaction would be from the moment of putting the coin in the machine right up until the item is dispensed from the machine. The link (above) gives a little insight into how a vending machine works. It explains the principles of a vending machine and how it works. This makes it easier to break each action down in understanding the chain reaction.




This video is quite amusing, simply showing how this particular machine works. Its quite interesting, but it only shows the front of the machine. I was hoping more to show the inner workings of the machine and the coins journey.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-a-Mechanical-Vending-Machine-Works&id=3459914

This link gives a useful account of the mechanics. This is what I was hoping to focus on.




This is the only video I could find the inner workings. Other than filming it myself (so far no one is willing to show me the in inside of their machines...hmmm) I have painstakingly studied this video so that I have enough information to recreate the chain reaction!

Digital!!

This new project has us looking at 3D software. In particular, we are looking at Maya. Maya is a massive programme, plus there are many other 3d programmes to choose from. The main aim is to learn the basoc principles for all 3D software.

http://www.autodesk.com/

Maya, 3DS Max and others are all programmes under autodesk. This short video gives a quick talk on how Danger Close studios used Maya and Mudbox for the most recent medal of honour game.



3D is clearly becoming a popular form of animation now. It is almost expected, and most animated films that have recently been released seem to choose this medium.



Some films use the medium to create typical animated characters, but the ability to use different textures and clean looking characters is easy to see why its so popular as it does look very appealing. However it is far from restricted to cartoons and 'legends of the guardians' show us how CG animation can be used for painstaking realism. Disney would be proud!

Assessment presentation

FINAL ANIMATION

This is our final animation! Finished at last!

To see how the film was put together in its entirety check out these blogs of the other group members!

CREDITS

Memoona rehman
http://www.sweetmusic20.wordpress.com/

Horvath Elod
http://www.horvathelod.blogspot.com/

Musawir Hussain
http://www.m-hussain-27.blogspot.com/

Costumes

The scientists needed some coats. I offered to do this on the sewing machine.

I struggled a few times and had to restart a couple of times. But in the end I simply sewed a front and back piece together then cut the front down the middle and hemmed the edges.

The button and pocket details were easily drawn onto the jackets once they were made.

The rest of the characters and armatures can be seen on Memoonas blog:

http://www.sweet-music.blogspot.com

Forest scene

Our original plan was to use an outdoor location for the forest scene, somewhere on the BCU grounds. However, after thinking it over, we realised that this could be more problematic as it would be difficult to capture the frames outside as well as controlling the lighting.




So instead we found a round piece of wood for a base and used a hanging basket inlay for a grass effect. We tried using a green carpet type surface, however this way looked much more believable as grass. Also, when pulled apart it created a great bushy effect. For the trees we collected twigs and branches from bushes outside, which I glued down (with copious amounts of glue using the glue gun) onto the edges of the board.

It was important to leave enough space from above and at various points around the board so that we had a choice of camera angles! One of the concerns was that the live foliage would die or grow brown quickly. We decided to film the forest scenes as early as possible. To combat it for now, the glue had sealed the ends of the twigs and I covered the leaves in a spray varnish. Most of the leaves did droop, but on camera it appeared to still have the desired effect!