Learning Maya 5: Rendering

New for Maya 5!
Updated from the popular Learning Maya | Rendering, this book will teach you what you need to know when using the Maya rendering engine and mental ray for Maya. You'll learn to take advantage of options new in Maya 5, such as Hardware and Vector Rendering. Get the information you need to master Caustics and Global Illumination, Final Gather and HDRI. Learning Maya 5 | Rendering includes an inspiring photo gallery of images rendered in Maya and mental ray® for Maya so you can see the types of results you'll learn to achieve.

Features:
This book will allow you to explore lighting, cameras, shading networks, and other rendering issues from an introductory level and will also allow you to explore advanced concepts in a comfortable format. Each topic is explored in both theory and practice so that you'll not only understand the concepts presented, you'll be able to complete easy-to-follow step-by-step tutorials. In addition, you'll take advantage of valuable chapter-by-chapter overviews provided in QuickTime® format on DVD-ROM. Offered by one of the book's contributors, Cathy McGinnis, an Alias|Wavefront™ Certified Instructor, these helpful movies will allow you to gain additional insight as you work through the book.

With this books you will:

• Create materials and textures.
• Set up lights and cameras.
• Work with shadows and raytracing.
• Learn to control your renders.
• Understand rendering for special effects and compositing.
• Explore Hardware Rendering and vector Rendering.
• Create Caustics and Global Illumination effects.
• Understand Final Gather and HDRI techniques.
• Create Maya and mental ray Shaders.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Learning Maya 5 | Rendering
INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1: Materials
IPR
UNDERSTANDING SHADING NETWORKS
MATERIALS
SUMMARY

Chapter 2: Textures
LAYERED TEXTURE
TEXTURING ISSUES FOR ANIMATION
FILE TEXTURE FILTERING
DISPLACEMENT MAPPING
MENTAL RAY FOR MAYA TEXTURING
SUMMARY

Chapter 3: Lighting
LIGHTING CONCEPTS
LIGHT LINKING
LIGHTS IN MENTAL RAY FOR MAYA
SUMMARY

Chapter 4: Cameras
CAMERA BASICS
ADVANCED CAMERA ATTRIBUTES
MATCHING LIVE ACTION
CLIPPING PLANES
MENTAL RAY FOR MAYA CAMERAS
SUMMARY

Chapter 5: Shadows
SHADOWS
MAYA'S DEPTH MAP SHADOWS
DEPTH MAP SHADOW DETAILS FOR EACH LIGHT TYPE
RAYTRACED SHADOWS
MENTAL RAY FOR MAYA'S SHADOW MAPS
MENTAL RAY FOR MAYA'S RAYTRACED SHADOWS
SUMMARY

Chapter 6: Raytracing
SUMMARY

Chapter 7: Controlling Renders
ANTI-ALIASING
TESSELLATION
SUMMARY

Chapter 8: SFX and Compositing
LIGHT EFFECTS IN MAYA
DEPTH OF FIELD
MOTION BLUR
MENTAL RAY FOR MAYA MOTION BLUR
SUMMARY

Chapter 9: Hardware Rendering

Chapter 10: Vector Rendering
BITMAP FORMAT VS. VECTOR FORMAT
RENDER GLOBALS
EXERCISE: CHARACTER OUTLINE
EXERCISE: WORKING WITH FILLS
EXAMPLE: WORKING WITH RENDER LAYERS
SUMMARY

Chapter 12: Final Gather & HDRI
HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE IMAGING
SUMMARY

Chapter 13: mental ray® Shaders
INTRODUCTION
SUMMARY