An Essential Introduction to Maya Character Rigging with DVD

Contents: Introduction
An overview of the interface
Setting User Preferences
Setting Up your projects and scene files

Chapter 1 Designing your first Biped Character
Former Student Spotlight
Points to Consider
Workflow Discussion
Creating a Character Sheet
Bringing your Character Sheet into Maya for reference

Chapter 2 Creating your first Biped Character Modeling Basics
Former Student Spotlight
Points to Consider
Workflow Discussion
Modeling Tools in Maya
Layers
Selection Masking
Snapping
Freezing Transformations
Using Construction History
Hypergraph and Outliner
Simple Nurbs Modeling in Maya
Simple Polygon Modeling
Modeling Simple Eyes

Chapter 3 Creating your first Biped Character Facial Expressions
Former Student Spotlight
Points to Consider
Workflow Discussion
Blend Shapes in Maya
Helpful Hints for Common Problems with Blendshapes

Chapter 4 Creating your first Biped Character Texturing Basics
Former Student Spotlight
Points to Consider
Workflow Discussion
The Hypershade
Maya's 3D paint tool

Chapter 5 Skeleton setup for a Biped Character Joint Placement
Former Student Spotlight
Points to Consider
Setting up your Work Area
Workflow Discussion
Place Joints
Helpful Hints for Common Problems (Troubleshooting)
Leg skeleton
Backbone, neck, and head
Arms and shoulders
Hands

Chapter 6 Control Rig setup for a Biped Character - IK and FK
Former Student Spotlight
Points to Consider
Workflow Discussion
Helpful Hints for Common Problems with Inverse Kinematics and Forward Kinematics
Section 1 Legs and Feet
IK in your Character's Legs and Feet
Building a Hierarchy for greater control
Set Driven Keys and the Connection Editor
Section 2 Arms and Hands
FK in your Character's Arms and Hands
IK in your Character's Arms and Hands
Constraints
IK/FK blend system in Maya
Traditional IK/FK multi skeleton setup
Section 3 Spine
Section 4 Tails, ears, and other things that move

Chapter 7 Wrapping up the setup
Former Student Spotlight
Controlling the eyes
Controlling the neck
Controlling the jaw
Controlling the blendshapes
Creating the main character control
Creating the RIG controller for positioning and scalability
Cleaning up the Character Controls
Adding expressions for automated motion.
Adding a switch to turn off the expressions.
Using Character Sets

Chapter 8 Skinning your Character
Former Student Spotlight
Points to Consider
Workflow Discussion
Helpful Hints for Common Problems with Binding Skin
Smooth Bind
Editing Weights
Influence Objects

Chapter 9 Quadruped Characters
Former Student Spotlight
Points to Consider
Workflow Discussion
Helpful Hints for Common Problems

Appendix

Workflow Checklist
Rigging Checklist
Trouble Shooting Common Problems

DVD
Sample student work
Models
Tutorial assets

Intstructor's manual:
Chapter tests and answer banks.
Sample files for instructional use