Learning Autodesk Maya 2008. It looks like a good book from reviews I have read and I would like to start learning 3d Modeling. If anyone has used this book could you answer me just one question...Is it written for a beginner? Or is this more of a reference for someone who knows what they are doing? I couldn't find the answer to that one on my own. If its not a beginner book could someone recommend a maya book that is? Or a 3Ds max book as I have access to both programs. I always like to hear from people who actually used the books verses an online resource. Thank you for your time :)

I'd get a dvd instead. There are alot of good videos now that show you how to use them programs and will get you started alot faster.
I wish I would've known about them before I started.
I got alot of maya books that are now out of date since I never even got around to reading them. They covered Maya 5 not even sure what version they are on now?


[Edited by - daviangel on February 27, 2008 8:35:12 PM]

Thats a great idea. I should have thought of that earlier *glances at all the photoshop and studio lighting dvds on the shelf from his photography days*

Any dvds anyone recommends? If theyre priced anything like photography dvds I wanna make sure I get a good one before plopping down $300.

Something from Gnomon would probobly be a pretty good thing to go with, they seem quite concise.

Quote: Original post by rian carnarvon
Something from Gnomon would probobly be a pretty good thing to go with, they seem quite concise.

Yeah I had the beginning Maya one by Alex ALVAREZ and man that dude knows Maya like the back of his hand. I didn't think anyone could work that fast in Maya.
Yeah they are expensive but you'll probably learn more than trying to plod through a 1000 page book or going through the manuals.
Anyways you can check out some samples here for yourself.

Those do look good! Theyre alot cheaper then I thought too. I couldnt seem to find a beginner one, Do you recall the name of the beginner dvd?

If you are learning Maya, I would highly recommend the DVD's offered here:
http://www.3dbuzz.com/xcart/home.php

Yeah, don't bother with the books honestly, they are a waste of money.

99% of those books are poorly written and boring, and they explain things that you could find out for free online through tutorials or asking around on websites like CGTalk or Polycount or something.

I had to purchase a couple of them during college while learning animation, never picked them up again after I did the lessons for the class, and they really didn't teach me all that much either. Better to learn by messing around with stuff. ;)