In this book you will learn all of the basics required to rig any character in Maya. The book covers everything from joints to wires, from the connection editor to pruning small weights. With over 30 example files, 200 images, and countless step by step tutorials, you will be shown exactly how to rig a foot and leg, a hand, and much more. The thing that separates this book from the competition is answering the question of "Why?." The book covers exactly what is a gimbal lock and how do you avoid it? What axis should you use as your primary one? How do I add an influence object to fix a rig already in progress and why would I use a joint in some cases? Knowing why things are done the way they are will allow you to innovate and create new rigs. Knowing why will allow you to troubleshoot someone else's rig, and progress far beyond being a beginner. This book will help the beginner build a solid foundation and is a great addition for any character rigger using Maya. Proceeds donated to charity.

In this book, you will learn how to create musculature for your characters that simulates sliding skin and flesh, while maintaining speed for animation. You will learn several tricks to create your own muscles, tendons, and more that do not require simulation and baking time. Starting from examining your forearm and hand, TJ Galda will go in depth on the usage and explanation of weight painting to maximize your efficiency. From there, we will progress into advanced rigging techniques including rigging with muscles, allowing for squash and stretch, writing custom expressions to account for various predictable anatomical phenomena and a variety of other advanced topics. These techniques have been utilized in several feature films and are based on a solid understanding of anatomy and Maya(R) software. You will also learn alternatives to dynamic musculature solutions and leave with a variety of options.