Maya Modeling Tutorials

Maya is the most powerful 3D modeling tool that most people are likely to have access to. This video will teach you some basic techniques for creating 3D models in the program by teaching you how to make a chair from scratch. It's not a very exciting chair, sure, but you have ...more

Maya is arcane, complex, but incredibly powerful software. It is the industry standard for 3D modeling in games and film. This video for Maya beginners will teach you how to create a model of an airplane as a means of teaching you a lot of the basics of Maya. It is meant to be ...more

Mastering the intricacies of 3D modeling in Maya can take a lifetime, or as close to a lifetime as anyone has had since Maya came out in. This video for Maya beginners will teach you the basics of modeling by walking you through modeling a toy rooster. The model doesn't look t ...more

The bishop is widely regarded as the most powerful of chess pieces. This video by Andrew Klein will teach you how to make a 3D model of one using Maya. It is meant to help beginners learning the basics of Maya, and focuses on the use of NURBS as part of a 3D model. The previo ...more

If you've found this video, chances are that you are looking to improve your skills using Maya, the 3D modeling software. You've come to the right place. This video will teach you how to create a polygonal model of a hand, one of the most challenging and important parts of the ...more

This lesson shows you how to setup your viewports with reference for modeling in Maya. NOTE: This link is to a Flash version of the first 5 minutes of this 30 minute tutorial. A download link is provided on the veoh.com page for the full WMP tutorial.

In this video tutorial, we learn how to create creases and hard edges in Maya 2011. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this vi ...more

Modeling the human body in any medium is tough. In Maya, the premiere 3D art software, some say that most difficult parts of the whole body to model are the feet and the ears. This seven-part video will help you model the former in great detail. Watch this video on how to mode ...more

This tutorial series shows you how to model anatomy of the human body in Maya and gives specific tips on how to eventually be able to do it from memory. Part one starts with the head, part two the torso, part 3 the legs, part four the foot, part 5 the arm, part 6 attaching the ...more

In this 3D modeling software series you will learn how to model organically with polygons in Maya. For this example, you will learn how to model a dolphin. PART 1: we go over the beginning steps of modeling a dolphin with polygons. We cover how to split the model in half from ...more

Autodesk Maya, affectionately known as just Maya to its users, is a 3D computer graphics software that makes it easy to create impressive, realistic models of real-life - or imagined - objects. Super useful for graphic designers, film makers and web designers, the program is o ...more

Modeling a face using Maya or any other 3D art program is tough to do without having the result end up looking like a zombie. See the film Final Fantasy: The Spirit Within if you don't know what I'm talking about. This six-part video will help you avoid this problem in your ow ...more

Maya can count itself among the most powerful and also most challenging programs in all of computing. It's 3D modeling potential is nearly limitless if you can master its intricacies. This video features a professional digital art teacher teaching you how to model a 3D head us ...more

Pretty much every efficient type of modern vehicle features some sort of suspension to cushion its landings and smooth its ride. This means that modeling a suspension accurately is an important part of creating 3D models of vehicles. This four-part video will teach you how to ...more

Whether you're a Maya (AKA Autodesk Maya) beginner or seasoned veteran, modeling a realistic house using the 3D graphic design software is a great course on how to use your vectors and a variety of Maya tools. Whether you are an interior designer, architect or are just trying ...more

The human skeleton may not be that artistically satisfying by itself, but a good realistic model of one is the basis of much of the most anatomically correct and natural-looking art. This three-part video will teach you how to 3D model a skeleton using Maya, starting with the ...more

Learn how to take an edge and spin it around a model using Maya 2011's Spin Edge tool. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this ...more

In our opinion, human body parts are some of the hardest things an artist can draw. When it comes to parts like hands and ears, we generally settle for a basic, rudimentary rendering because achieving a realistic portrayal seems so hard. If you're looking for quality, though, ...more

A knurl refers to one of a series of small ridges or grooves on the surface or edge of a metal object, such as a thumbscrew, to aid in gripping. In this video tutorial you will learn to model a knurl in Maya. Model a knurl in Maya. Click through to watch this video on vtutoria ...more

For those who aren't familiar with them, knurls (can also be a verb: knurling) are the textured parts on the end of screws and other metal pieces that make them easier to grab. This video will teach you how to use Maya to create 3D models of knurls. You probably won't need too ...more

Tire treads may not seem like a terribly important thing to model properly, but they are intricate and learning how to do it is a valuable experience. This video will walk you through creating a 3D model of a tire tread using Maya, specifically brutalizing a bend deformer.

Looking for a general introduction to NURBS-based modeling? This clip will get you started. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by ...more

This tutorial shows you how to edit primitives, also known as box modeling, to create objects in Maya. This video is geared towards younger students new to Maya.

This tutorial shows the best way to model a human hand with perfect edge flow. Made in Maya but should work great in any package. This is an advanced tutorial so you should be familiar with the software and interface.

A demonstration of how to model a human torso simply and effectively using image planes in Maya. This is a detailed tutorial but it will help if you are familiar with the Maya interface.

3D modeling tool Mayafrom Autodesk is a monster of a program, able to do SO many things. One of the things you'll need to learn is how to use the CV Curve tool. This will allow you to create objects with curves of any shape or dimension you desire. Let's be honest, most of you ...more

Learn how to separate your model based on texture and material in the pre-modeling stages in Zbrush 3.1. This is important for people who hard model in another software and texture in Zbrush.

Learn the most efficient and quick way to model a head with polygonal modeling. The proper edge flow is easy to achieve this way.

Maya is one of the most powerful 3D asset creation programs in the world. It is also fantastically difficult to use. This seven-part video will teach you how to model an interior environment using Maya. All this video covers is modeling, nothing on lighting or any of the other ...more

The female torso is arguably the most popular thing to depict in the history of art. Go figure. This seven-part video will teach you how to create a 3D character model of a female torso using Maya. The creator uses a background image that we could not track down, but you can p ...more

This software tutorial teaches you how to model a basic candle out of polygons in Maya. Polygonal modeling is the easiest to learn so follow along and watch how to model a used candle in Maya.

This three part tutorial shows you how to model a female head correctly in Maya. This is a pretty difficult lesson so it will help if you know the software a bit already. NOTE: This link is to a Flash version of the first 5 minutes of this 2 hour tutorial. A download link is p ...more

Maya is the most powerful and widely-used program in 3D graphics today. All of this power also means that it is likely the most complicated 3D modeling as well. This video features some basic tips for using Maya to create a 3D model of a human head. It doesn't have any instruc ...more

This 3D design and animation tutorial for beginners using Autodesk Maya 8.5 software teaches users how to create and model complex polygonal objects.

This tutorial shows you how to model a hand in Maya from a Photoshop image. NOTE: This link is to a Flash version of the first 5 minutes of this 2 hour tutorial. A download link is provided on the veoh.com page for the full WMP tutorial.

Jason Welsh shows you how to model a mech robot in Maya. NOTE: This link is to a Flash version of the first 5 minutes of this 45 minute tutorial. A download link is provided on the veoh.com page for the full WMP tutorial.

This tutorial shows you many of the different tools available in Maya for modeling a biped creature. NOTE: This link is to a Flash version of the first 5 minutes of this hour long tutorial. A download link is provided on the veoh.com page for the full WMP tutorial.

New to Maya (AKA Autodesk Maya)? Not to worry. This tutorial will save your day! Not only will you learn how to use all the basic tools in the graphic design software, but you will also create your first impressive 3D model - a house made from polygon shapes. This simple hous ...more

Make uniform geometry in maya that is easy to sculpt in Zbrush using a method I call "stick and ball". This is a very easy way to learn forms on creatures. NOTE: This link is to a Flash version of the first 5 minutes of this 60+ minute tutorial. A download link is provided on ...more

Interested in making some eyeballs? Here's a quick and easy way to make them using textures readily available on Highend 3d and a NURBS sphere. And this guide will show you how. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to ...more

Want to know how to do proportional modeling when working in Maya 2011? This clip will you how to do just that using the program's Soft Select tool. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with ...more

This 3D modeling software tutorial shows you how to use the split polygon modeling tool in Maya. Learn how to use the split polygon tool to get full control over adding detail to your polygon object in Maya.

Maya and Photoshop CS4 may be made by different companies, but that doesn't mean they can't work together. This video will teach you how to take a 3D model from Maya, import it into Photoshop, and then use Photoshop CS4's new 3D editing tools to overpaint the rough texture sea ...more

So we got half a Maya model...now what? We mirror it over and merge the vertices, all with one command, to get us a solid object. We use the dolphin from our organic polygon modeling series, but the technique can be applied to any polygon model. Watch and learn how to mirror g ...more

Creating good UVs with Maya can be tough, and get tougher depending on what type of object you are trying to unwrap. This short video tutorial covers how to create accurate UVs for long objects like rope or, in this case, shoelaces. This is a simple technique, but one that sho ...more

This video from accredited Maya instructor Andrew Klein of the Art Institute of San Francisco will teach you how to use just one of the innumerable powerful features of Autodesk's Maya 3D modeling software. It covers how to use a spline IK and a dynamic hair curve to drive a j ...more

This video, from accredited 3D art instructor Andrew Klein, will teach you how to use one of the many powerful features in Maya to manipulate you 3D models. Specifically, it will teach you how to use the LOD (level of detail) tool in order to control how much of your model loa ...more

Want to create a perfect duplicate of a modeled object in Maya 2011? Let this clip show you how it's done. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be ...more

Photoshop CS4 and Maya do very different things, but can be combined very effectively to create photorealistic 3D images. This three-part video will teach you how to combine a photo and a 3D model of a head to create a 3D model with photrealistic textures overlaid on it. This ...more

Learn how to use the bend deformer to make your models a little more dynamic without having to learn all that bothersome animation stuff! Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with applicatio ...more

Check out this two-part Autodesk Maya 8.5 video tutorial on creating set driven keys. If you're and animator and your having trouble with your organic or unorganic animation, maybe this is your problem; it's a very powerful tool in 3D modeling in Maya. When ever you come into ...more

If you're a master at Autodesk Maya 8.5, then great, but if you are feeling a bit rusty, maybe this review on cleaning up your geometry will help. This video tutorial will help your animated character come to life in Maya by doing a little geometry cleanup. So, for great 3D mo ...more

In this tutorial, we learn how to work with normal maps within Maya 2011. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutori ...more

In this tutorial, we learn how to work with ramp textures within Maya 2011. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tuto ...more

In this tutorial, we learn how to work with the mia_material shader tool in Maya 2011. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this ...more

In this tutorial, we learn how to work with diffuse reflections when creating textures and shaders within Maya 2011. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're ...more

Learn how to use render passes in your Maya 2011 projects. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more in ...more

Learn how to create global illumination effects in Maya 2011. Whether you're new to Autodesk's popular modeling software or a seasoned 3D artist just looking to better acquaint yourself with the Maya 2011 workflow, you're sure to be well served by this video tutorial. For more ...more