MEL Scripting for Maya Animators by Mark R Wilkins

MEL Scripting for Maya Animators by Mark R Wilkins

Suitable for those who want to learn the fundamentals of Maya, how to automate tasks, personalize user interfaces, build custom tools and solve problems with MEL, this work features chapters on fixing programming bottlenecks, advanced user interface techniques and optimizing character rigs.

"Reading and following the lessons of this book provides one of the best ways for a casual Maya user to elevate their skills to a professional levelThe fundamental techniques developed in MEL Scripting for Maya Animators are critical for visual effects artists to learn." --Scott Stokdyk, Visual Effects Supervisor, Sony Pictures Imageworks "While the first edition opened the doors to MEL scripting for interested Maya users, this expanded and updated second edition delves deeper into important programming concepts, and new features in Maya released since the original edition. No longer just for the first steps in MEL programming, this edition takes the reader into the depths of advanced topics such as user interface layout and web panels that are sure to make this book a frequently used and a welcome addition to any technical director's bookshelf." --Doug Cooper, Visual Effects Supervisor, DreamWorks Animation "MEL Scripting for Maya Animators is the set of keys you need to get under the hood of Maya. The book is well written for both technical and non-technical animators. It is an essential tool in making sophisticated animation not only possible but also practical." --Henry LaBounta, Senior Art Director, Electronic Arts "This new edition is – as was the first edition – the very best of an extremely small number of books that even attempt to cover the subject of scripting animation. The authors take great pains to explain where pertinent features, graphs, and editors are found, and to paint a picture of the interconnectivity of Maya’s various networked nodes. If you’re just getting started or are advanced enough to want the second edition’s beefed up content, there’s an empty spot for this book next to your monitor right now. But make sure there is enough space for a few pads of sticky notes and a couple of highlighting markers. You’ll want to ink this one up." --Game Developer, December 2005

Mark R. Wilkins is a technical director at DreamWorks Animation SKG, where he helped develop a production pipeline using Maya for effects and character animation. Mark also provides training and technical assistance to animators using Maya. He previously worked at Walt Disney Feature Animation in a variety of positions including software engineer and scene setup supervisor. He has contributed to a number of films, including Dinosaur, Mission: Impossible 2, Minority Report, and Madagascar. Mark holds a degree in physics from Harvey Mudd College. Chris Kazmier is a senior technical director at Sony Pictures Imageworks, where he creates computer-generated effects for live-action films. He has worked on projects ranging from The Haunted Mansion to Sony's first all 3D feature animation Open Season. Previously, Chris worked at DreamWorks on Sinbad and at PDI/DreamWorks on the Intel Aliens ad campaign. Credits also include Fox Animation Studio's Titan AE and Anastasia.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780120887934
ISBN 10	0120887932
Title	MEL Scripting for Maya Animators
Author	Mark R Wilkins
Series	The Morgan Kaufmann Series In Computer Graphics
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Elsevier Science & Technology
Year published	2005-08-23
Number of pages	552
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.