Digital Tutors - Skill-Builder Mastering Topology in Maya

Going through tutorial projects step-by-step is a really powerful way to learn the different modeling tools and techniques. You can see how those tools work as you follow along and create a particular model with your tutor.

The real power, however, comes from being able to take the techniques you've learned and apply them in a different way to a different project. This knowledge and adaptability only comes from practice and the experience of dealing with different situations as they arise. To simulate this, you'll be presented with a series of topological exercises.

Each exercise will consist of three lessons covering topics from N-Gons to facial topology. In the first lesson, we will review the skill or technique using a particular asset. We'll talk about specific tools and go through their application step-by-step. In the second lesson, you'll receive a new asset and instructions for the exercise. This will be your opportunity to apply what you've just learned to a completely different model. In the final lesson, we will go through your exercise step-by-step and you can compare your results. There will be small hints provided for each exercise but we encourage you not to look at those if possible.

Each Skill-Builder Tutorial ends with a final project where you'll get to take all of the new skills and techniques you've learned and apply them to your own mini-project.

Skill-Builder Mastering Topology in Maya contents:

1. Introduction and course overview

2. Removing N-Gons: Skill review

3. Removing N-Gons: Exercise

4. Removing N-Gons: Solution

5. Working with triangles: Skill review

6. Working with triangles: Exercise

7. Working with triangles: Solution

8. Working with poles: Skill review

9. Working with poles: Exercise

10. Working with poles: Solution

11. Rerouting edges: Skill review

12. Rerouting edges: Exercise

13. Rerouting edges: Solution

14. Facial loop: Skill review

15. Facial loop: Exercise

16. Facial loop: Solution

17. Geometry reduction: Skill review

18. Geometry reduction: Exercise

19. Geometry reduction: Solution

20. Resolution for animation: Skill review

21. Resolution for animation: Exercise

22. Resolution for animation: Solution

23. Character troubleshooting: Skill review

24. Character troubleshooting: Exercise

25. Character troubleshooting: Solution

26. Final Project Overview

27. Character concepts

28. Creating eyes

29. Contours and features

30. Adding specific details

31. Asset cleanup and organization

32. Final Project Assignment