As mentioned above, viewers will benefit from any experience they may have with programming in an object-oriented language. It doesn't necessarily have to be Python. However, any amount of time the viewer may have spent with Python will definitely work out to their benefit.
Aside from that, viewers should be very comfortable with using Maya. This video should not be considered by beginners, or someone who is just getting started in Maya without any prior 3D application experience. If, however, you are comfortable with some other 3D app and are simply making the transition to Maya, this video could be a benefit, as long as you have reasonable experience with scripting and technical problem solving.
A copy of Autodesk Maya 2010 and a computer that can run it. Please note that while the lessons described may also work in Autodesk Maya 2009, since asset containers are available, we are only officially supporting the 2010 version as the primary platform.
There are many rigging topics that are discussed, due to the nature of the tool set's development. However, on shouldn't purchase this video if they're actually seeking rigging training. The primary focus here is to show how to use Python to develop a tool-based pipeline for automated rig creation. Because you will be creating rigs through code, the videos do take some time to discuss how the rig will be set up. Though they do not cover the process of manually creating entire character rigs.
In short, this should not be considered a conventional rigging video, so much as a technical tool development exercise.
Absolutely not. All in all, you're going to see fifty hours of video that include detailed theory lessons on the mechanics behind each individual area. No studio-quality tool of this magnitude is going to be ready in that time. Therefore, the tool set resulting from this video should be considered a prototype, built upon prototype code.
To be fair, the tool set is certainly something useful enough to see extensive use in studio environments. To do it right, however, you'd need to get at least one or more studios involved to create a test bay. Artists would have to use the tool, find problems, suggest improvements; the process of finalization would be extensive and would increase the overall code base severalfold.
As such, and so that we weren't giving you a video product that would range in the hundreds of hours and would require multiple months to complete, we offer this tool set only through the creation lessons. As you complete it, you will gain a much deeper understanding of tool development in general, especially in terms of modular component creation.
No, we don't offer the tool set itself along with the video. The idea is for you to learn how to build it yourself. Also, since the tool set is considered a prototype, it would be inappropriate to release it as if it were a commercial final. While it's true that after a battery of tests and refinements, the tool could certainly be put into a more finalized state, we would rather the focus of this product be less about actually having this tool set to use, and more about teaching future technical directors how to handle the process of developing such tools on their own.
No, the content will not play on a regular DVD player, it is intended for use in a PC that has a DVD-ROM drive.
You may view the video files with the XviD codec, which can be downloaded for free from www.xvid.org.
In order to protect our content from illegal distribution and to safeguard
your investment, we have implemented a video watermark system. The
faint video watermark is on some of the videos, and will contain your
name and address. The information on the watermarks will be used as
evidence should the videos be illegally distributed.
Yes, we do, but only your account must be verified through PayPal and your shipping address must be confirmed.
The only forms of payment we accept are credit card and PayPal.
Your DVD's must be custom encoded at our facilities to include your personal watermark.
This process can take anywhere from 1 to 5 business days to complete, though most orders are shipped within 48 hours.
Shipping in the US is approximately $15. This as a production and shipping fee,
helping to cover not only the actual shipment, but also the process of encoding, burning, and printing.
We only ship to the verified billing address. If other arrangements for shipping are required, we will need to verify the new location.
This verification process is in place for your security, and for the security of our content.
