Tricks for Autodesk Maya: Fluids and Animation


Tricks for Autodesk Maya: Fluids and Animation
with SolusSI|4 years experience
430629total views
Tricks for Autodesk Maya: Fluids and Animation
- English
- Design
Art and Illustration
- Project length: 5h 30m
Overview
Introduction
This tutorial is mainly focused on explaining engines and tools that are used in Autodesk Maya in order to create animations, effects, and simulations. We will work with some of the most common types of animation and explain briefly how to do and what to do in order to get great results. Learning process concept is made by the idea that every session has different animation type with different animation settings, and each animation is more complex than the one before. Starting from fire all the way to the ocean. Also besides animations, we will learn some nice effects that could be used such as sword dissolve, stylized sword flame/smoke effect, glass shattering.
Requirements:
- Photoshop
- Autodesk Maya 2016
- Autodesk Maya 2018
- Bifrost plugin for Maya
- BOSS plugin Maya
- Arnold Renderer for Maya
What is the target audience?
- Learners who want to enhance their knowledge
- This course will help the students who are doing their final projects
Project Outline
Session 1: Fire animation
In this session we will cover:
- Fire simulation
We will be using a 3D fluid container from FX section in Autodesk Maya in order to create fire simulation. This is one of the easiest ways you can create fire animation that looks pretty nice and real when it comes to workflow and movement. we will start off with simple settings so we can create basic fire flow and then go for some more detailing process inside 3D container and emitter settings and shading properties.
Session 2: Tornado animation
We will work on:
Tornado shape using curves and revolve tool
Particle creation and optimizing them for correct movement
Creation of fluids to follow the path of particles
Shading properties
This session will cover all the necessary information about how to create a tornado in Autodesk Maya. We will start off with creating the basic shape of a tornado with CV curve tool and use that as a start point. From there we will add particles and work in all settings that are needed in order for particles to follow the main surface that we have created as our starting point ( Shape of a tornado ). We will go more in-depth with particle setup and from there, after we are all set and done, we will start adding fluids that will follow the path now of the actual particles that we have created.
Session 3: Sword dissolve effect
Photoshop setup and export of displacement maps
Importing Photoshop files to the right channels
Adding particles to main mesh
Particle and nucleus setup
in this session, we will work on dissolving animation ( turning objects to ashes ). We will start off by creating alpha and emitter channel displacement maps in Photoshop that are playing a huge role in our workflow. After that, we will go to Autodesk Maya with exported renders from Photoshop, import them and start step by step process. In order to make our sword dissolve what we will be using are particles. Setting up particle, nucleus and emitter options all together with our maps will be crucial in order to create this type of effect.
Session 4: Water Animation
In this session with Autodesk Maya 2018 we will work on:
Creating water surface
Bifrost BOSS plugin introduction
Creating spectral waves
Spectral waves setup ( dynamics )
Creating foam
Foam setup
Render setup
Through this session, we will learn how to work with BOSS plugin and how to easily create water in Autodesk Maya 2018. We will start off with simple waves and then talk more about the dynamics of water and how options should be set up.
- IMPORTANT: Do not forget to cache animation, this is a really important part of the process and if not done correctly it can damage the whole animation.
Session 5: Sword Stylized Effect
This session will teach you about:
Using plane as animation base
Creating ramp and setting up ramp options
Creating transparency with Multilayer
Creating overall motion of flame, smoke etc.
This session will go through the process of creating a stylized effect on objects such as a sword( optional ) and how to use planes and ramp material in order to create right motion and right color setup. From this tutorial, you can learn how to create besides flames all other similar effects such as smoke, ethereal etc... ( all effects that have same motion )
Extras:
Session 6: Wrecking ball and Wall shattering
In this session we will be working on:
Creating Wrecking ball
Creating swinging animation
Wall creation and adding shattering effect
Work on parameters
IMPORTANT: Make sure you delete your object history before start adding effects.
Session 7: Bottle shattering using Bullet
We will be working on:
Bottle design
Creating active rigid body from the bottle and working on parameters
Creating floor as passive rigid body
Creating falling simulation
NOTE: I forgot to put animation at the end of the video to show you guys my final result, I have made few changes in coloring and light setup but all main parameters for animation stayed the same.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you delete your object history before start adding effects.
Session 8: Glass shattering using nCloth
Glass design
Cutting faces with a multi-cut tool
Creating nCloth from Glass object
Creating floor and obstacles as passive colliders
Parameters setup
Session 9: Creating camera walkthrough in scene
Creating scene
Creating path
Setting up camera
NOTE: The Final result is shown at the beginning of the video.