MEL Scripting for Maya Animators
- 1st Edition - December 18, 2002
- Latest edition
- Authors: Mark R. Wilkins, Chris Kazmier
- Language: English
Learning how to unlock Maya's powerful programming capabilities can be a daunting task if you're not a programmer. Although the package's programming language, MEL (Maya Embedded… Read more
Purchase options
Early spring sale
Nurture your knowledge
Grow your expertise with up to 25% off trusted resources.
Description
Description
Learning how to unlock Maya's powerful programming capabilities can be a daunting task if you're not a programmer. Although the package's programming language, MEL (Maya Embedded Language), is easy to learn, virtually all available instruction assumes that the reader has some programming background-that is, until now.
You hold in your hands the first MEL tutorial written especially for non-programmers. MEL Scripting for MAYA Animators will quickly show any user how to go beyond Maya's built-in tools to create customized solutions, previously accessible only to programmers.
With this book, animators, artists, game developers, visual effects developers, and technical directors will master Maya's fundamentals from "under the hood;" then learn how to automate tasks, personalize user interfaces, build custom tools, and solve problems, by becoming an expert in the MEL scripting language-all with no programming experience required!
You hold in your hands the first MEL tutorial written especially for non-programmers. MEL Scripting for MAYA Animators will quickly show any user how to go beyond Maya's built-in tools to create customized solutions, previously accessible only to programmers.
With this book, animators, artists, game developers, visual effects developers, and technical directors will master Maya's fundamentals from "under the hood;" then learn how to automate tasks, personalize user interfaces, build custom tools, and solve problems, by becoming an expert in the MEL scripting language-all with no programming experience required!
Key features
Key features
* Specifically addresses Maya users who want to develop MEL scripts
* Teaches only those programming concepts necessary to learning MEL
* Demonstrates scores of practical examples illustrating solutions to concrete problems
* Shows how to determine which problems are best solved using MEL
* Addresses the needs of experienced programmers wishing to learn MEL applications
* Provides numerous code segments and Maya scene files at www.melscripting.com
* Teaches only those programming concepts necessary to learning MEL
* Demonstrates scores of practical examples illustrating solutions to concrete problems
* Shows how to determine which problems are best solved using MEL
* Addresses the needs of experienced programmers wishing to learn MEL applications
* Provides numerous code segments and Maya scene files at www.melscripting.com
Readership
Readership
Maya users, animators and programmers who want to learn specific applications of the MEL language (Maya Embedded Language); including technical directors, modelers, graphics programmers, researchers, students and hobbyists who work on visual special effects—in particular for the motion picture and game industry.
Table of contents
Table of contents
Preface
Chapter 1. Maya Under the Hood
Chapter 2. The Basics of MEL Commands
Chapter 3. Using Expressions
Chapter 4. Controlling Particles with Expressions
Chapter 5. Problem Solving with MEL Scripting
Chapter 6. Variables and Data Types
Chapter 7. Using MEL Commands
Chapter 8. Manipulating Nodes in MEL
Chapter 9. Controlling the Flow of Execution
Chapter 10. Procedures and Functions
Chapter 11. Naming Nodes, Scripts, and Variables
Chapter 12. Designing MEL User Interfaces
Chapter 13. Simple MEL User Interfaces
Chapter 14. Custom Dialog Boxes
Chapter 15. Installing MEL Scripts
Chapter 16. Examples Using MEL with Particle Dynamics
Chapter 17. Examples Using MEL with Solid Body Dynamics
Chapter 18. Example of a Simple Crowd System
Chapter 19. Examples Using MEL in Character Rigging
Appendix A. A MEL Script Design Checklist
Chapter 1. Maya Under the Hood
Chapter 2. The Basics of MEL Commands
Chapter 3. Using Expressions
Chapter 4. Controlling Particles with Expressions
Chapter 5. Problem Solving with MEL Scripting
Chapter 6. Variables and Data Types
Chapter 7. Using MEL Commands
Chapter 8. Manipulating Nodes in MEL
Chapter 9. Controlling the Flow of Execution
Chapter 10. Procedures and Functions
Chapter 11. Naming Nodes, Scripts, and Variables
Chapter 12. Designing MEL User Interfaces
Chapter 13. Simple MEL User Interfaces
Chapter 14. Custom Dialog Boxes
Chapter 15. Installing MEL Scripts
Chapter 16. Examples Using MEL with Particle Dynamics
Chapter 17. Examples Using MEL with Solid Body Dynamics
Chapter 18. Example of a Simple Crowd System
Chapter 19. Examples Using MEL in Character Rigging
Appendix A. A MEL Script Design Checklist
Product details
Product details
- Edition: 1
- Latest edition
- Published: December 18, 2002
- Language: English
About the authors
About the authors
MW
Mark R. Wilkins
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.
Affiliations and expertise
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Glendale, CA, USACK
Chris Kazmier
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.
Affiliations and expertise
Sony Pictures Imageworks, Culver City, California, U.S.A.