This week we were introduced to Maya and some of the main tools within it.

During the class we attempted to make a milkshake. Still pretty new to maya so I struggled a bit, and decided to rewatch and work on it more after the class. I followed Mike’s tutorial on blackboard!

 

We were also set a homework task and I chose to do the snake. I looked up two different ways to achieve these kinds of curves, Sweep mesh or the align and extrude way.

 

Extrude method: I made a really quick branch for the snake to lie on like in the concept. I followed the tutorial linked on how to create curves using the EP curve tool, then aligning you shape to the start of the curve. Make sure both are selected and extrude out (ctrl+E) from the face not the edges! and it should snap to the other end in a stright line. Then subdivide as much as you want. I made the mistake of aligning it to the wrong end and it created a bit of a mess, I undo’d until I got back to a good point and aligned my cylinder to the right end.

 

 

I went back when I had the time and tweaked the vertexes so that the curves seemed more fluid. As well as gave the snake and branch some colour.

 

Sweep Mesh method:

This way is much simplier to set up and get the effect you want, but I strangely feel like it’s giving me less control to manipulate the snakes body? But still it’s It’s a very useful method. I created the curve as I did the other method, and while the curve was selected I then clicked the Sweep mesh tool and it automatically filled the curve. With the option to increase or decrease thickness etc. I used what I learned from Mike’s previous video on the milkshake.