How long does it take to learn maya?

[audiofly]

I know this question has probably been asked a million times and its way to vague to give a good answer to so let me try to explain myself before you yell at me

I am very new to 3d modeling/animation. Probably the newest of the newbies on this board. I was introduced to maya about 2 weeks ago by a friend who showed me some very powerful things that can be done with it. I've played with photoshop before, but other than that I have no art experience what so ever. I'm very well versed in computers though as this is what I do for a living. I fix stuff (computer tech).
A friend and I have started producing commercials for local companies in our spare time just for fun and to get away from the mundane work of computer maintence and to explore our creative sides.
Now onto the question. How long would it take someone to learn this program? It's obviously not something you can just jump straight into and start clicking on things like photoshop. If I were to really apply myself (by this i mean 5-10 hours a week), how long would it take before I would become fairly proficient with maya? I'd love to be able to put some custom animations and cool effects into my commercials but it seems like such a distant task that its not even worth the effort. Where should I start to read about maya? Other than this board of course. I've tried reading some of the tutorials but they all seem geared toward someone who at least has some 3d experience and knows some of the jargon that goes along with it. Where did all you pros start? Does it really take 10+ years of experience before you start getting good results? Also, if i did really start to get into this animation stuff, can anyone suggest some good schools in america to study at? And where can I find tutorials on the basics of art? Like I said before I've had no formal training in art at all. I'm assuming I need to learn the basics of lighting/colors etc before I can do anything worth while in maya.

Anyways, thanks in advance for any advice you can lend to a struggling newbie
-newbie

[gmask]

It is really impossible to answer this question. There is an abundance of tutorial here and elsewhere. The processof doing computer animation is not one thatyis allways obvious either from reading the manuals or by taking classes ..much of it comes from working experience and experimentation. In that case I would say that it usually takes several years of experience to be generally proficient in pretty much any program. Some may have more aptitude for it than others.

[wchamlet]

I think what gmask has said makes great sense. It's not a program that you can learn quickly. I've effectively been using Maya now for about 6 months. I've probably spent over 400 hours alone working in it. I've bought books, and read tutorials numerous times. I think I can say that my progression is coming along nicely, but I am far from knowing this software 100%. You can't compare Photoshop to this software. You probably haven't seen this yet, but the Paint FX window is almost a mini-photoshop in and of itself. Pretty cool stuff awaits you my friend.

All I can say to you really, is the more familiar Maya becomes to you, the more you'll figure out what you can do with the software. It took me awhile to get used to the interface, and where everything is at. But now I pretty much know where everything is at, and how it functions. There's things that I haven't touched yet, like animation and camara settings, but I think if you focus on one thing at a time it will help you figure out this software faster. Trying to learn modeling, texturing, rendering, animation, dynamics, etc... all at the same time will keep you from digging deeper within those areas.

My breakdown for learning this software is this:

1. Modeling- This is more fun to me than any other part of 3D
2. Texturing- I find myself knuckling my forehead quite alot learning this stuff.
3. Lighting- This is where life comes to your 3D scene.
4. Brain overhaul- This is after my second year of "Trying to learn Maya".*

I originally bought Maya so I wouldn't be left in the dust as an artist. I'm an illustrator, and I can see the benefits of learning 3D. Especially since it's gotten to be so much easier to accomplish amazing things with it. I figured if I disreguarded 3D now, some kid ten years from now will be able to produce artwork much greater than I can freehand, just by getting some free models off of the internet and plopping it into a 3D scene. It's almost at that point now. But I don't think I'm that far behind yet. So I am learning and creating with Maya as much as I can.

*This is solely my prediction. This event hasn't happened yet.

[kiwi]

I have spoken with several A|W Application Engineers and Product Managers and asked them what % of Maya they thought they knew how to use - and how long they had been working woth the code, etc....

I have never (ever) talked to anobody who could honestly say they knew more than 80% of the toolset.

This would include folks who worked with Maya daily since v.1.beta

KIWI

[gmask]

I have never (ever) talked to anobody who could honestly say they knew more than 80% of the toolset.

Especially with Maya.. there are many aspects of it that you may never actually need to know or master to get your work done. I think his question was more about how to be productive rather than how to longto master it.

[kiwi]

right - I agree, G.

-not trying to discourage the poster, I just never get over the depth of this software and I wanted to put things in perspective.........

In my profesional experience helping 3D artists and FX houses adopt (and migrate to) Maya I have noticed the following:

-with an open attitude and patience (and time) to go through all the tutorialz, I'll bet a good seasoned 3D artist could get around the Maya UI pretty comfortably within 3 to 5 months, and start to be proficient with his or her prefered tools and 'flows within a year or so...........maybe sooner (maybe not)

As a complete "newbie", you may need to take pains to learn the basic principles of 3DComputerGraphics. i.e. geometry types, CG lighting techniques, animation principles, etc. before you can fully attack the tutorials.

KIWI

[gmask]

-with an open attitude and patience (and time) to go through all the tutorialz, I'll bet a good 3DSMax artist could get around the Maya UI pretty comfortably within 3 to 5 months, and start to be proficient with his or her prefered tools and 'flows within a year or so...........maybe sooner (maybe not)

It will definately take more than 5-10 hours per week to do that..

[wchamlet]

"It will definately take more than 5-10 hours per week to do that.. "

I usually spend about 4-8 hours a day on it. Not everyday, but at least 5 times a week. Of course, when I first started I didn't spend that kind of time. But once you get into the software, you'll lose track of time and spend more than you want to on it anyway. At least that's been my experience so far. My brother jokingly calls Maya my new girlfriend.

[kiwi]

"It will definately take more than 5-10 hours per week to do that.. "

most definitely.

Learning Maya requires a significant investment in time.

Maya is probably not for any -but the most serious of hobbyists and 3D techo-geeks ........

KIWI

[audiofly]

awesome, thanks for all the quick replies

So I see this is going to have to turn from a fascination to an obsession before I can hope to acheive anything in maya unfortunately I dont really have the time for that yet, with work and school and everything... I have a feeling that may change as i learn more.
Does anyone recommend the gnomon DVD tutorials? I've read alot about them and I'm thinking of buying a few.

As far as education, what schools would you guys recommend? I'm pretty much willing to relocate anywhere in the us as soon as i finish my associates as long as there is a school worth relocating to.

One more question, does anyone know of any places on the internet with info/tutorials on the basics of art? Lighting, color theory, design etc.
Thanks again

[gmask]

You should read the posts in the Career section.

[wchamlet]

I've got two Gnomon tapes, Intro to Maya and Maya Modeling 1. Both are great to give you a heads up on how to start digging into Maya's deep interface. I've also got two DVD's, the organic modeling series, which are quite intricate on how to patch model for creatures. However, I think these two DVD's are a little over my head, especially when the models are so intricately detailed. I find it easier to focus on polygon modeling then converting to sub-d, but that's just my preference. I think without a 3D paint package texturing Nurbs patches would be very difficult. But that's still unfamiliar territory with me, so take it as you will.

You may not want to hear this, but I don't think you should go to school to learn this 3D stuff. I almost went to school myself, but I've found out that I can learn as much of it on my own without the need for "Bachelors" type of degrees or the debts it takes to get them. I'm not knocking schools, for they are needed for anyone to grow as a professional. But with Maya being free with the personal Learning edition, you have a great oppurtunity to see if you need to go to school to learn this software. IMO, and in my own life, I will only go to school if there is something that I absolutely cannot figure out. But so far, I haven't gotten to that point yet. Hopefully I won't.

As for learning the basics of art. Check out www.conceptart.org there are some amazing artist's there whom occasionally share their knowledge. There are some tutorials on the site and numerous links to help you in your quest. Have fun.

[gmask]

I will only go to school if there is something that I absolutely cannot figure out.

Going ot school is not entirely about being taught .. it is about learning, earning about yourself, the other students and your teachers. If you go to the right school you will make connections that will help you profrssionally and it is much harder to do this any other way. Your likely to never get a loan with a better interest rate than student loans so the finaniciat part is worth it if you are serious about pursueing this as a career. There are no guareentees though so experimenting with it now is a good idea and easier than ever to do.

[wchamlet]

Good point. Networking is almost impossible unless you can find an in somewhere. School is probably the best bet to start networking. But to me, it's not worth getting back into debt to do it. I've already been through college once, and I don't really want to do it again so soon. There are things that I don't think I can pick up on within Maya, such as animation, but I don't think that's the direction I want to go in with Maya. I'm a 2D artist, and will probably just use Maya in the future to help me in that aspect. My desires really aren't on animation, but some of the tools I will need to know I guess to pose figures.

What I'll probably do, is go to a school like the Renaissance Center in Tennessee, which is only about 3 hours from my home here in Kentucky. They have short classes, and I might even be able to sit in just a few of them for less than it would cost me to go to a full blown curriculum. But, like I said earlier, I might not even need to do that. I might be one of those few whom can do it all on his/her own. It will just take longer. I'm a rarity I guess on these forums. Most everyone here wants to animate, so maybe my opinion isn't really necessary in this thread.

[gmask]

I might be one of those few whom can do it all on his/her own. It will just take longer.

I never actually had any formal training in 3D myself it is mostly all self taught and work experience. I went to an art school and studied fine art mostly and then took an interest in video and digital audio.

I can understand why you don't wish to obtain another BA or simialir degree if you have one allready and in you case taking an entire program may be too much given your particular needs. But if you don't have a degree then i would really reccomend it.

[empleh]

I have never (ever) talked to anobody who could honestly say they knew more than 80% of the toolset.

This isn't exactly up to topic, but..... If I were able to know 100% of Maya, or any other tool that I use(d), what would I learn tomorrow? I think the great thing about cg is that it grows with the technology. There is and always will be plenty of room to improve.

It also seems to me that I learn all that I need to know for a project about 3 months after said project has been turned in.

ww

[doctor-jay]

Man to keep it simple. Its Hard!

Me personally i have had alot experience in photoshop also. I must have started out with Paint Shop Pro and moved my way up to CDR11. As for 3D I STARTED WITH Vue d'Espirit demo and i have never left the 3d hobbbie.

I am using Maya PLE now and let me tell you its the most BRILLIANT program ever made. I started out with modeling a spaceship and after i got the final render i was just in complete AW.

Some things to know before you even get into a program as powerful as Maya. You should have some experience in lower cost program such as Bryce5, Vue, and other simple 3d programs. Thisway you can get a good taste for whats to comes, because its "Damn" confusing jumping right into the highend 3d scene.

Have fun:)

[audiofly]

I tried bryce, the interface was just a bit too hokey for me, and it kept crashing. I like the way maya is layed out even though i dont know where anything is It just looks well organised and thought out.
Are there any entry level programs that focus specifically on modeling? This is what i'm most interested in right now.

[doctor-jay]

In repley to your first level modeling question. I started with maya and a rhino demo. Most basic programs dont let you model. They have a tendency to only have pre made models or vegetation.

Oh and stay away from 3dstudio max its awful.

[wchamlet]

If you have Maya right in front of you just use it. Maya's modeling tools are great, IMO, and if that's all you want to learn, well, focus just on that. Like Doc said, most entry level programs only let you do certain things with modeling. Maya is completely the opposite. Check out the tutorial link that gmask put together. That should get you up to speed pretty quick.