Creating a Palm Tree in Maya

[McRed]

I jsut finished creating a series of tutorials for creating a fully animated palm tree in maya from nothing to full animation. I have finished the modeling, rigging, dynamics and skinning sections. A rendered test is linked at the end of the Skinning section.

I'm looking for some criticism. I want to make sure this tutorial is easy to follow and the end result is consistant.

Part One: Modeling
http://derekthesmart.com/tutorials/images/modeling/banner.jpg (http://derekthesmart.com/tutorials)

Part Two: Rigging
http://derekthesmart.com/tutorials/images/rigging/banner.jpg (http://derekthesmart.com/tutorials/rigging.htm)

Part Three: Dynamic Setup
http://derekthesmart.com/tutorials/images/dynamics/banner.jpg (http://derekthesmart.com/tutorials/dynamics.htm)

Part Four: Skinning
http://derekthesmart.com/tutorials/images/skinning/banner.jpg (http://derekthesmart.com/tutorials/skinning.htm)


Thanks a lot.
Derek

[jimmypop]

Wow, it looks great! Too bad I don't use MAYA.

I only went as far as looking at the modeling part, but I only have 1 crit.

If this is aimed at new users, which I assume it is, I think the image where it shows you circled the options that are recommended, I think those could either be neatened up, or just to use a highlight. For such a nice looking tutorial, those are very sketchy circles.

That was it! GJ

[McRed]

I'll see what I can do! Preciate it.

[0sharp0]

hey!

i saw ur tutroial and i think it was extremely helpful! very nice (Y)

thnks!

[dommie_14]

I read the tutorial that you've shared it was so very helpful thanks, it was so very nice...

thanks for that

[Joblh]

very nice tutorial, thanks! :)

[McRed]

If any of you have completed the tutorial I'd like to see some images!

Derek

[Novak]

Great and nice tutorial Derek. Damn, Now I have to install Maya again... :D

If you got more great tutorial, Let us see them, For example Making the sand where the
palm tree is standing on. :D

Greetz, Novak

[liwang]

thanks

[Sabinmash]

I've just about completed mine! However, I'm a little at a loss at the lest 2 or 3 steps, when it comes to the unnatural twisting of the branches. I think I understand that the skin weights are distributed across the meshes on the model that are painted (in the skin weight paint), however, when i go to paint the skin black, the changes don't stay, neither do the paint fills i make, unless that is i fill it with a value of one.

My ignorance of the workings of skin weight put my progress at a dead stop. And it's been 3 days now, and i still do not understand what is wrong. Is it possible to see your finished product, or you mine? I'm desperately wanting to see this tree sway, not cringe!

[McRed]

Hey check your email, I sent you a reply to your email. For the group, try to reset the tool to default options, then select the replace option. When you are trying to add influence (paint white) make sure you have a positive value, when trying to remove influence (paint black) set your value negative. That should do it.

Derek

[Sabinmash]

ok i got around to ffixing the weight skins.. But now i have anther problem, some of the branches keep getting blown upward, while others go down. And 2 of them just go wacky. any ideas to why? Here's a video http://filexoom.com/files/23865/PalmTree_Movie_Test.avi

Ok the ones in the back go steaddily up up up, while others go down down dwon. Then in the front, 2 just go insane. I'm not sure where my mistake was. I'd love some suggestions.

[Sabinmash]

Oh and here's the files if anyone wants to look at it. http://filexoom.com/files/23865/PalmTree_Tutorial.mb

I re-did the dynamics for the branches that were out of control, but after moving onto redoing it for the rest of the branches, the out of control ones went out of control again. -_- I think i'm just too much of a novice to be doing things at this level. Shouldnt be trying to do things that I don't full understand yet.

[Blanche]

Wow!!

Thanks 4 your tutorial