Basics: interface
Project | View Navigation | Move - Rotate - Scale | Polygon component selection |
In Maya, you should always work in a project.
- Start Maya 201x from the Desktop Icon or the Start Menu
- NEVER start Maya by double clicking on a Maya file.
- If you already have a project, go to File > Set Project... and choose the project directory
- To create a new project, go to File > Project Window
- Maya Help on creating / using projects
- Make sure to create your project on your own hard / flash drive
View Navigation
(LMB = Left Mouse Button, MMB = Middle Mouse Button, RMB = Right Mouse Button)
- ALT + LMB → Rotate view
- ALT + MMB → Move / pan view
- ALT + RMB → Zoom view
- hit a to center everything in view (Frame All)
- hit f to center selection in view (Frame Selected)
Move - Rotate - Scale: QWERTY
The basic tools are accessible though the QWERTY keys on the top left of a standard QUERTY keyboard:
- q - select
- w - move
- e - rotate
- r - scale
- t - Hide manipulator
- y - Repeat last command (not always the one you expect)
Polygon component selection:
Right click on object to bring up selection menu
Or press F9 (vertex), F10 (edges), F11 (faces) or F12 (UV).