Dariush Derakhshani - Introducing Autodesk Maya 2012

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Copyright 2011 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

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ISBN: 978-0-470-90021-5

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To Max Henry

Acknowledgments

As this book goes into its eighth edition, I am thrilledthat the Introducing Maya series is a favorite resourcefor students and teachers of Maya. Education is the foundation for a happy life, andwith that in mind, Id like to thank the outstanding teachers from whom I have hadthe privilege to learn. You can remember what youve been taughtor, just asimportant, you can remember those who have taught you. I also want to thank my students, whohave taught me as much as they have learned themselves. Juan Gutierrez, Victor J. Garza, Robert Jauregui, and Peter Gend deserve special thanks for helping mecomplete the models and images for this book. Thanks to the student artists whocontributed to the color insert and, of course, thanks to my bosses, colleagues, andfriends at work for showing me everything Ive learned and making it interesting tobe in the effects business. Special thanks to HP for their support and keeping me onthe cutting edge of workstations. Thanks to my editors at Sybex and the folks at Autodesk for their support and helpand for making this process fun. Thanks to the book team for bringing it alltogether: Mariann Barsolo, Amy Breguet, and Elizabeth Campbell. My appreciation alsogoes to technical editor, Keith Reicher. Finally, special mad props go to my friends Bill, Mark, Frank, Terry, and Brett. Thank you to my mom andbrothers for your strength, wisdom, and love throughout. And a special thank-you tomy lovely wife Randi and our son Max Henry for putting up with the long nights atthe keyboard; the grumpy, sleep-deprived mornings; and the blinking and buzzing ofall my machines in our apartment. Family!

About the Author

Dariush Derakhshani is a supervisor for Zoic Studios, acreative studio with offices in Culver City, California, and Vancouver, BritishColumbia. Dariush has been working in CG for more than 15 years and teaching classesin CG and effects production for close to 14. He is the best-selling author of ahandful of books, including the popular Introducing Maya series.

Dariush started using AutoCAD software in his architecture days and thenmigrated to using 3D programs when his firms principal architects needed to showtheir clients design work on the computer. Starting with Alias PowerAnimator version6, which he encountered when he enrolled in the University of Southern CaliforniaFilm Schools Animation program, and working for a short while in 3ds Max beforemoving on to Maya jobs, Dariush has been using Autodesk animation software for thepast 17 years.

He received an MFA in Film, Video, and Computer Animation in 1997 fromUSC. Dariush also holds a BA in Architecture and Theatre from Lehigh University inPennsylvania and worked at a New Jersey architecture firm before moving to LosAngeles for film school. He has worked on feature films, music videos, and countlesscommercials as a 3D animator and VFX supervisor, garnering honors from the LondonInternational Advertising Awards, the ADDY Awards, the Telly Awards, and anomination from the Visual Effects Society Awards. He is bald and has flat feet.