Molecular Maya’s dsDNA kit facilitates the modeling and simulation of double-stranded DNA. However it is sometimes useful to export these dsDNA models as mesh geometry for use in other 3D programs and game engines. This tutorial explains how to use Maya’s MASH instancing system and Python to export geometry from mMaya’s dsDNA kit.
Using MASH & Python to export atomic geometry from mMaya
Although Molecular Maya (mMaya) facilitates the import and modeling of molecular models, it is sometimes useful to export these models as geometry for use in other 3D programs and game engines. This tutorial explains how to use Maya’s MASH instancing system and Python to export mMaya ball-and-stick atomic geometry.
Controlling & Simulating 3D Fluids: Maya Fluids & Bifrost
In this tutorial, Controlling & Simulating 3D Fluids: Maya Fluids and Bifrost, we will introduce you to Maya’s two main fluid simulation techniques. Maya’s Fluid Effects beautifully simulates gaseous effects. We will demonstrate this tool by creating a venom ejection simulation. You’ll also learn about Maya’s new Bifrost liquid simulator and how it is useful for creating 3D liquid splash and pour simulations.
We encourage you to also explore the related tutorial, Controlling & Simulating 3D Fluids: Maya nParticles, to fully understand the strengths of these different approaches to fluid simulation. We developed these two tutorials to help you determine which method is most appropriate for your production needs.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn how to use Maya’s Fluid Effects to create a gaseous simulation.
- Learn how to use Bifrost, Maya’s new 3D liquid simulation engine.
- Compare the two techniques to help determine which simulation method is most appropriate.
Controlling & Simulating 3D Fluids: Maya nParticles
In this tutorial, Controlling & Simulating 3D Fluids: Maya nParticles, we will demonstrate how Maya’s powerful nParticle dynamics can be used to create flowing liquids and apply this technique in a 3D liquid splash simulation. Although nParticles have many applications in Maya, we will customize settings that are effective for a gel loading animation.
We encourage you to also explore the related tutorial, Controlling & Simulating 3D Fluids: Maya Fluids & Bifrost, to fully understand the strengths of these different approaches to fluid simulation. We developed these two tutorials to help you determine which method is most appropriate for your production needs.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn how to use nParticles to create liquid splash effects.
- Learn strategies for customizing settings for nParticles
- Learn strategies for efficiently rendering and compositing fluids
Advanced iBook Widget Design with Maya nDynamics
This behind-the-scenes look at how we created the Herbivore Carnivore Dentition Widget for the iBook, E. O. Wilson’s Life on Earth, will demonstrate the principles of creating dynamic simulations using Maya nDynamics. You’ll learn how to apply nParticle fluid dynamics and nConstraints through a gelatin-like meat simulation, as well as the utility of nCloth and nRigid colliders, through a leaf-clipping simulation. You’ll understand how food mastication can be simulated using keyframed animation, nParticles and instancing. Alongside these technical step-by-step explanations, we explain the motivation behind the design of these simplified models that represent food and teeth, as well as how these animations can be further improved. Finally, we explain how all of these assets can be combined using Keynote and iBooks Author to create an interactive widget for an iBook.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Understand the use of simplified models to represent more complex objects.
- Learn how to use a combination of nDynamics techniques (nParticle fluid simulations, constraints, nCloth, nRigid colliders, and nParticle instancing) to create simulations of dynamic objects.
- Learn how to use Keynote and iBooks Author to create an interactive widget for an iBook.