First Lessons in Autodesk Maya 2022 Beginner: Level 1: Tutorials 1 – 5

Starting in Maya can feel like learning a new language while steering around in three dimensions. This beginner-focused volume keeps the first steps practical: learn the interface and navigation, work with the core modeling tools, and follow guided exercises that turn simple shapes into recognizable objects.

Build a foundation in Maya

Designed for readers with no prior Maya or 3D-modeling experience, the book introduces essential vocabulary and the Move, Scale, and Rotate tools. It explains how to recognize and use their manipulators, navigate around a model, and switch between object and component modes. Faces, vertices, and edges become working parts of the process rather than unfamiliar terms.

Learn by making

The lessons move from basic primitive shapes and box modeling into approachable modeling projects. You’ll follow steps for making a chess king with a reference image and a chess queen using a curves technique. Along the way, the tutorials introduce importing and setting up reference images, combining objects, adding edge loops, and using the Attribute Editor and orthographic views.

See the camera as part of the workflow

Modeling is only part of the material: the book also introduces camera animation and attaching a camera to a curve. These topics broaden the beginner’s view of what can be done in Maya while staying within the book’s introductory scope.

A visual, follow-along approach

The author presents the material as step-by-step tutorials with images to help readers follow the actions on screen. The emphasis is on practicing a clear workflow, taking one skill at a time, and building comfort with the software through hands-on work.

Who may find it useful

This first set of lessons is intended for absolute beginners, including students and curious newcomers who are opening Maya for the first time. It is an introductory starting point, not a collection of advanced projects; readers looking for a gradual, practical entry into 3D modeling will find its focused tutorial format especially relevant.