How to Make a Cylinder, Rectangle and Pyramid in Autodesk Maya

For people that are creative and have computer skills Autodesk Maya is a powerful 3D modeling and animation software. An individual can create his or her own virtual world whose only limit is the user's imagination. Nevertheless, before a person can create these worlds, learning basic structures like how to make a cylinder, rectangle and pyramid in Autodesk Maya provides the basis for all other modeling.

Instructions

Opening Autodesk Maya

1. Open the Autodesk Maya software application. Select "Start" from the main operating system menu.

2. Choose "Autodesk" from the program menu.

3. Activate the Autodesk Maya software by clicking on "Autodesk Maya" in the Autodesk program menu and then select "Maya" from that menu.

Making a Cylinder

1. Choose the "Polygons" tab from the main menu screen tabs.

2. Select the "Polygon Cylinder" tool from the polygon tab menu.

3. Draw the cylinder base on the grid by holding down the left mouse button until you have the correct size for the base of the cylinder. Then, release the mouse button once the size is optimal.

4. Adjust the height of the cylinder by moving the mouse over the cylinder base and then hold down the left mouse button while you move the mouse pointer up and away from the grid. Release the left mouse button when the cylinder is the right size. You should now have a cylinder in Autodesk Maya.

Making a Rectangle

1. Select the "Polygon Cube" tool from the polygon tab menu in Autodesk Maya.

2. Move the mouse pointer to the place on the grid you want to draw the rectangle.

3. Click on the left mouse button, hold it down and move the mouse in any direction to make the base for the rectangle.

4. Shift the mouse over the rectangle base and hold down the left mouse button. Then move the mouse pointer up and away from the grid to draw the height of the rectangle. Release the mouse button once you have the correct height.

Making a Pyramid

1. Choose the "Polygon Pyramid" tool from the polygon tab.

2. Position the mouse over the place on the grid where you want to draw the pyramid.

3. Hold down the left button on the mouse and move it any direction to construct the base of the pyramid on the grid. Once you have the right size for the base release the left mouse button.

4. Place the mouse pointer over the pyramid base and click the left mouse button. Now move the mouse point up and away from the grid to establish the correct height of the pyramid. Release the mouse button when you have the proper height for the pyramid.