Maya 3D Text Tutorial

Autodesk's Maya is a 3-D modeling and animation tool that can create advanced 3-D text and effects quickly. Maya has been widely used to create text for logos, movies and games. Using Maya to model 3-D text and apply effects to the text is a simple process that's both easy to learn and easy to build upon over time as you incorporate more advanced 3-D techniques.

Creating Text

Begin by creating a new scene in Maya. With a new clear whitespace, create your text using the "Create" menu and choosing the "Text" option. Choose the option box next to the text selection in the pull-down menu or you'll be given default fonts and text options to work with. This opens up the Text Curves Options window in which you can choose the text options according to the version of Maya you're using, and input your text. Options include font choices, the method of text creation (curves, trim, polygons or bevel). Choose Bevel to take advantage of advanced features available beginning with Maya 8, and to give your text the smooth looks that come with bevel edges.

Using the options window choose the width and depth of your 3D text and the style of the bevel used. You can choose an outer and inner bevel style like convex front edges for your letters or straight corners; these options just let you choose a style type that helps your fonts take on a 3D look. Once you've made your option choices hit create and your text will appear in the workspace in your chosen style.

The text as created is already in 3-D form. Each letter created is a separate object and you can move or alter a single letter without affecting the text as a whole.

Altering Text

Once created, you can alter your text in Maya by changing the nature of the created object using the object submenu accessible by clicking onto the 3-D text. Text model surfaces can be changed for manipulation, giving you access to a series of vertices for movable points on the text, or a series of alterable polygons. By changing the surface of the text, you'll be able to manipulate it like any other created object. This ability to alter the text as an object is especially useful if the font you're using contains undesirable artifacts when transformed into 3-D.

Texture and Effects

Since the text created in Maya is an actual 3-D object, it can have textures and effects applied to it like any other object created with the program. You can apply advanced features to your text like fluid effects, cloth or fur. You can even apply Maya's particle system, making your text emulate complex particle objects such as clouds, smoke or dust. Anything that can be done with a 3-D object can be done with text acting as the object.

References

• About Text

Resources

• The Maya Modeling Community
• Create Simple Text in Maya
• CG Society