Morphing has gotten a lot easier in Maya with the Shape Editor.
BlendShapes: Shape Editor
Morphing
This technique, also know as Shape Animation / Shape Blending, enable you to deform an object from one shape to another. The principle is simple: you have a base shape (the un-deformed state) and a target shape. By determining a percentage, for instance by pulling on a slider, you can by smoothly interpolate between the […]
Retopologizing using the Quad Draw tool
The Quad Draw tool in Maya is great for retopologizing a model. You basically draw a new mesh on top of the (probably way too high density scanned) mesh, Here is a video on the basics. To start drawing quads on top of an existing mesh Select the surface you want to re-topo (draw on) […]
Inserting an Edge loop around an Eye socket
A simple technique to enhance the topology of your model. The eye is boxed in and could use an extra edge loop around it, so why not just draw it in and collapse the resulting triangles? Note that the actual modeling is done without smooth preview. The Interactive Split Edge tool has been replaced by […]
Poly Modeling Demo
The following demo is showing the basics of poly-modeling in Maya 2015 on a Mac. Aimed at beginning modelers so I explain a number of basic Maya functions along the way. Hence the length.
Normal Map Online
This site lets you create normal maps based on images or a height map NormalMap-Online
Poly Haven (Textures, HDRI’s & Models)
Here are two sites with CC0 (public domain) licensed images, one with textures (including bump, normal, roughness, etc) and one with High Dynamic Range Images (HDRI) which you can use to light your scenes. PolyHaven (F.K.A. HDRI Haven & Texture Haven) which also have Models for download
Poly Modeling
Here are some notes on poly modeling (as opposed to box modeling, where you start with a basic shape and extrude / refine from there) In poly modeling we start from a single polygon and extrude edges to create adjacent polygons. It is always a good idea to create loops of polygons, around the eyes […]
Rendering your animation
Render Settings, Where does Maya save the images, Batch Rendering, Rendering a Sequence, Converting an image sequence to a movie
Box Modeling Demo
This continues where the Hermit Tutorial left off. Refining the model using the Multi Cut tool, adding geometry using Extrude.