Chapter 2

Virtual Filmmaking

The Autodesk® Maya® 3D package is a visual-effects studio designed with the art of filmmaking in mind. The virtual camera in Maya replicates real-world cameras as much as possible, while offering enough flexibility in its settings to allow for a wide variety of creative uses.

This chapter introduces the core concepts of how to work with the virtual cameras in Maya. Although the technical aspects of using the cameras are not difficult to learn, mastering the art of virtual cinematography can take years of practice.

As with all filmmaking, the story is told through the camera. The camera is used to manipulate the elements of the scene, letting viewers know what they need to focus on and how they should feel about what ...

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