Getting Started lessons

About the Getting Started lessons
Getting Started with Maya introduces the different areas of Maya in a set of brief lessons. The lessons
are designed to let you learn these modules at your own pace.
If you are new to Maya, this manual gets you started on your learning path. If you are an existing user
or are transitioning from another 3D software application, Getting Started with Maya provides a starting
point for understanding features you haven't yet had time to learn.
If you are a user of Maya® Unlimited you can learn about the features of your software by going
through the lessons in Getting Started with Maya Unlimited which accompanies your software package. If
you are new to Maya, we recommend that you begin with the lessons contained within Getting Started
with Maya.
Getting Started with Maya is not meant to replace the documentation that comes with the Maya
software. Only the commands and options used in the lessons are explained in this manual. You will find
the Maya Help provides an excellent companion reference to the lessons and much more.
Many of the lessons in Getting Started with Maya contain one or more separate lessons that provide
step-by-step instructions for creating or accomplishing specific tasks within Maya. You can follow the
lessons in this book from start to finish or complete only the lessons that correspond to your interests
and needs.

 We recommend that any new Maya user begin by completing the following:
 Viewing the Essential Skills Movies that are available when you first start Maya.
 Completing the Maya Basics lessons (Chapter 2) which introduce many fundamental concepts and
    skills related to the Maya user interface.
Getting Started with Maya is also available for use within the Maya Help. This version of Getting Started
with Maya contains Apple® QuickTime® movies for some of the lessons that supplement the printed
version of the manual.
The Maya Help version of Getting Started with Maya includes an additional lesson chapter that is not
available in the printed version of this manual. The additional lesson chapter is called Expressions.
  To use the lessons from the Maya Help
1. In Maya, select Help > Tutorials.
    The Maya Help window displays the Getting Started with Maya lessons.
2. Click the tutorial you want to work through.
    The Maya Help displays the associated lessons for that tutorial.