Before beginning Getting Started with Maya, you should have a working knowledge of your computer’s operating system. You should know how to use a mouse, select menus, and enter text and commands from your keyboard. You should also know how to open and save files, copy files from a DVD to your hard drive, and be able to navigate your computer operating system’s file browser.

If you require an overview or review of these techniques, we recommend that you refer to the documentation that came with your particular computer and operating system.

If you are new to 3D computer graphics and animation, you might want to obtain The Art of Maya (ISBN: 978-1-8971-7747-1). It explains many concepts and techniques that are unique to the world of 3D computer graphics as they relate to Maya.