To ensure the lessons work as described, do these steps before beginning:

1. If you have not already done so, download the lesson files from http://www.autodesk.com/maya-tutorials. Copy the Getting Started 2012 Lesson Files zip file to your local drive and unzip the folder.
2. Create a new project as follows:
   • Select File > Project Window and click the New button.
   • Click the folder icon in the Location field to navigate to the GettingStartedMaya2012LessonData folder so that the project you create will be saved within this folder.
   • Enter Fluids under Current Project.
   • Click Accept.

   The Fluids project has now been created.

3. Create a new scene.
4. Select the Dynamics menu set.

   Unless otherwise noted, the directions in this chapter for making menu selections assume you’ve already selected the Dynamics menu set.

5. Switch to shaded display mode for a hardware render view of the fluid simulations (Shading > Smooth Shade All on the view menu bar).
6. In the Time and Range slider, set the start frame to 1 and end frame to 200.
7. Before you perform the lessons in this chapter, ensure that the Interactive Creation option for primitives is turned off by selecting Create > Polygon Primitives > Interactive Creation and Create > NURBS Primitives > Interactive Creation. That is, ensure that a check mark does not appear beside either of these menu items.
8. Make sure you understand the basic usage of the animation playback controls. See the chapter entitled “Animation” in Getting Started with Maya or refer to the Maya Help.