Preparing for the lessons

To ensure the lesson works as described, do these steps before beginning:

1. Review the Polygon Modeling lesson in this guide. Knowledge of polygonal modeling tools is essential to becoming proficient in subdivision surface modeling.
2. If you have not already done so, download the lesson files from http://www.autodesk.com/maya-tutorials. Copy the Getting Started 2013 Lesson Files zip file to your local drive and unzip the folder.
3. 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 GettingStartedMaya2013LessonData folder so that the project you create will be saved within this folder.
   • Enter Subdiv under Current Project.
   • Click Accept.

   The Subdiv project has now been created.

4. Create a new scene.
5. Select the Surfaces menu set.
6. Select Window > Settings/Preferences > Preferences.
7. In the Preferences window, select Subdivs from the Categories list to display the subdivision surface preferences.
8. In the Subdivs Display settings, set the Component display to Numbers, then click Save.

   Setting the subdivision components to display as numbers allows you to see the subdivision surface level directly on the surface.

   Note

   Before you perform the lessons in this book, ensure that the Interactive Creation option for primitives is turned off by selecting Create > Polygon Primitives > Interactive Creation. That is, ensure a check mark does not appear beside the menu item.

9. Make sure that Soft Selection is turned off by opening the Tool Settings Editor with the Select Tool active and disabling Soft Select.