Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Icon
name
DescrIptIon
Select
Lets you select objects
Lasso Select
Allows for a free-form selection using a lasso marquee
Paint Selection Tool
Enables the Paint Selection tool
Translate (Move)
Moves the selection
Rotate
Rotates the selection
Scale
Scales the selection
Universal Manipulator
Allows for translation, rotation, and scale within one tool
Soft Modification
Allows you to modify an area with a gradual drop-off of its effect
Show Manipulator
Displays an object's specific manipulators
Current Tool display
Shows the currently selected tool (shown as blank)
The Channel Box/Layer Editor
The area running vertically to the right of the screen is usually used for the
Channel Box
.
This key element of the interface lists an object's
channels
: that is, the attributes of an
object that are most commonly animated and used for keyframing, as well as an object's
input and output connections. When an object is selected in one of the main views, its
name appears at the top of the Channel Box and its channels are listed vertically below
with their names to the left and their values to the right in text boxes. In the Channel
Box, you can edit all the channel values and rename the object itself. Below these val-
ues are the names of the nodes or objects to which the selection has input and output
connections.
Immediately under the Channel Box is the Layer Editor. This arrangement is conve-
nient for scenes that require multiple objects and require layered objects, renders, and
animations. Each type of layer is designated by the radial check box (Display, Render,
and Anim).
You can place some objects on Display layers that can be turned on or off to help orga-
nize a scene. Become familiar with this feature early, because it will be a valuable asset
when you animate complicated scenes.
Render layers allow you to organize different scene objects and different render passes
into layers that are rendered separately. You'll be introduced to rendering in layers later in
this topic. Finally, in this space you can access the use of Animation layers. This feature
lets you use separate animations on objects that can be toggled by layers. Because this is
an advanced feature in Maya, Animation layers aren't covered in this topic.
