Create a 3D Scene with Maya and Photoshop.

Alias Software’s Maya is well known as a cutting edge 3D application. Early in March of 2003, Alias Software won an Oscar for Scientific and Technical Achievement for the development of Maya. Among its many credits, Maya was used to create visual effects in several Oscar winning and nominated movies, including The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Spider-Man, and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. According to one of my sources, Maya is used for up to half of the available 3D work opportunities.

In Maya, there are many different ways to create a scene thanks to an overflowing toolbox of options. But even the most durable of 3D applications can benefit from the use of Photoshop, which can be used to build scene components, create textures, retouch existing backgrounds etc. Here, you’ll learn how to create a flying saucer in Maya, a Nebula in Photoshop and bring the two together in Maya to complete the image.