Setting up a scene in maya help!

[spencerfitch]

Hey whats up guys! I need some advise or help with setting up my room to block out within maya. Im trying to match the perspective of this room and match the camera. Im not sure where i need to create the image plane (in which viewport) or where to start building out the blocked walls etc. Any help or suggestions? If someone is kind enough to build the scene then show me what they did, that would be amazing! Just need the base cube for walls built out in the right perspective.

 

Thank!

[Scott Schroeder]

Unless you need to add something in the photo, there really isn't a need to match it exactly. Besides, you are probably missing the meta data on the camera for things like the lens used, the height of the camera, the angle, and if any image correction was used. Without this, especially the lens and the height and angle, you will really struggle to get the image lined up perfectly. You can draw perspective lines in Photoshop and use those to line things up.

 

You are better of just using the photo as ref and modeling from scratch. You can use visual and architectural queues in the photo to get started. For instance, the ceiling is probably 8 feet high as that is the most typical. Though it is a high end condo, so it could be 9 feet. However, judging by the cabinets going all the way up I'd bet the ceiling is the standard 8 feet. So if you have a 8 foot ceiling, you door heights are going to be 6'8". The door to the office is going to be no wider than 3' and so on. Just get your queues down and start modeling from there.

 

Just start creating stuff. Don't get too wrapped up in the technical.

 

Too bad you don't have Max 2014 as they have the new perspective matching tools which makes things a lot easier.

[spencerfitch]

Awesome Scott! Thanks for the advise.. I felt like I was dealing with a rats nest. Its always good to hear "just get to modeling" lol.

 

I do have the ability to get max 14 as I am a student. Do you know if you can export out the final piece to use in say maya?

[Scott Schroeder]

Yeah, you can export back to Maya with the FBX format. But for this instance, I'd just stick with Maya and work from there. Get the walls roughly laid out, sketching things on grid paper is a great way to start. Then just work your way around the room starting from the areas that are known. Then, in the areas that you are unsure of, just use your best guess and make it look right.

 

Remember, certain things will always be the same no matter what. Items such as seat heights and counter top heights are always going to be standardized. Those are the best way to start off in determining your scale.