What are the best free resources for learning Maya?

[GameGenie]

I'm not new to 3D, but I am new to Maya. I just started with the demo. I can sort of make my way around it and do some things, but it still doesn't feel natural to me yet. I was wondering if there were any free tutorials or transition guides to help me along. I'd like to be able to not regret a $4k purchase a year from now.

[Elmo]

hey game genie
im not sure where ui can get the best free stuff but i totally think u should pay little to get a digital tutors dvd on maya basics
they will show u so much in so little time it is really worth it
wheneever i need to learn a new app for work i dont break my head i just get a dvd and in couple days i got the basics

[GameGenie]

I know all about sites like Gnomon, DT, Eat3D, and so on. The reason why I asked for free is because I'm still evaluating the demo. I don't want to waste $60 on a DVD if I end up hating Maya. That'd be like asking me to buy custom floor mats for a car I'm test driving.

[UltraLord]

I don't think it'll be bad investment to learn it and not use it because you never know when you'll come across a company that says you have to use Maya instead of 3dMax or Softimage. Just get a DVD "Introduction to Maya" or whatever edition it is. I'm pretty sure its just an overview what new to that edition, but everything else is just the same. Think of this like buying custom floor mats, but still being able to reuse them in the new car you get. Even if you don't end up using it, it will be somewhere when you DO need it.

[TheQiwiMan]

Youtube man. Thousands of free user-made tutorials. They're nowhere near production quality, but random YT vids have taught me as much as several of my hi-cost Art Institute classes, and they were FREE, compared to several THOUSANDS of dollars.

Its a hassle to find good ones, but thats the fee for free!

[alfalfasprossen]

and don't underestimate what the maya documentation http://download.autodesk.com/global/..._us/index.html can teach you. there are actually some tutorials in there, which are compact to teach you what you want to know about maya, (and not 3d-basics in general.)

[robinb]

3D Buzz maybe?

http://www.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/sv_home.php

[cwaldo39]

I'd look at as many 3D tutorial websites as you can! There is plenty of free content out there, but if you were serious you might want to look at a certificate or an associates degree.