Here is the basic Maya Interface: Menu Bar Common Menus – Standard File, Edit, Modify Create, Display, Window menus. Stay constant regardless of mode. Module Specific Menus – Vary based on the Maya module in which you’re operating. For example, you’ll have various polygon manipulation menus when in Modeling, and texturing tools when in Rendering. Status Line Module selector – Let’s you change which Maya module you’re using.

We typically use Modeling, Animation, and Rendering. Scene Icons – basic New, Open, and Save icons. Selection Mode – Let’s you specify how you want to select parts of your scene. By object, or By Component type. Selection Masks – Assuming you’re selecting by component type, these buttons allow you to specify the component on which you’d like to focus Snap Modes – Can be helpful in creating uniform layouts. Essentially objects etc… that you create will move to discrete coordinates as defined by a grid. Render Buttons – Shows you what your scene looks like when fully rendered. Show / Hide Editor Buttons – Lets you control what is seen at the screen’s far right

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