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Total Access FAQ

  • Streaming access to all lessons (course list)
  • Project file downloads
  • 500+ videos
  • 100+ hours of content
  • New content every month

General

What is Total Access?
Full access to a growing library of courses and tutorials designed for students, artists and TDs interested in creating production-quality tools for animation, VFX and games.
Can you recommend a learning path?

If you are new to Python and/or programming then I would strongly recommend starting with the free Python for Maya series.

That being said, for students who are comfortable with the fundamentals of Python then it would really depend on your area(s) of interest.

If you would like to build tools for Maya, especially those with a strong UI component then the Qt for Python and Maya series is essential. This is an ongoing update to the PySide2 for Maya series, which is still relevent, and the second volume is highly recommended.

After that you can branch out into the Maya Tools series to really get an understanding for what is involved in creating production quality tools.

If you are more interested in learning to extend Maya through the API then the entire Maya Python API series is recommended. For the most part, it is independent of the other series and the two requirements are a strong understanding of both Maya and Python. This can also be combined with the Maya API: Python to C++ series if you would like to learn the ins and outs of the C++ API.

The Production Pipeline series is, for the most part, independent of the other series and the courses can be done at any time.

It should also be said that courses do not need to be completed in order (except for maybe the first volumes in PySide2 for Maya and Maya Python API series). You can move between different sections of different courses depending on what you would like to learn first.

How do I sign-up?

For new students the Teachable platform is recommended and you can sign-up here.

As an alternative, courses and new content are available through Patreon and you can sign-up here.

How much does it cost?
Total Access is available as a monthly subscription for $19 USD per month.
Can I subscribe annually?

Annual subscriptions are available on the Teachable platform and are offered at a discount.

Can I preview a course?

Each course has one or more "free preview" lessons. These lessons can be viewed at no cost and without needing to sign-up.

Teachable or Patreon? Why are there two platforms?

When I first started releasing course content in 2018, I was testing the waters to see if there was interest in content focused on the technical side of the production pipeline. With a limited amount of content and a desire to focus mostly on new videos, Patreon, at the time met the general requirements for the project.

That being said, as the number of courses (and videos) increased, the limitations of Patreon became more and more evident and I started looking for platforms that could provide students with an improved learning experience. Enter Teachable.

Teachable is a platform specifically designed to deliver online courses. It offers many of the features you would find on a site like Udemy. Courses are fully integrated with easy navigation between lessons, completed lessons are tracked so students know exactly where they left off and graded quizzes have become an option.

While the longer term plan is to move entirely to Teachable, in the short term I will continue to offer new Total Access content on both platforms.

For new subscribers I would highly recommend signing up through Teachable for the best learning experience.

Teachable Subscribers

What is Teachable?

Teachable is a platform designed specifically for the deliver online courses. It offers many of the features you would find on a site like Udemy.

Courses are fully integrated with easy navigation between lessons, completed lessons are tracked so students know exactly where they left off and graded quizzes are an option.

When are Teachable subscriptions rebilled?

Teachable subscriptions are renewed monthly based on the date of enrollment.

For example, if you signed up on the 15th of March you would be rebilled on the 15th of April, 15th of May, etc...

When a subscription is cancelled you will continue to have access until the end of your current billing cycle.

What is the best way to follow a course?

Courses on Teachable are self-contained and contain a playlist of all lessons allowing for quick and easy navigation.

Links to each course are available through Teachable or the Courses page.

Course progress is tracked through the playlist and lessons are marked as completed when finished allowing students to easily track their progress.

Where can I download the project files?

The project files are included as a downloadable attachment on the first lesson of each course.

Patreon Subscribers

What is Patreon?

Patreon is a general purpose membership platform that connects content creators with supporters.

When are Patreon subscriptions rebilled?

As of October 1, 2022, Patreon subscriptions are renewed monthly based on the date of enrollment.

For example, if you signed up on the 15th of March you would be rebilled on the 15th of April, 15th of May, etc...

When a subscription is cancelled you will continue to have access until the end of your current billing cycle.

What is the best way to follow a course?

Starting on the Courses page, select your course using the Patreon link

From the individual course page you will have direct links to individual lessons on Patreon.

Additionally, each lesson on Patreon has links to the next lesson, table of contents and project files.

Where can I download the project files?

All of the project files for Patreon subscribers can be downloaded here.