Introduction to 3-Dimensional Modeling

9/20

·     Review syllabus, procedures and class rules.

·     Cover basic Maya User Interface Modes.

·      Work through hotkeys (F2-F4) and UI Modes.

·      Read Pages 28-48 in O’Rourke

Next Mon.

9/21

·     Internet research on 3D graphics.

·      Look up relevant web sites related to 3D animation or video games.

·      Write a two-paragraph summary on what was found, and why it was interesting.

Next Day

9/22

·     Maya User Interface

·     Selecting method in Maya

·     Channel Box

·     G092299.doc

·      Have students practice using the Channel Box and UI Mode shortcuts.

9/23

·     Coordinate Systems

·     Transformations

·     Viewing Windows

·     Pivot Points

·     G092399.doc

·      Experiment with changing an objects pivot point.

·      Experiment with transforming objects in world space.

9/24

·     Modeling with Primitives

·     Creating Text

·     Extrusion

·     G092499.doc

·      Have the students create several primitive objects.

·      Have students create text objects and extrude/bevel them.

·      Find examples of logos and icons in the world around you. Bring in at least three.

·      Begin to think about your own personal logo.

Next Mon.

9/27

·      Review Text and extrusion tools.

·      G092499.doc

·      Have the students present the logos they found, discuss their effectiveness and design.

·      Create your own personal logo. Bring in several drawings on graph paper.

Tues.

9/28

·      Local/Global coordinate system and transformations.

·      Duplicate functions.

·      G092399.doc

·      Critique student logo designs.

·      Examine the orbital model of the sun-earth and moon, using local coordinate system rotation.

·      Begin modeling your personal logo.

·      Study for Quiz on O’Rourke reading and lecture.

Wed.

9/29

·      Duplicating objects.

·      Grouping objects.

·      Have students experiment with grouping objects together.

·      Have students duplicate several objects.

·      Continue working on personal logo.

·      Take home Quiz #1 handed out. (Coordinate systems and primitives)

·      quiz1.doc

Quiz

(Thurs.)

Logo (Fri.)

9/30

·      Continue working on logo.

·      Cover duplication more closely.

·      Gather Quiz #1

10/1

·      Finalize work on logos.

·      Finish modeling logos.

·      Print out rendered images.

·      Gather sketches and final renders.

10/4

·      Learning Maya Tutorial

·      Chapter 1

·      Read Pages 53-60 in O’Rourke

Next Mon.

10/5

·      Maya Interface

·      Hypergraph

·      Chapter 2

10/6

·      Hierarchical Modeling

·      Parenting

·      Grouping Review

·      Have students continue working on Maya Tutorial, with emphasis on hierarchy.

10/7

·      Graph editor

·      Chapter 3

10/8

·      Continue Maya Tutorial

·      Chapter 4

10/11

·      Columbus Day

10/12

·      Spline Based Modeling

·      G101299.doc

·      Bouncing Ball Tutorial

10/13

·      Creating Surfaces from Curves

·      G101399.doc

·      Bouncing Ball Tutorial

·      Read Pages 13-28 in O’Rourke.

Next Mon.

10/14

·      Curve Editing Techniques

·      Bouncing Ball Tutorial

·      Look at the world around you, and sketch an object in three views. And due a shaded perspective drawing.

Fri.

10/15

·      Work on nature modeling using only splines.

·      Translate sketches into 3 dimensional models.

10/18

·      Spline-based modeling review.

·      Parts of a curve.

·      Revolve and Loft surfaces

·      Build a baseball cap using only splines.

Thurs.

10/19

·      Generating Curves

·      Lofting

·      Extrusion Paths

·      Construction History

·      Continue baseball hat exercise.

10/20

·      Project Folder Hierarchy

·      Render Global Settings

·      Network Image Transfer

·      Have students create a new project, setup render settings, and transfer the final image to a central render folder.

·      Continue working on baseball hat.

10/21

·      Planar Surface Editing (removing construction history)

·      How to build a leaf using a planar surface.

·      Take home Quiz #2 handed out. (Curves)

·      quiz2.doc

Next Mon.

10/22

·      Watch Historical Siggraph tapes of CG in 1960’s.

·      Watch Larry Cuba films as reference for Sandin work.

·      Watch Sandin IP, synthesized video pieces.

·      Discuss relevance of historical documents in CG.

·      Relate the power of their desktop computers to the massive behemoths of CG past.

10/25

·      Dan Sandin Lecture at SAIC.

·      Write a 2 page paper on VR, Dan Sandin, EVL, Josephine Anstey, Margaret Dolinski, or the CAVE.

Next Mon.

10/26

·      Lighting in the Real World

·      Concepts in real world lighting.

·      Key, back, fill, and set lighting placement.

·      Read pages 88-98 in O’Rourke

10/27

·      Lighting in Maya

·      G102799.doc

·      Ambient, point, spot, and directional light in Maya.

·      Placement techniques, and evaluation using hardware lighting and Renderview.

10/28

·      Expressive lighting

·      Lighting set.mb

·      \Desktop\Images\set.mb

·      Review how you would light a real world set.

·      Classroom has actual lighting fixtures that throw a specific type of light.

·      Student begins applying lights to a predefined set built by the teacher.

Next Thur.

10/29

In Service Day (no classes)

11/1

·      Lighting Continued

·      Student continues lighting the restaurant set.

·    Collect two page paper on Sandin, CAVE, et al.

11/2

·      Lighting Continued

·      Student continues lighting the restaurant set.

11/3

·      Lighting Continued

·      Student continues lighting the restaurant set.

11/4

·      Lighting Continued

·      Student continues lighting the restaurant set.

· Fill out self-critique form for the lighting assignment.

· Begin sketching items/objects that are relevant to you. You will arrange them in a self-portrait that you will build in 3 dimensions.

(Critic)

Next Mon.

(Self portrait

sketch)

Next Tues.

11/5

·      “Visions of Light: documentary

·      Watch the Vision of Light documentary, discuss how light can be used effectively to establish mood.

·    A short two paragraph description of how lighting was used in either a television program or a movie.

Next Thur,

11/8

·      Lighting special effects.

·      Have the students experiment with glow, halo, fog, and lens flare.

·      Emphasis on cheese factor.

·    Collect lighting assignment self critiques.

11/9

·      Begin Self Portrait

·      Review student sketches.

·      Discuss possibilities in objects as metaphors for people.

·      Explain the expanded definition of self-portrait, (eg. iconography in Renaissance painting)

11/10

·      Self Portrait Continued

·      Student continues developing their self-portrait.

11/11

·      Self Portrait Continued

·      Student continues developing their self-portrait.

·    Collect lighting essay.

11/12

·      Self Portrait Continued

·     Student continues developing their self-portrait.

11/15

·      Rendering Basics

·      G102799.doc

·      Render Globals

·      Save Batch Render

·      Renderview

11/16

·      Self Portrait Continued

11/17

·      Self Portrait Continued

11/18

·      Self Portrait Continued

11/19

·      Self Portrait Continued

11/22

·      Self Portrait Continued

·      Quiz #3, taken in class, open notes.

·      quiz3.doc

11/23

·      Self Portrait Continued

·       

11/24

·      Self Portrait Continued

·    Self Portrait Render

·    Short paragraph about self-portrait, why is it important, relevant to you.

(Essay) Next Mon.

11/25

Thanksgiving (no classes)

11/26

Thanksgiving (no classes)

11/29

·      Render Self Portraits

·      Prep for Open House

·    Type out and print self-portrait paragraphs for Gallery exhibition.

11/30

·      Attaching curves and surfaces.

·      G112999.doc

·      Attempt to attach several curves together. Use both linear and cubic degree curves to achieve a line with smoothness in one area, and sharp angularity in another.

12/1

·      Basic surface trimming.

·      G112999.doc

·      Attempt cutting out a hole in a plane, using various methods of intersecting surfaces, projecting curves, and trimming surfaces.

·      Read pages 61-64 in O’Rourke

12/2

·      Build a soda can.

·    Using attach, and trim tools, build a soda can, complete with multiple color aluminum, ridges, and a press tab.

Next Tues.

12/3

·      Soda Can Continued.

12/6

·      Open House

12/7

·      Soda Can Continued.

·       

12/8

·      Art Institute Field Trip to view Masks from Africa and Central America.

·      Students should sketch out several masks, making note of how the mask might have been made, or used during its lifetime.

·      They should think about things that make their heritage special, and begin to examine ways of creating that relevance in a ritual mask.

·    Sketch out your own tribal mask. Pay particular attention to details that represent your familial history.

Due Mon.

12/9

·      Critique and Review Soda Cans

·      Have students verbally explain the process they went through. What tools did they use? Why did they go that route?

12/10

·      One on one review of mask sketches for those who are ready.

·      Continued work on soda cans for those that need it.

12/13

·      Masks

·     Review mask sketches in class, one on one. No student can begin modeling without first discussing their sketches with teacher.

·     Soda Can Finally Due.

12/14

·      Begin mask building

·      Cover loft surfaces again.

·      Explain how curves on surfaces could be used to loft off a surface onto a horn, or other outgrowth.

12/15

·      Mask Building Continued

·      Review trim surfaces for cutting out eyes.

12/16

·      Mask Building Continued

·      Help students solidify their final design.

12/17

·      Mask Building Continued

12/20

Holiday Break

12/21

Holiday Break

12/22

Holiday Break

12/23

Holiday Break

12/24

Holiday Break

12/27

Holiday Break

12/28

Holiday Break

12/29

Holiday Break

12/30

Holiday Break

12/31

Holiday Break

1/3

·      Mask Building Continued

1/4

·      Masks Critique

·     Have students bring their masks up to the front of the class and share their experiences with the other students.

·     Ask them to discuss meaning, form, design, and emotions.

1/5

·      Fantasia 2000 Field Trip

·    Write a 2-page essay on Fantasia 2000, IMAX, or Walt Disney.

(Essay)Due Next Fri.

1/6

·      Materials

·      G010400.doc

·     Students should create several shaders, playing with common material properties like color, transparency, etc.

·    Read Pages 98-102 in O’Rourke

1/7

·      Materials Continued

1/10

·      Second Quarter Assessment

·    Using only four curves and a sphere (Provided in assess.mb), students are to make at least three flowers, and shade them with three different materials.

Next Fri.

1/11

·      Assessment Continued

1/12

·      Assessment Continued

1/13

·      Assessment Continued

1/14

·      Assessment Continued

·    Fantasia papers due.

1/17

·      Assessment Continued

1/18

·      Assessment Continued

1/19

·      Assessment Continued

1/20

·      Assessment Continued

1/21

Semester End

·    Assessment due.

1/24

·      Assessment Critique.

·    Discuss design and construction methods.

·    Explore composition.

1/25

·      Texture Mapping

·      G012300.doc

·    U,V, coordinates.

·    Normal Textures.

·    Read Pages 112-124 in O’Rourke

1/26

·      Texture Mapping Continued

·    2D Projection Textures.

1/27

·      Texture Mapping Continued

·    3D Placement and Utility Nodes.

·    Read Pages 124-127 in O’Rourke

1/28

·      Texture Mapping

·      Make 4 identical objects. Texture them the same procedural texture, only applied in different ways. (2d normal, 2d projected, 3d placement, etc…)

Mon.

1/31

·      Textures Continued

2/1

·      MCA Architecture Field Trip

·    Students should sketch freestanding models, concept sketches, elevations, photos, etc.

·    Mining for architectural ideas for their next project.

·    Devise preliminary sketches of a room that you will design. The only parameters being that you have to use the door in door.mb as your point of entry and exit. The door is not to be scaled or altered in any way, save shader application.

2/2

·      Floor Plans/ Elevation

·      Students will create orthographic drawings of their room’s floor plan.

2/3

·      Extrusion techniques for generating walls.

·      Planar techniques for generating ceilings and floors.

·    Students work on implementing their designs.

2/4

·      Trimming techniques for cutting out windows and doors.

·    Students work on implementing their designs.

2/7

·      Continue building rooms

2/8

·      Continue building rooms

2/9

·      Continue building rooms

2/10

·      Continue building rooms

2/11

·      Continue building rooms

2/14

·      Continue building rooms

2/15

·      Continue building rooms

2/16

·      Continue building rooms

2/17

·      Continue building rooms

2/18

·      Continue building rooms

2/21

Holiday

2/22

·      Continue building rooms

2/23

·      Continue building rooms

2/24

·      Continue building rooms

2/25

·      Continue building rooms

2/28

·      Continue building rooms

2/29

·      Continue building rooms

3/1

·      Continue building rooms

3/2

·      Basic Digital Cameras

·      G030200.doc

·     Camera Creation, focal length, Render Globals.

3/3

·      Continue building rooms

3/6

Holiday

3/7

·      Continue building rooms

·     Students need to Render out four separate camera views.

·     Each view is to be similar to an architectural drawing. Traditionally down in marker or watercolor, they are now being rendered using sophisticated lighting models that create architectural spaces that look photorealistic.

3/8

·      Continue building rooms

3/9

·      Finish Building Rooms

·    Final Renders Due.

Due.

3/10

·      MFA Thesis show at EVL.

·    Students will get an opportunity to see the CAVE.