COMD COMD 3740 – 3D Animation & Modeling II
New York City College of Technology The City University of New York
Department of Communication Design
COMD 3740 – 3D Animation & Modeling II Course Description
This is an intermediate course in computer 3-D modeling, rendering and animation using the Maya software environment. Students will learn intermediate techniques for building models and scenes, animating objects, and rendering with complex surfaces. While exploring 3D design aesthetics, the course emphasizes the practical and technical features of the software. 2 cl hr, 2 lab hrs, 3 cr
Prerequisites:
COMD 3540, COMD 3640 Course Objectives
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES ASSESSMENT WEEKS APPLIED
For the successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
Evaluation methods and criteria
Create an intermediate level, non-deforming 3D model.
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
1 - 4
Understand how to use Image Planes to aid in modeling complex forms.
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
1
Unwrap UV texture surfaces to create texture maps
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
5
Create effective texture maps for color, bump, normal, specular and
transparency channels.
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
COMD COMD 3740 – 3D Animation & Modeling II Understand and apply lighting design to
a 3D rendered scene
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
6
Render quality images and animations using Mental Ray renderer
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
7
Use the Graph Editor to edit primary and secondary animation accurately
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
8 – 10
Apply intermediate level animation techniques to a sequence
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
8 – 10
Render scenes for compositing to still and motion graphics
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
7, 11
Use After Effects to composite rendered scenes with still motion graphics, sound and title sequences
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
11
Create animatic storyboards for a narrative animation
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
12
Design digital sets for animation sequences to support a narrative
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
12
Understand cinematic camera design in an animated sequence
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
13
Create intermediate level animation sequences to digital files
Students will demonstrate understanding through reading, laboratory exercises and project.
8 – 15
General Education Outcomes
General Education Outcome covered: How the outcome is covered: Listening: The student will demonstrate
COMD COMD 3740 – 3D Animation & Modeling II from irrelevant information. instruction.
Speaking: The student will demonstrate the ability to articulate himself using relevant industry-‐specific language
Students will be able to evaluate the success of their own work, and other student work, through critiques. The student will demonstrate the ability to
evaluate strengths and relevance of arguments on a particular issue.
Students will be able to evaluate the success of their own work, and other student work, through critiques. The student will demonstrate the ability to
determine whether certain conclusions or consequences are supported by the information provided.
Students will be able to evaluate the success of their own work, and other student work, through critiques.
Teaching/Learning Methods ● Lectures
● Discussion and Readings ● Critiques
● Software Tutorials ● Project-based Labs Required Resources
● Lynda.com online training package: defined by the instructor
● Rendering and Lighting – Digital sets: http://www.3drender.com/challenges/index.htm ● Download Maya to personal computer or a minimum of 8 lab hours on campus a week ● 4 GB or larger portable file storage
● Pen or pencil and dedicated notebook
Course References
● Digital Tutors Online training: http://www.digitaltutors.com/11/index.php ● The Gnomon Workshop online and downloadable training:
http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/
● Online community support in 3D Animation: http://www.cgsociety.org/
Attendance (College) and Lateness (Department) Policies: A class roster roll will be taken at the beginning of each class. Only two absences may be allowed. After two absences, a student may be withdrawn because of unsatisfactory attendance (code WU). Students arriving after the roll is taken will be marked “late.” Students may be notified at the earliest opportunity in class after they have been absent or late. After being absent two times or equivalent (2 lateness = 1
COMD COMD 3740 – 3D Animation & Modeling II absence), a student may be asked to withdraw from the class (code W before the College drop deadline) or may be withdrawn from the class (code WU).
Academic Integrity Standards: Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and at New York City College of Technology and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. Grading
● Vehicle Model Project: 25%
● Lighting & Rendering Project: 20%
● Set Driven Key/ Custom Controls Animation Assignment: 5%
● Graph Editor Tutorials: 10%
● Vehicle Chase Animation Project: 40%
Topics
WEEK Lecture Topic Laboratory Exercise Homework Assignment
1 Review Maya Interface & Basic Modeling Tools | Image Planes
Create 3D models with modeling tools
Vehicle Model Project – Tutorial Provided
2 Intermediate Modeling Techniques: Curves, Surfaces, and Meshes
Explore techniques for making 3D models.
Vehicle Model Project – Tutorial Provided
3 Intermediate Modeling Techniques: Curves, Surfaces, and Meshes
Explore techniques for making 3D models.
Vehicle Model Project – Tutorial Provided
4 Turntable Animation of Models Create a turntable animation of a model.
Vehicle Model Project – Tutorial Provided
5 UV Texture Maps, Color, Bump, Specular, Normal and
Transparency Maps
Unwrap UVs | Export to Photoshop to create texture maps
Lighting & Rendering Project
6 Lighting Techniques: for indoor / outdoor sets
Create lighting rigs for digital sets
Lighting & Rendering Project
COMD COMD 3740 – 3D Animation & Modeling II 7 Rendering with Mental Ray
Renderer
Explore render techniques using Mental Ray
Lighting & Rendering Project
8 Review Basic Animation Techniques | Intermediate Animation Techniques
Practice using: keyframes, joint tool, hierarchy animation, motions paths, set driven key animation and custom controls
Set Driven Key/ Custom Controls Animation Assignment
9 Using the Graph Editor for refining and generating animation
Explore techniques for using the Graph Editor
Graph Editor Tutorials
10 Using the Graph Editor for refining and generating animation
Explore techniques for using the Graph Editor
Vehicle Chase Animation Project: Storyboards
11 Animatics | Render to Targa files for compositing in After Effects
Practice processing renders and composting it in After Effects Vehicle Chase Animation Project: Animatics
12 Designing Digital Sets Explore techniques for digital sets: modeling, lighting and animation
Vehicle Chase Animation Project: Models & Textures
13 Using cameras to support narrative animation | Using Maya’s Sequencer for non-linear editing
Explore camera tools and strategies for showing narrative in animation
Vehicle Chase Animation Project: Animation
14 Lab Work on projects Vehicle Chase
Animation Project: Render & Composite
