DT-116 Fall 2012 Syllabus

DT-116-1: Introduction 3d Modeling, Texturing, and Animation using Maya
Instructor: Greg Lemon
M-W 7:30 – 10:15
Prerequisite: none
3 Units

greg.lemon @ gmail.com

This is a 3d digital skills course designed to teach the fundamental aspects of modeling, shading, and animation through a series of creative projects in Autodesk: Maya. Students will explore Maya’s dynamic, node-based architecture, developing the technical skills and conceptual understanding needed to create a wide range of 3d digital artwork.

Learning outcomes:

This class will provide students with the technical skills needed to produce high-quality digital, three dimensional artwork, while maintaining an overarching focus on creativity, exploration and experimentation through a visual context.

Attendance policy:
Missing any more than four (4) classes will result in a failing (F) grade.

Late work policy:
1 class late – B grade maximum
2 classes late – C grade maximum
3 classes late – D grade maximum
4 classes late - F

Suggested resources:
www.cgtalk.com
www.awn.com
www.learning-maya.com
www.creativecrash.com
http://www.freemayavideotutorials.com/
http://motionographer.com/

Maya Basics

Required Materials:
Graph paper notebook and pen/pencil.


Projects and grade percentages:

Class Participation – ongoing, due : every class - 10%

• Be on time and prepared for class.
• Comment on and critique other people's work.
• Ask questions and be involved in discussions.

Project 1 – Primitive Composition - 1 week, due Wednesday 9/5 – 20 %

• Create sketches of what you want to create. Think landscape, portrait, or even abstract.
• Use primitive geometry and lights to create the needed shapes and color.
• Frame your composition and render three images.
• Fall 09 Project 1 Gallery

Project 2 – Still Life - 4.5 weeks, due Friday 10/5 – 20 %

• Choose an environment (inside or out) that you would like to create.
• Find reference images that support your idea.
• Use advanced modeling techniques to create detailed the needed organic and non-organic objects.
• Shade and texture your scene using lights, procedural shaders and texture maps.
• Fall 08 Project 2 Gallery

Project 3 – Animated Scene - 4.5 weeks, due Wednesday 11/7 - 20 %

• Think of a simple character/scene that you want to create and animate.
• Stuffed animals and toys work great – think simple!
• Think of the elements and actions you want to animate; walking, jumping, flying, twisting, opening, etc.
• Create storyboards to previsualize your actions and shots.
• Find reference footage of the types of movement and/or acting you want to create.
• Rig your character/environment for animation using joints, deformers, skinning, particle systems and cloth.
• Animate your scene and render it out as a quicktime movie.
• Should be 10-20 seconds in length.

Project 4 - Final project; 4.5 weeks, due Friday 12/7 – 30 %

• Still scene with complex models and textures.
• OR
• Moving scene with complex animation and FX.

Grading standards:

A -
work demonstrates both creative and technical excellence in all regards. Most critiques are subjective and based more on artistic opinion rather than legitimate concerns of quality; effort is quite visible.

B-
work is free from jarring, unintentional artifacts and clearly demonstrates sufficient command of both the medium and creative ability.

C-
work shows decent effort and focus, and displays effort that balances apparent technical and creative errors/artifacts.

D-
work lacks effort, displays numerous poor creative and technical choices.

F-
work is not turned in.