COURSE# AN310: 3-D Computer Animation
Location: Mac Lab 3 – Room 004
Instructor: Michael Shaw
Time: Monday and Wednesday 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM, Mac Lab 3
(Room 202)
Course Description:
Welcome to AN310! This course explores the finer workings of
producing computer-generated 3-D content and the processes we have at our
disposal for achieving this endeavor!
The course utilizes modern 3-D and CGI tools to create environments, high-resolution
models, cinematic studio lighting and realistic lighting, as well as introductory
animation and video renders! The computers are outfitted with all the software
needed to make the work of your choosing!
While in this class, every student will be given the chance later in the
semester to pick a focus for a “final 3-D assignment,” where the student will
be given the opportunity to produce content within a centralized medium and
theme.
Methods of Study – The Flow of Class is as follows:
Class Readings / Video Demonstrations:
Due to the nature of our content, each week,
students will be given video demonstrations and reference material to cover new
course topics. This will serve as preparation for the next class’s content as
well as permanent resources for you!
In-class discussion and lessons:
Often we will reflect on the material in
class via group discussion. This is an opportunity to field questions and
prepare us for content creation. Often
we will consider creation strategies, rendering methods, and previously
established development pipelines, to create our own art.
Interactive Demonstrations:
For our class: Demonstrations will often be
given with an interactive twist. You will be asked to demonstrate a skill,
which we will then add on to, piece by piece.
This will be done to help you learn, implement, and master new
techniques for art making within this class! 3-D art is generated via many
different avenues. To strengthen your skills, each lesson builds off of the
last.
In addition to this: You can
download a copy of Maya 2016, 2017 and Mudbox from the Autodesk website for
free. They will be compatible with the computers in Mac Lab 3, so you will be
able to do work from home computers/laptops, granted you have the proper
software updates! The goal of all class work and lessons will be to give you
the tools necessary to develop into a better artist, character modeler, designer,
and animator!
Note: A majority of the content of this class
will be produced in MAYA 2016, to teach you rendering and texturing concepts
that are important to the history of 3-D production and common development
practices.
Projects: Projects will be divided into two types:
In-Class projects will be
shorter assignments tied to demonstrations. These are projects that will help
you understand and implement new concepts.
Often they will be due at the end of class, or by the end of the
following class.
Large-scale projects will be the longer assignments that work
towards building a body of work you will turn in at the end of the
semester. These projects include short sequences, models, environments, and
animation tests. For some of these
assignments, you will be given the choice to work together as a group, or
alone. Prior to the first assignment where this is a possibility, we will have
a day where we discuss group dynamics. Each project will be executed in stages
including the following: Investigation; Brainstorming; Creation; Reflection;
Revision.
Reflection time will be given for the day
after a project is turned in. We will take a day to review all assignments, and
come back to class with our findings in an open discussion. This process gives
you the tools to leave what (for many of you) is your final animation class
with the ability to direct yourself into new avenues of exploration! This will
help you quite a bit when we get to professional development.
Class time will be divided between
instruction and implementation, both often occurring at once. You will be notified of any scheduled studio
days for projects. On those days, I will be in class and serve as a guide to
help with problems, critique assignments, and answer questions!
Fields of Study Include:
----------------------------------------
Basic Maya Interface: Learning how
to work in 3-D.
Lighting: How to create bones for a 3-D
Character of your creation, and how to make the subsequent skeleton function
properly within an animation. (We actually have a software granted to us by a
third party to help alleviate this process! i.e. save time!)
Texturing: The meat of this class: How to apply your 2-D animation skills in a
3D environment, and make believably moving and acting 3-D characters!
Modeling: What it is, how to do it, and how
to do it faster?
Mudbox and Organic Modeling: How
to use sculpting software to build more organic-looking models, and integrate
them into your workflow!
Cinematography: Using
Cameras in 3-D Animation
Blend Shapes: Making an
animated objections morph and act in space.
Basic Character Animation: Using
a pre-constructed rig to practice character animation and movement!
DEPARTMENTAL OUTCOMES:
Students will demonstrate
the capability to organize and present concepts verbally.
Students will demonstrate
the capability to organize and present concepts audibly.
Students will produce
evidence of an understanding of the methods of 3-D computer graphics production.
Students will be able to
coherently communicate the content of their 3-D productions.
Students will demonstrate
the time management skills necessary to complete the entire 3-D art creation
process.
Students will demonstrate
the capability to effectively publish their animation art via the web, and
integrate it into their current body of work.
PROFESSIONAL OUTCOMES:
Students will demonstrate
the ability to write an artist statement.
Students will demonstrate
the ability to document their work.
Students will demonstrate
basic computer/software literacy applicable to their field.
Students will demonstrate
the ability to give a public presentation about their work.
Students will demonstrate
the ability to research to stay current in their field.
Students will demonstrate
basic knowledge of communication etiquette in their field.
Students
will demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively.
-------Assignments
and Requirements ------
You are
required to attend class everyday, on time. We will start class @ 1:00 PM
every day, unless otherwise noted. The first 7 minutes of class will be
for students to load projects and assemble assignments for the day. Any student
in the door after 9:07 will be considered tardy. As written the Student
Handbook, students who miss 6 days of class (three weeks of course instruction)
will fail the course. Three Tardies = 1 Absence. This will be strictly
enforced. Prior to this event, any student that must miss a day needs to notify
me ahead of time, long before the start of class. Anyone who wonders into
class at least 30 minutes after class begins will be considered absent for the
rest of the day. 4 absences (two weeks worth of absences) result in a loss of
one letter grade.
------- IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ARE ABSENT
--------
If you are absent, you must catch up on assignments
via consulting other students first, and myself via email second. I reserve the
right to notify students ahead of time for any day that MUST NOT BE MISSED due
to course content be it finals, assessments, midterms, or other coursework. It is YOUR responsibility to stay caught up
in class during the semester.
----Turning in
Assignments -----
Each Assignment will be due on a scheduled date, given at the
beginning of the assignment. Part of your grade depends on turning each
of your assignments in on time at designated checkpoints. As long as you are meeting current deadlines,
all assignments can be turned in for final review at the end of the
semester. Any missed checkpoints during
the semester will factor into your final grade for that project/assignment.
Supplies:
1)
Sketchbook and Notebook for taking notes. You will want to keep
track of your notes and illustrations. I expect you to make comments and
constantly critique your own work, in addition to others!
2)
External Hard Drive: Can purchase online and
use with other classes. If you already have it, great! You will need it to
properly save and catalogue your 3-D art. (Proper organization is paramount in
3-D asset creation.) The Computers
primarily use USB 3.0 connections. The hard drives listed below are examples, compatible
with Mac and PC, but require formatting to go cross-platform.
Western
Digital Example:
4)
Additional Reading
materials will be given periodically in class.
GRADING:
Each assignment will be awarded a grade based on the following
rubric. Plus(+) and minus(-) will denote
more or less intricate mastery of objectives. Students will be allowed to
turn in higher-quality versions of their projects at midterm for a higher grade
as long at the original project was turned in at specific checkpoints.
Group assignments will be graded on individual achievement, and
group achievement. Both grades count 50% of any group assignment.
A - Excellent. Assignment objectives are completed above and beyond the
course requirements to great effort and great success. Technical and
conceptual skills are on display in a masterfully coherent manner with clean
craftsmanship.
B - Proficient. The assignment completed
demonstrates most mastery of the skills presented, and objectives are completed
beyond course goals. Much effort, and a clear and concise direction shines
through the final result. There are still a few issues that can be pushed
further.
C - Competent. The assignment completed
demonstrates relative mastery of the skills presented, and objectives are
completed to average sufficiency. Assignments are successful, and
craftsmanship and technical skills are on display -- All are completed at an
average level.
D - Deficient. The assignments completed are missing demonstrations of the
skills presented, and/or required objectives have yet to be completed. There
are conceptual and technical flaws and hurdles that have not been overcome.
F - Failure. The majority of the project
is either not completed, and/or objectives for assignment are not met.
Final Grades will be based on a comprehensive average of all of
your projects, as well as midterm and final milestones for portfolio upkeep.
ON MISSING PROJECTS
AND DELETED SAVES: Always BACK UP YOUR
FILES IN THREE SEPARATE PLACES.
In the event that you lose your projects, remember that I can not
grade what does not exist! You are
solely responsible for the security of your files. Your files are not 100%
secure on the server or computer. You should have multiple copies on multiple
sources at all times. Utilize Google drive, external hard drives, cloud storage
solutions like Dropbox, our school server and other uses!
TO PREVENT A LOSS OF
DATA WHEN IN CLASS:
Stay organized when saving your projects. Keep your class
information in a giant folder, and be sure to back up your projects after class
each day. Work from the Documents folder on the computer’s hard drive. DO NOT rely on SMALL FLASH DRIVES UNDER
4GB, or the School Desktop for saving your art. Remember that you can
always back up your artwork to the school server.
Copyright
LEARNING ACCOMMODATIONS:
In compliance with MCA policy and equal access laws, I am
available to discuss appropriate academic accommodations that you may require
as a student with a disability. Request for academic accommodations need to be
made during the first week of the semester, except for unusual circumstances,
so arrangements can be made. (more below under TITLE IX POLICIES)
HEALTH and SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
As more and more work, education and recreation involves
computers, everyone needs to be aware of the hazard of Repetitive Strain Injury
to the hands and arms resulting from the use of computer keyboards and
mice. This can be a serious and very painful condition that is far easier
to prevent that cure once contracted, and can occur even in young physically
fit individuals.
Paul Marxhausen - visit his site below.
http://eeshop.unl.edu/rsi.html
http://www.mydailyyoga.com/yoga/rsi.html
DEPARTMENT AND LAB POLICIES:
1. Immediately submit an online
tech request to report any
problems with a lab computer or printer.
2. Main MCA computing info site = mca.edu/labs -- go here for
answers to frequently asked questions and online tutorials for MCA specific
technologies.
3. Food and Drinks must be kept closed and in designated areas
(table against wall, or similar area away from computers) to prevent spillage.
4. Keep the Lab Clean. Dispose of all trash -- Paper scraps, old
media etc. Dispose of food in the receptacles in the SLEAZE and SLIME to
prevent ants.
5. Leave your workstation in an orderly fashion. All materials
left on the desktop will be deleted periodically to conserve virtual memory.
Organize files within the documents folder on your account. Delete your trash
from your desktop and trash bin.
6. Back up work to an external source. Remember files are only
safe if they exist in 3 separate locations. MCA servers are not to be
considered secure and used only for temporary storage.
7. Log Out of your workstation prior to your departure. Upon your
departure, the chair should be pushed in. Your monitor, keyboard and mouse
should be placed in their proper positions.
OSHA MANDATE:
Memphis College of Art students and faculty are required to follow
the standards detailed in the "OSHA” Materials guidelines.
TITLE IX POLICIES:
Accommodations for
Students with Disabilities
Students with a special learning need are encouraged to let their
instructor know at the beginning of the course. Reasonable accommodations (such
as extended time for exams, readers, scribes, and interpreters) are provided on
an individual basis as determined by documented need. It is the student’s
responsibility to provide authorized documentation to Student Affairs or
Achievement Center Support Staff as early in the semester as possible.
Course Content and
Title IX Reporting
All faculty and staff at Memphis College of Art are designated
“responsible employees” and required to report any information regarding sexual
harassment, sexual or domestic abuse, or sexual or domestic violence to the
Title IX Coordinator. Students should be aware that information disclosed to
faculty (whether through assignments or as a personal disclosure) that indicate
experiencing sexual harassment, abuse, or violence while a student at Memphis
College of Art requires that your instructor disclose this information to the
Title IX Coordinator to ensure students’ safety and welfare are addressed. The
Title IX Coordinator will contact you and/or those involved about
accommodations, remedies, and resources available at Memphis College of Art.
More information about Title IX policies and procedures can be found on the Title IX webpage at mca.edu.
