Spring 2009 Information

| projects and grades for this class | calendar and deadlines for this semester | instructor's home |
Sandro Corsi's other classes: | Dimensional Design | 3D Modeling | 3D Animation | 2D Design |

This is a 3-units class that covers the basics of modeling, texturing, lighting, animating and rendering scenes created with 3D computer graphics programs. While completing hands-on projects, students review the fundamentals of animation and 3D design.

• Class goals:
  • Evaluate 3D graphics programs as visual tools.
  • Demonstrate operative skills in the use of 3D graphics software.
  • Produce images of 3D scenes on the computer for various media.
  • Understand the basics of 3D design.
• Evaluation:
  • The final course grade will be based on the student's performance in class and in completing assignments. See the general info page.
• Required textbook
  • Introducing Maya 2009
    • Derakhshani, Dariush
    • Sybex Books, 2009
    • ISBN 978-0-470-37237-1

  The book will be available for purchase at the Fullerton College bookstore.

• Optional texts
  • A number of printed manuals are available in the lab: ask the lab aide for them, with your student ID in hand.
  • Several relevant magazines are available in the Graphics lab. These are especially useful because of their timeliness.
  • Program reference manuals:
    • A variety of books are available providing step-by-step instruction and reference information. Make sure that any books you choose match the versions of the software you use.
    • The programs available in the lab usually come with electronic manuals and/or online help, which you can view directly on the computer.

Class Projects

1. Introduction to 3d graphics
   • In the lab:
     1. Watch Maya's Basic Skills movies (in Maya's menubar, Help -> Learning Movies).
     2. Work through lessons 1 to 3 in the Maya Basics tutorial (in Maya's menubar, Help -> Tutorials). Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
   • Homework:
     1. Get the textbook.
     2. Read chapter 1 to review this week's lecture.
     3. Read chapter 2 to prepare for the following session.
2. No lecture, Martin Luther King holiday
   • In the lab:
     1. Work through the first part of the solar system tutorial (pp. 39-57) in chapter 2. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
   • Homework:
     1. Read chapter 3 to prepare for the following session.
3. Introduction to Maya
   • Test: chapter 1
   • In the lab:
     1. Locate and familiarize yourself with the features covered in chapter 3.
     2. Work through the final part of the solar system tutorial (pp. 57-70) in chapter 2. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
   • Homework:
     1. Read the first part (pp. 109-136) of chapter 4 to prepare for the following session.
4. Introduction to polygonal modeling
   • Test: chapter 2
   • In the lab:
     1. Work through the hand (p. 122) tutorial in chapter 4. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
   • Homework:
     1. Read the rest of chapter 4 to prepare for the following session.
5. More on polygonal modeling
   • Test: chapter 3
   • In the lab:
     1. Work through the locomotive (p. 137) tutorial in chapter 4. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
   • Homework:
     1. Read the first part (pp. 163-193) of chapter 5 to prepare for the following session.
6. No lecture, Presidents' holiday
   • In the lab:
     1. Make sure you have read through the NURBS-to-polygons conversion tutorial (p. 176) in chapter 5.
     2. Work through the locomotive pump tutorial (p. 180) in chapter 5. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
   • Homework:
     1. Read the rest of chapter 5 to prepare for the following session.
7. Curved surfaces modeling
   • Test: chapter 4
   • In the lab:
     1. Work through the alien hand (p. 197) and starfish (p. 204) tutorials in chapter 5. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
     2. Make sure you have read through the axe (p. 195) and teakettle (p. 209) tutorials in chapter 5. You can do these tutorials for extra credit if you have time.
   • Homework:
     1. Read chapter 6 to prepare for the following session.
8. Modeling mid-term wrap-up
   • Test: chapter 5
   • In the lab:
     1. Work through the red wagon (pp. 220-280) tutorial in chapter 6. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
   • Homework:
     1. Read the first part (pp. 281-321) of chapter 7 to prepare for the following session.
9. Introduction to shading: the look of surface detail
   • In the lab:
     1. Work through the axe shading (pp. 289-298) tutorial, and the procedural texturing of the wagon (pp. 308-321) in chapter 7. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
   • Homework:
     1. Read the rest of chapter 7 to prepare for the following session.
10. More on shading: the placement of surface detail
    • In the lab:
      1. Work through the UV layout and image-mapping of the wagon (pp. 321-343) in chapter 7. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
    • Homework:
      1. Read chapter 10 to prepare for the following session.
11. Scene lighting
    • Test: chapter 7
    • In the lab:
      1. Work through the physical sun and sky (pp. 457-461) and three-point-lighting (pp. 466-469) tutorials in chapter 10. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
      2. Make sure you have read through the shader glow (p. 464) tutorial in chapter 10. You can do this tutorial for extra credit if you have time.
    • Homework:
      1. Read the first part (pp. 475-507) of chapter 11 to prepare for the following session.
12. Introduction to rendering: cameras and single-pass renders
    • Test: chapter 10
    • In the lab:
      1. Work through these tutorials in chapter 11: wine bottle (p. 497) and motion blur (p. 505). Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
    • Homework:
      1. Read the rest of chapter 11 to prepare for the following session.
13. More on rendering: multi-layer renders
    • In the lab:
      1. Make sure you have read through the living room (p. 521) tutorial in chapter 11. You can do this tutorial for extra credit if you have time.
      2. Work through the still life (p. 508) and the wagon rendering (p. 529) tutorials in chapter 11. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
    • Homework:
      1. Read chapter 8 to prepare for the following session.
14. Introduction to animation: keyframing non-deforming objects
    • Test: chapter 11
    • In the lab:
      1. Make sure you have read through the bouncing ball (p. 346) and flying text (p. 372) tutorials in chapter 8. You can do these tutorials for extra credit if you have time.
      2. Work through the axe throw (p. 354) tutorial in chapter 8. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
    • Homework:
      1. Read chapter 9 to prepare for the following session.
15. More on animation: rigging and keyframing articulated objects
    • Test: chapter 8
    • In the lab:
      1. Make sure you have read through the hand skeleton (p. 402) tutorial in chapter 9. You can do this tutorial for extra credit if you have time.
      2. Work through the locomotive rigging tutorials, part 1 (p. 377, in chapter 8) and application (p. 427, in chapter 9). Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
    • Homework:
      1. Read the first part (pp. 541-555) of chapter 12 to prepare for the following session.
16. Introduction to dynamics: rigid bodies
    • Test: chapter 9
    • In the lab:
      1. Make sure you have read through the active and passive rigid bodies (p. 543) tutorial in chapter 12. You can do this tutorial for extra credit if you have time.
      2. Work through the pool table tutorial (p. 546) in chapter 12. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
    • Homework:
      1. Read the rest of chapter 12 to prepare for the following session.
17. More on dynamics: particles
    • In the lab:
      1. Work through the locomotive steam tutorial (p. 562) in chapter 12. Save your files so you can turn them in later for grading.
      2. Make sure you have read through the paint effects (p. 571) and toon shading (p. 571) tutorials in chapter 12. You can do this tutorial for extra credit if you have time.
    • Homework:
      1. Review chapter 12.
18. Finals day 5/18
    • Test: chapter 12

| return to top | general class info | grades | ACG home |

Created 2006-07-22. Last modified 2009-05-07. This document originally at <http://www.sanedraw.com/LEARN/ACG/ACG_104.HTM> Copyright 2009 by Sandro Corsi.