Course Description

This course presents the fundamental concepts, issues and techniques of three-dimensional computer modeling and rendering as they apply to art. Technical, aesthetic and conceptual issues are addressed. Students learn to design and create expressive and well-crafted models by creating several three-dimensional computer models and scenes. Originality as well as intellectual and emotional substance are expected in the students' work and are studied by analyzing professional examples. The three-dimensional artwork, both virtual and physical, of other artists is studied.

The Maya software package is used for instruction and assignments.

Entry Requirements

This is an introductory course. As such, students are not expected to be familiar with any of the concepts or techniques presented. Students are, however, expected to be familiar with general computer usage and file management. Students who are already familiar with Maya or other 3D modeling software will be expected to work at a higher level than students with no experience.

Goals of the Course

The goal of this course is to A) develop a thorough understanding of the technical principles of three-dimensional computer modeling and rendering; B) to improve students' familiarity with high-quality three-dimensional artwork, both virtual and physical, that has been done from ancient times to the present; C) to improve their ability to evaluate and critique other 3D work; and D) to enable students to combine the expertise they develop in A, B and C into making successful 3D models and scenes with a fine-art orientation.

Course Requirements

Attendance & Participation

It is extremely important that you attend and fully participate in the weekly classes, both the group meetings and the individual meetings. Please note also that it is Pratt Institute policy that three unexcused absences constitute grounds for an automatic F for the course, and that two latenesses are considered the equivalent of one absence. Arriving more than 15 minutes after the scheduled start of class will be considered late. Arriving more than half-way through the class time will be considered absent. Students are 100% responsible for their own attendance and must allow for delays due to subways, traffic, etc. If you miss class because of illness, you should bring in a note from your physician to avoid your absence being listed as "unexcused". (Pratt Student Health services can be of help to you here.)


Assignments

There will be three assignments. All of these assignments will be evaluated based a combination of concept, aesthetics and technical proficiency. In all three assignments, students are expected to produce substantive artwork – that is, artwork that shows originality of thought as well as intellectual and/or emotional depth.

Assignments must be handed in on the due date. If an assignment is not finished, you should hand in whatever you have finished up to that point. Your work will be graded based on whatever portion you have handed in as of the due date. If you hand in nothing, I will have to assume you did nothing.

Please note that technical problems, lab problems, or being "really busy" do not constitute an excuse for unfinished work. Such issues are part of life and life with computers, and you should assume they will occur. It is your responsibility to schedule your time and your work to allow for this sort of problem and still get your work done well and on time.

Homework & Blogs

Students will be expected to work regularly. To help with this, the instructor will sometimes (but not always) make specific homework assignments.

Each student will also create a blog page specifically for this course and will keep their blog page up to date with samples of their research, thoughts, tests, and work in progress. This Blog page is important, as it will serve as a record of your day-to-day and week-to-week progress.

Research Presentations

Each student make one short research presentation to the class on an issue relevant to their projects. Topics will be chosen by the student in consultation with the instructor. The presentation will be accompanied by a short paper prepared by each student. See Research Presentations for details.

Toward the end of the semester, each student will also write a short paper in the form of an artist's statement discussing what they are trying to do in their artwork and how their artwork relates to prior art critical and/or theoretical paradigms.

File Storage

As with all DDA courses, each student is 100% responsible for storing all of his or her files on their own removable storage media. You must make permanent backups of your files on regular basis onto your own storage media (Flash, CD, DVD, external HD, etc.). When you do so, please remember to make two backups -- the first is your "original", and the second is your "backup".

Each student may, upon request, receive storage space on the DDA server. Ask Lab Management about this if you are interested.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

	Week 1	Maya interface Using the camera Coordinate systems Geometric primitives Basic transformations Polygons: not Nurbs or. Subdivision surfaces Simple shape deformations by translating vertices Naming objects Polygon extrusion; Splitting Polygons Construction history Assign Assignment#1: Homework: a) Make a blog page. Email me the link for it b) Research building styles for Assignment 1. Do sketches of your building. Put research and sketches on blog c) Start modeling your building d) Introducing Autodesk Maya 2013: pp 112 - 126
	Week 2	Review Project1 progress: research; sketches; modeling Positive forms & negative space Snapping; Grid settings Edge Loops & Rings Local coordinate systems: display; Tool window; moving local origin Hierarchies Naming Outliner window Spline curves: Intro Extruding Polygons (more): multiple faces, faces together, along a path default rendering default Physical Sun (the better to see you with, my dear) Saving a rendered image Homework: a) Project1 modeling; put work in progress on blog b) my tutorials for review c) Finish Hand exercise from Introducing Autodesk Maya 2013: pp 112 - 126; Put results on blog
	Week 3	Spline curves, more Adding divisions Edge loops, Absolute vs. relative transformations Hypergraph window
	Week 4	Smoothing Edge loops, Image plane background pictures Ambient occlusion Work on projects
	Week 5	Group Critique of Assignment#1 Surface shaders/materials Shading algorithms: Lambert, Phong, Blinn mini-Intro to NURBS surfaces Light fog, falloff, dropoff, cast shadows Assign Assignment#2
	Week 6	Student Research Presentation More on lighting; light linking Deformers: lattice, non-linear (bend, etc.) IK skeleton deformers
	Week 7	Student Research Presentation More on lighting; light linking; Cast shadows Translucent materials More on NURBS surfaces
	Week 8	Student Research Presentation Raytrace rendering, transparency, reflections, refraction Work on projects
	Week 9	Group Critique of Assignment#2 Assign Assignment#3 Intro to polygon texturing
	Week 10	Polygon UV texture editing Final rendering issues: anti-aliasing, resolution, file formats Deformers: sculpt, wire, clusters
	Week 11	Intro to physical fabrication techniques: Unfolding Cross-sections
	Week 12	Intro to basic keyframing
	Week 13	Intro to scripting
	Week 14	Work on individual projects, assistance from instructor
	Week 15	Group Critique of Assignment#3

Methods of Assessment

The first project will count for 15% of the final grade. The second project will count for 25% of the final grade. The third project will count for 40% of the final grade.

Active attendance and participation in the classes, exercises and discussions, and maintenace of your blog will contribute 15% to the final grade.

Research presentation and paper will count for 5% of the final grade.

.

Readings/Bibliography/Materials

Required Materials

Maya 2013.We will use the Maya 2013 software package for all course work. This software is installed in most of the classrooms of Pratt Dept. of Digital Arts.

A free "Learning" edition of Maya 2013 is available to students from http://students.autodesk.com as a free download. Note: The Autocad website says that a watermark is placed over all images rendered with this version of Maya, but that has not been my experience. I strongly encourage you to download this free software.

Introducing Autodesk Maya 2013. , Derakhshani, D. (Sybex. ISBN 978-1-118-13056-8. Combines explanation of technical concepts with detailed tutorial exercises. Numerous sample files are available for the exercises. This will be our textbook. There will be regular homework assignments from this book and its tutorials.

3dtutorials.michaelorourke.com. These are introductory tutorials I have created. We will use these tutorials regularly, both in class and as home assignments. The tutorials are free and are available online at: www.3dtutorials.michaelorourke.com. The login is mayatuts and the password is morourke. (You can remind yourself of these by clicking on the link at the top right of the home page.)

Maya documentation. You will also be expected to use the Maya documentation frequently, independently and intelligently. This documentation includes extensive Help files as well as Tutorials. Both are available on our workstations

Blank DVDs or CDs. All assignments must be handed in on either DVDs or CDs. I will not accept flash drives or external hard-drives or emailed files.

Sketchbook, modeling clay, paper, camera. Each student will be required to research styles and design relevant to their projects, and to make hand-drawn sketches and/or hand-made models of clay, paper, board, etc..

Supplemental Materials

The following are materials you may also find useful.

DDA Resource Room

The Department's Resource Room carries a number of other technical reference books on 3D graphics in general, and on Maya in particular. Any of these books can be checked out of the Resource Room by a student taking this course. There are also tutorial DVDs available.


Websites

There are a number of very useful websites offering technical tips, discussion groups, tutorials, and downloadable files. You are strongly encouraged to use these as learning aids. See, for example:

www.cgsociety.org
www.highend3d.com
www.3dbuzz.com
www.learning-maya.com

Instructional DVDs

There are a number of very useful websites offering technical tips, discussion groups, tutorials, and downloadable files. You are strongly encouraged to use these as learning aids. See, for example:

www.digitaltutors.com
www.gnomonschool.com
www.cgsociety.org
www.creativecrash.com
www.3dbuzz.com
www.learning-maya.com

Some of thel companies also sell instructional DVDs.

Other Books & Articles

Autodesk Maya 2013 Essentials, Naas, P. (Sybex. ISBN 978-1-118-16774-8). Another good book, more simplified than our textbook, combines explanation of technical concepts with detailed tutorial exercises.

Mastering Autodesk Maya 2013, Palamar, T. and Lanier, L. (Sybex. ISBN 978-1-118-13058-2). A more advanced companion book to the Introducing Autodesk Maya 2013 book that we are using as our textbook. This book builds on the Introducing... book, continuing with more advanced techniques.

I have written a number of publications on 3d modeling, rendering, and sculpture. Principles of Three-Dimensional Computer Animation, Third Edition, Michael O'Rourke (W.W.Norton, 2003. ISBN 0-393-73083-2). Technical concepts explained in general terms without reference to specific software. Several years old, and so less comprehensive with each passing year. Also, see my website www.michaelorourke.com, for a list of published articles on digital sculpture.

.

Institute Policies

Refer to the Pratt Bulletin under Comnunity Standards for more completeinformation on Institute-wide policies.

Academic Integrity

(The following is copied from the Pratt Institute website.)

Pratt Institute considers Academic Integrity highly important. Instances of cheating, plagiarism, and wrongful use of intellectual property will not be tolerated.

• Faculty members will report each incident to the registrar for inclusion in studentsí files.
• More than one report to the registrar during a studentís program of study at Pratt will result in a hearing before the Academic Integrity Board, at which time appropriate sanctions will be decided. These may include dismissal from the Institute.
• The nature and severity of the infraction will be determined by faculty members who can: ask students to repeat an assignment, fail students on the assignment, fail students in the course and/or refer the incident to the Academic Integrity Board.

For more details about these procedures please see the Pratt Student Handbook, the Pratt Bulletins, and the pamphlet entitled Judicial Procedures at Pratt.

CHEATING

If students use dishonest methods to fulfill course requirements, they are cheating. Examples of this include, but are not limited to:

• Obtaining or offering copies of exams or information about the content of exams in advance.
• Bringing notes in any form to a closed book exam.
• Looking at another student's paper during an exam.
• Receiving or communicating any information from or to another student during an exam.

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is a bit more complicated, but the rules of documentation and citation are very specific and are tailored to different academic disciplines. Types of plagiarism include:

• Including any material from any source other than you in a paper or project without proper attribution. This includes material from the Internet, books, papers, or projects by other students, and from any other source.
• Using your own work to fulfill requirements for more than one course
• The extensive use of the ideas of others in your work without proper attribution.
• Turning in work done by another person or a fellow student as one's own.

Please remember that all work must be the student's own. If it is not, the source should be cited and documented appropriately.

If there are aspects of this statement that are not understood, ask faculty members for help.

Students with Learning Disabilities

If you have a learning disability, you are strongly encouraged to work with the Offiice of Disability Services (Main Bldg, Tel: 718 636 3711). Through them you can request special accomodations if appropriate. You are very strongly encouraged to notifiy your instructor if you have a learning disability, as we cannot help you or make accomodations unless we know what your situation is.

Other

Refer to the Pratt Bulletin under Comnunity Standards for more information on Institute policies.