Art Department - Spring 2025 - Digital Art - Ronaldo Kiel
ARTD 2821 3D Modeling & Animation
Section TQ8 - code 3421 - T 08:55-12:15PM 5102 BH - Jan 28 to May 20, 2025
Course Description Class Projects Schedule Important Dates Contact
This course provides an introduction to 3D modeling and animation. During the semester students will develop an understanding of the process to create three-dimensional animations by experiencing the production worflows used in video, film or games. Examples will be presented in lectures and demonstrations. Animation principals will be discussed. The Principles of Traditional Animation Applied to 3D Computer Animation by John Lasseter is an important starting point, please read it in the first week.
You should keep in mind that learning the software is only a small part of the work. Successful design is a matter of communicating your thoughts clearly to achieve your goals. It is not about how well you can use the software.
Computer Animation is a vast subject, in this introductory course we will focus on the basic skills necessary to carry projects from concept to execution.
You should login the computers in 5102 using:
Username = 3dstudent
Password = topaz77
Course Objectives
Software
This course uses some of the industry-standard software packages for art production. The course will cover basic modeling techniques and animation in 3D using Maya. After Effects will be used to compile frame sequences.
Autodesk Maya: For this course you will need Maya. The 30 days free trial will not be sufficient for the course. You should register as a student and obtain an educational License.
Adobe CC access for enrolled students: Please contact the college lab tech Mitch Patrick (MPatrick@brooklyn.cuny.edu) to determine if the links below are still valid.
All software will be installed in the Lab 5207 and the computers will be ready for you to use.
(Instructions using your CUNYID to access Adobe CC): https://cisweb.cuny.edu/covid19/Accessing-AdobeCreativeCloud-COVID19-Outbreak.pdf
Please note the minimum system requirements to use Creative Cloud: https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/system-requirements.html
You MUST use your CUNYID login credentials for accessing Adobe CC (not your personal email or BC-email) .
If you have any trouble with using your CUNYID to login to use Adobe Creative Cloud you must contact the ITS Helpdesk:
Hours: Mon–Fri: 9am–5pm
Phone: 718-951-4188
Email: helpdesk@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Proficiency with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator is required. Please email me if you feel you need to review any of these programs.
Materials
You will need at least one USB Drive to backup your files. The USB Drive will be useful for transferring files and backups. You are responsible for backing up your files. If your files are lost or deleted from the computers in the lab, you will have to start over if you don't keep backups. Make a habit of saving copies of your work at the end of every class and take it with you.
Do not work from your USB drive. Work from the internal drive, it is faster and as you progress with your work and your projects require more resources it will be important to keep your files organized and please back up your entire project folder.
We have digital video cameras and still cameras for student use. If you are interested in using the equipment you should speak with the college lab technician for the area.
Course Requirements
Attendance & Grades
This course will offer training in Maya. In only 14 classes and a total of three projects will be required to pass the course. These projects demand a lot of work and time. The material in this course is technical and specific. At least four hours a week of independent work in the lab is required. Most students spend much more time.
Attendance is essential and work on the software tutorials will help to successfully finish all projects. All final versions of the projects for the class should be uploaded to the NJVID web site from Black Board. Prior notification and arrangement with me will be required in the case of late work. Any project submitted after its due date will be graded down at least one letter grade.
Note: All students will be graded on the work that they complete during the semester. No incomplete grades will be given. Projects submitted still in progress will be graded accordingly.
Recommended Reading:
The Art of 3D Computer Animation and Effects [Paperback] by Isaac Victor Kerlow
The Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams
Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book by Adobe Creative Team
Online Resources: If you have a NYPL card you can access Lynda Workshops for free
https://blog.gregzaal.com/2016/03/16/make-your-own-hdri/#more-1603
https://dmswart.com/2016/06/28/drawing-a-panorama/