Course Pages

Art Department - Fall 2024 - Digital Art - Ronaldo Kiel

ARTD 2822 - 3D Character Design - The Illusion of Life

Code: 3568 Section: TQ2 - T 02:15 - 05:55PM - 5102 BH - Sep 03 to Dec 17, 2024

Course Description Class Projects Schedule Important Dates Contact Index

Introduction

The rapid increase in the number of computer animated characters that now populate many aspects of the entertainment industry has increased the demand for specialized digital artists. Not only film and television productions but also computer games are inhabited by characters created and brought to life by teams of artists and engineers working together. Character design and production are the subjects of this course.

Students will be presented with an overview of the creative process involved in the development of 3D characters. The necessary technical skills to successfully generate short sequences of animated characters will be introduced. This course allows students to continue developing their creative practice in digital art while gaining exposure to character animation pipelines.

Basic knowledge of polygonal modeling, texture mapping, animation and rendering are required to take this class. ARTD 2821 is the prerequisite. Drawing skills are a must to develop concepts and to create story boards.

The art department is uniquely equipped with a large number of drawing and painting classes that most certainly help to develop a well rounded digital artists that can take an idea from concept to reality.

As Walt Disney once said: "If you can dream it you can do it."

The focus of our modeling technique here is to build meshes that can realistically deform to bring the character to life. To create facial expressions and to have the flexibility that an animator needs to tell a story, careful modeling is necessary. The fundamental aspects of a traditional modeling approach and the development of personal work-flows are very time consuming tasks. it can take up to 50 hours of work for a professional 3D artist to develop a character ready to animate. For you to learn what is being proposed in this course it will take lots of dedication and extra time. If you are not sure about your schedule and the amount of energy you can devote to this course don't take it.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
— Walt Disney

(this syllabus was created for a class to be taught in the BC computer lab 5207) Some of the following information does not apply to the on line version of the class.

You can use any computer in lab 5207. The software and hardware for this class is installed only in 5207. You will have to work on local accounts.

You should login the computers In 5102 using:
Username: 3dstudent
Password: raindrop44

Course Objectives

develop 3D characters
understand the entire work-flow from concept art to animated sequences
create and organize content for small and medium scale 3D animation projects
introduce the use of basic customizable rigs
animation and rendering
create UV maps
paint and apply textures

Software

Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Mud Box
Adobe After Effects (post production)
Adobe PhotoShop

For the Autodesk software MAYA and MUDBOX: https://www.autodesk.com/education/students

Please do not download the free version. Register as a student and install the one year license.

For Adobe Software:

You MUST use your CUNYID login credentials for accessing Adobe CC (not your personal email or BC-email) .

(Instructions using your CUNYID to access Adobe CC): https://cisweb.cuny.edu/covid19/Accessing-AdobeCreativeCloud-COVID19-Outbreak.pdf

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

Every student should spend at least four hours per week practicing (besides classes).

Materials

You should buy an USB Drive. It 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 taking it with you.

Printers LAB 5102: PHASER7800 (color printer) The Xerox Phaser 7800N is usually reserved for digital Graphic Design classes, it requires a specific password credentials for printing

HP5200 (black and white printer)

Printer LAB 5207: HP521 (black and white printer)

Attendance and Grades

This course will offer training in one of the most sophisticated software packages currently used in the industry in only 14 classes and a total of 3 projects will be required to pass the course. A lot of material in this course is technical and specific. These projects demand a lot of work and time. At least four hours a week of independent work in the lab is required. Attendance is essential and work on software video training will be necessary if you want to expand you knowledge.

Prior notification and arrangements will be necessary in the case of late work and it 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. All projects have to be rendered. QuickTime files rendered correctly of all projects is essential. QuickTime files incorrectly rendered will be graded accordingly.

Proficiency with the Macintosh environment, Adobe Photoshop and basic Maya skills are required. Illustrator knowledge is helpful.

Online Training: If you have a NYPL card you can access Lynda Workshops for free.

Videos for 2822 Illusion of Life - Reorded in Maya (4 hours and 23 minutes) 18 clips

Project 1: Modeling Play List - 6 videos (2.1 hours)

• Head - Modeling Overview (16 min)
• Head - Modeling 1 (43 min)
• Head - Modeling 2 (20 min)
• Teeth (12 min)
• Ear (23 min)
• Eye (25 minutes)

Project 1: Textures, Shaders and Turn Table Play List - 5 videos (41 Minutes)

• Sculpt and UV (8 min)
• MudBox Stencil (2 min)
• MudBox A (14 min)
• MudBox B (3 min)
• Shaders and Turn Table (13 min)

Project 2: Play List - 7 videos (1.6 hours)

• Simple joints and skin weights for the head from Project 1 (19 min)
• Controls and hierarchy (20 min)
• Eye controls (4 min)
• Blend Shapes - Pupil and Blink 16 min )
• Blend Shapes - Face Expressions (16 min)
• Connections - Blend Shapes to Controller Attributes (7 min)
• Intro to rigging (14 min) - GENERAL PROCESS FOR CREATING CONTROLLERS