Course Description

This course presents the fundamental concepts, issues and techniques of three-dimensional computer modeling and rendering as they apply to art. Both technical and aesthetic 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 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.

Goals of the Course

The goal of this course is to develop a thorough understanding of the principles of three-dimensional computer modeling and rendering and to enable students to translate theoretical knowledge into successful 3D models and scenes with a fine-art orientation. Focusing on the quality of modeling and rendering and the substance of concept in their own projects, students also learn how to evaluate and critique other 3D work.

Course Requirements

Attendance & Participation
The classes will involve lectures, discussions, and in-class exercises. Each of these is considered extremely important and, because of this, attendance at and full participation in the weekly classes are required of all students.

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 fifteen minutes after the scheduled start of class will be considered late. Students are 100% responsible for their own attendance and must allow for delays due to subways, traffic, etc. Students who miss class because of illness should bring a note from a physician to avoid their absence being listed as "unexcused."

Assignments
There will be a total of four assignments; three will be given, the fourth one will be an "open" assignment. Each assignment will be evaluated based its on its technical proficiency, aesthetic qualities, and conceptual aspects. Thus, technical skill is only part of an assignment; the formal qualities of each work as well as the ideas that inspire it are equally important. In addressing the challenges of each assignment, students are asked to be creative and to develop their own styles.

Assignments must be handed in on the due date. If an assignment is not finished, a student is asked to hand in whatever he/she has finished up to that point. Work will be graded based on whatever portion is handed in as of the due date. Work handed in late, automatically drops a letter grade.

Students should note that technical problems, lab problems, or being "really busy" does not constitute an excuse for unfinished work. Such issues are part of life and life with computers, and students should assume they will occur. It is each student's responsibility to schedule his or her time wisely.

Students are required to purchase a 81/2x11 (or bigger) sketchbook for this course and to bring it to every class.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

	Week 1	Syllabus overview, goal & content of course Introduction to Maya's interface and the Cartesian coordinate system Navigating the four views Using and exploring geometric primitives Basic tranformations Absolute vs. relative transformations Object vs. component mode For next week, arrange an interesting composition using primities; use the basic transformation tools to change the objects' shape - use shaded mode for display, save your file
	Week 2	Local coordinate systems, pivot points Naming nodes/Maya's procedural paradigm Hypergraph, Construction History Brief Overview: NURBS, Polygons, Subdivision surfaces Introduction to Polygonal modeling Planning ahead, considering topology Extrusion modeling ("box modeling"), Extrude Edge modeling Smooth Importing image planes Begin Seahorse tutorial Assignment #1: Design and model a simple creature -No robots or familiar characters... -Be creative and come up with an original, distinct, and unique design -All creatures will be modeled from one single shape (you will build it using Extrusion, Split, and Edge Tools, et al)
	Week 3	Continue Sea horse tutorial Split Polygon tool Chamfer vertex tool, Wedge tool Insert and Offset Edge Loop tools
	Week 4	Review of creature designs Review of seahorse model Setting up a project Introduction to lighting aspects: Additive Color Mixing Spot, Directional, Point, Area and Ambient lights Introduction to rendering Aesthetic considerations: As part of this week's homework, students are expected to research examples of good lighting in film or 3D. Bring images (books, links, etc.) to class, so that we can critique them next week
	Week 5	Critique of assignment #1: A simple creature Review of lighting examples More lighting issues: Light linking; controlling shadows Duplicates & Instances Hierarchies Assignment #2: Design and construct a monument to something you believe in -Let form and design communicate meaning -Light, texture and render your scene -Pay special attention to composition and use lighting to generate a mood -Emphasize the three-dimensionality of the space by paying close attention to foreground, middle ground, and background -Your work can be figurative or abstract -Name each node in your scene -Watch the documentary "Maya Lin - A Strong Clear Vision," available in the Pratt library (A/V services) Bring design sketches and orthographic renderings
	Week 6	Review of design ideas Understanding Shaders: Phong, Phong E, Blinn, Lambert Understanding 2D and 3D textures NURBS: Basic overview Revolve function Loft
	Week 7	Using Layers, Object displays & templating More on shaders: Using Alpha channels for modeling NURBS components Adding/deleting Isoparms Curves and curve degree Trim tool
	Week 8	More on shaders: Texture, bump, displacement and transparency maps Maya Renderers: A brief overview of the Hardware Renderer, Software Renderer, Vector Renderer, and Mental Ray Rendering techniques: raytracing, reflection, refraction Assignment #3: Using NURBS and/or polygons, construct a sculpture that functions as a tribute to music or movement -Research Futurism: who were the movement's most prominent artists, what ideology inspired their works? -Review of Lori Hammond's work -The sculpture does not have to consist of a single shape but can be varied and/or complex -Render three different images from your scene -Consider the presentation format (Internet, printing surface, etc.) Begin by generating sketches, bring a minimum of three developed drawings to class
	Week 9	Critique of assignment #2 Review of ideas for assignment #3
	Week 10	Deformers Modeling a human hand using Polygons: a basic approach Avoiding Triangles... Softmod tool
	Week 11	Modeling a human hand using Polygons, cont. Subdivision Surfaces Smooth and Smooth Proxy Assignment #4: This is an open assignment - each student is to present a proposal for his or her project (include a summary and sketches)
	Week 12	Review of open assignment proposals Critique of assignment #3 Modeling a simple bi-ped figure using polygons In this in-class exercise, students do not have to strive for realism but should aim for a considerable degree of detail and complexity. Models/scenes can take an experimental approach to the human shape. Students are encouraged to research sculptural approaches to figure modeling. See, for example, the works of Magdalena Abakanowicz: http://www.abakanowicz.art.pl/heads/-heads.php http://www.abakanowicz.art.pl/coexistence/-coexistence.php As well as the works of Robert Lazzarini ...and the works of Jose Carlos Casado (specifically see Meat series, "Inside" and "Newbody") ...and the works of Beverly Hood (specifically her project "Self Portrait Version 1-3") Also check out the 3D artist Marek Denko: http://marekdenko.net/?page_id=15 http://marekdenko.net/?page_id=22 http://marekdenko.net/?page_id=19
	Week 13	Using the mirror function Modeling the humanoid figure using polygons, continued -- more on image planes/using instancing when modeling... Attaching a hand... UV Texture Editor
	Week 14	Introduction to Global Illumination, Ambient Occlusion, and Final Gather Work day - time to catch up - assistance from the instructor
	Week 15	Final critique - all materials are due at the beginning of class

Methods of Assessment

Each project accounts for ca. 20% of the final grade. Active attendance, participation in the classes, exercises and discussions, as well as overall professionalism will contribute approximately 20% to the final grade.

Projects are evaluated based on their level of technical sophistication, manner of execution (overall look), as well as on their creativity/originality.

Readings/Bibliography

Maya Documentation
You will 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.

Supplementals

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.

Plagiarism Policy

When you copy work that was actually created by another person, without giving credit to the original author, you are implying that you yourself did the work. This is called plagiarism. It is dishonest and is not acceptable at Pratt Institute.

Digital Copyright and Intellectual Property Protection
It is the policy of DDA and Pratt to emphasize respect for the creative works of others. Infringement takes place when -- without permission -- a substantial part of a work is copied, made available to others, or adapted into a new form. Images, text, logos, software, sounds, film/video clips, email, postings to newsgroups, and other works distributed electronically are protected by copyright, just as they are in traditional media. Appropriate use of the internet and digital storage media implies responsibilities and is encouraged. Protection technologies such as watermarking and encryption are supported and must be respected. DDA does not condone copyright infringement and disciplinary action will be taken if this policy is violated.