In this course, students learn an art-centric approach to character design. This means that while 3D characters should be constructed so that they can be animated, designs are also required to constitute art objects in their own right. Thus, the final format in which a character will be shown counts as an integral part of a project.
For the development of their designs, students are expected to conduct a significant amount of research and to share their findings with their peers in presentations. Each proposed design will be reviewed by the class as a whole and requires approval from the instructor. Students should note that only original designs will be approved; robots, monsters and the type of characters all too well familiar from feature film productions of major animation houses are not acceptable. In other words, students should not simply create the types of characters they promoted in the mainstream media. In this course, creative thinking and the ability to develop a unique aesthetic count as much a technical competence.
Students are expected to visit museums, libraries, or other sites for inspiration when developing their designs. The quality of research is invariably reflected in a projects' substance and quality; relying on Google for research will not suffice. Students are also encouraged to think creatively about animation and the role motion plays in time-based media.
Final projects may be displayed in a variety of formats including prints, as projections, or 3D prints. Students are also encouraged to explore interdisciplinary approaches.
The semester will begin with hands-on instructions on character modeling; a first project of a bi-ped character will be due week 4 of the semester.
Next, students will complete a (relatively) simple 3D self-portrait and model their own head (or that of a person close to them) based on photographic references. Students will also UV map their head model.
At the same time, during the first half of the semester, students will be researching ideas for a larger project to be executed during the second half of the semester and prepare a 10 min. presentation. Students have to seek approval from their instructor.
Once approved, students will spend the rest of the semester executing their design(s). Because a significant amount of time will be spent executing this project, students are expected to create designs of appropriate complexity. Students may create one or two related models, or an entire series, etc.
The first half of the semester, students will concentrate on scultping expressive forms and shapes based on photographic references. Advanced modeling techniques, as well as additionl UV mapping techniques, will be introduced throughout the second half of the semester. Thus, the work completed in this course includes the following:
Part I of the semester (week 1 - 8)
- Project #1, a basic but original and creative character design of moderate complexity, completed week five of the semester
- Project #2, a 3D self-portrait (bust)
Part II of the semester (week 8 - 15)
A Self-Directed Project, including
- a presentation describing a proposed self-direcrted project and the research from which it resulted
- completed model(s) (e.g., print, projection, or 3D print, etc.)
A Few Ideas & References for Project #1...
Nathan Jurevicius
Sharon Bone
Stuffed Magazine
And this little guy hangs out at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He's cute and (I think) genuinely scary!
Modeling for Motion: A Few First Notes
Overview: modeling a simple, creative and original bi-ped character
For next week, bring character design(s), front and side views. Make sure that...
-- designs follow the guidelines discussed in class, this includes originality, complexity of the design, surface treatment/color and size
-- front and side drawings line up as discussed in class
-- designs have to scanned and saved as .jpgs so that we can critique them using the projector. (Drawings and concept art are part of your grade.)
NOTE: Switch Maya units to inches, change grid line spacing. Character should be between 5 and 10 inches in Maya space (we will put them all into the same scene file when they're done).
Review & critique of ideas
Continue simple bi-ped character
Basic UV Texturing overview
Taking reference images for Project # 2
Thursday February 11th, class does not meet today -- instead, students go on a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and begin research/create/prepare reference images for their self-directed project(s). Each student is expected to document their trip with drawing, photographs, etc. These materials will have to be brought to class next week (scan your work, safe as .jpg -- we will look at your ideas on the projector.)
Please note: I will be available for questions & feedback on
Monday, February 15th from 12:45 - 2 PM, in E7.
A Few Ideas & References for Self-Directed Projects
Claudia Hart
Claudia Herbst-Tait 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Jose Carlos Casado (btw, arguably related, also see this film)
Mary Visser
Dan Collins
Barry X Ball (and releated... click here)
Magdalena Abakanowicz and more
Robert Lazzarini
Beverley Hood
Marc Quinn (more)
Ron Mueck
Jake and Dinos Chapman (more)
Patricia Pinccinini
Roxanne Swentzell
Matthew Barney
The Digital Stone Project
What's due next week, at the beginning of class:
1) Documentation from your field trip... see above.
2) Bring your self-portrait reference images...
3) Your finalized bi-ped character models (we will discuss UV mapping and texturing next week in class. This means the modeling aspect of this project has to be completed but we'll have one more week to complete all rendering related issues).
Review of finalized bi-ped character models... all modeling should be done
Brief review of field trip drawings/ideas for self-directed project, feedback & suggetions.
UV Mapping, cont.
FYI, here's a UV mapping tool from Headus
For next week, finalize bi-ped characters, including texturing and rendering:
Render your character and consider the composition within the frame and background color. You may render multiple views and create a composite image. Think about the format and size of the image (poster?). The idea is to show off your model as well as your design skills. Be creative.
Hand in one final image, 300 dpi or higher. Use ."tif" format. Do not include an alpha channel.
Further hand in:
Your project folder, containing only your "scene" and "sourceimages" folders.
The scene folder should only contain your final scene file.
The sourceimages folder should only contain your final UV map/textures your file references.
The project folder and all files should follow this naming convention:
Firstname_Lastname.ext
Please note that finalizing your character and rendering will take time; make sure to allow enough time for experimentation... Work handed in late drops a letter grade.
Final bi-peds are due at the beginning of class
Begin project # 2: Using their reference images, students will begin to model their own head -- we will begin with the eyes, nose and mouth...
Nice work, everyone!
Portraiture, cont.: Filling in the face, skull and neck
Contour rendering the head using Mental Ray
Finalize & render head model
Free Facial Animation Tool
Midterm: Students will be advised of their grades in writing
Using Maya's Turntable function
Review of wireframe renders of "Self-Portrait" projects: critique
Each student gives a Powerpoint (or Keynote...) presentation sharing their research and ideas for his/her self-directed projects. Each student will have 10 minutes to elucidate their concepts and show a plethora of visuals.
Upon approval, students begin executing their self-directed proejcts and are expected to show progress every week from now until the end of the semester
Students create a plasticine model of their design
Finalize self-portrait renders...
Some body modeling techniques....also, focusing on edge flow and animatability:
Deltoid
More muscles (looking at the back): Trapezius, Latissimus Dorsi
Also on the menu:
Moving CVs using the World, Local, and Normal settings.
Review of progress on self-directed projects & plasticine models and finalized self-portrait renders....
Using the Animated Sweep tool for modeling...
Students continue their self-directed projects
Review of progress on self-directed projects
Borrowing UVs from NURBS models...
A couple of summaries in preparation for Mudbox
Bump Mapping
Displacement Mapping
Normal Mapping
Students continue their self-directed projects
Review of progress on self-directed projects
Intro to Mudbox...
Students continue their self-directed projects
Review of progress on self-directed projects
More on Mudbox (extracting displacement maps)
Students continue their self-directed projects
Review of progress on self-directed projects
Work day -- assistance from the instructor
Students continue their self-directed projects
What's due at the beginning of class next week (work handed in late drops one letter grade...)
Finals: all materials are due... Students Present & Critique
Recommended Reading:
Digital Character Development: Theory and Practice, by Rob O'Neill, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 2008.
Stop Staring: Facial Modeling and Animation Done Right, by Jason Osipa, Sybex, 2007.
"The Naked Face," by Malcom Gladwell (this article appeared in the New Yorker, August 5th, 2002, pg. 38).
Also, check out http://www.posemaniacs.com/
Attendance is mandatory: three classes missed will result in a failure; two latenesses of 15 minutes or more are equal to one absence. Evaluation is based on quality of work, positive contribution to discussion and critique, and effort.
The quality of a project is based on its originality, creativity and technical competence. Projects are not required to be technically complex in order to be considered successful. Rather, the criteria are, is a project based on an interesting concept and is this concept realized in a way that is visually appealing?
The quality of drawings and presentation materials also factor into the final grade.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
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 studentís 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 oneís own.
Please remember that all work must be the studentís 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.