CSC 307 3D Modeling and Animation

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CSC 307 3D Modeling and Animation

• Introduction and Overview

Dr. Paige H. Meeker Computer Science Presbyterian
College, Clinton, SC
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Lecture 1

• Introduction and Class Overview
• Syllabus
• Expectations
• Important Dates
• Homework (ALREADY???)

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Contact Information

• Name Dr. Paige H. Meeker
• Office Richardson 103B
• Phone [phone] (office)
• (803)-749-1647 (home between 9 and 9 ONLY)
• Email mpmeeker_at_presby.edu
• PaigeMeeker_at_sc.rr.com

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Required and Recommended Texts

• Principles of Three-Dimensional Computer
  Animation, 3rd edition Michael ORourke
• The Art of 3D Computer Animation and Imaging,
  3rd edition I.V. Kerlow

5
Late Policy

• Assignments must be turned in on time. Late work
  WILL NOT be accepted.
• If you think you will be unable to meet a due
  date on an assignment due to an emergency,
  contact me in advance to negotiate an extension.
  If you have not negotiated an extension, then
  submit what you have by the due date to receive
  partial credit. You will receive no credit for an
  assignment submitted after the due date or
  negotiated new due date as applicable.
• A deadline has a wonderful way of concentrating
  the mind. Professor Moriarty, Character,
  Star Trek, TNG, episode title Ship in a
  Bottle

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Attendance Policy

• Coming to class is important.
• More than 5 absences (excused or not) will result
  in the loss of one letter grade for each
  additional class day missed. More than 8
  absences will result in a failing grade for the
  class.

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Grading Policy

• I wrote the examination, determined the marking
  scheme (which was quite complicated) and set the
  Grade levels, so you can take it from me, as the
  sole examiner, that if you received Acceptable
  or higher you really earned your grade. Of
  course, this meant that some people had to fail,
  but what would be the point of putting you
  through all that work without giving you honestly
  earned rewards?
• J. K. Rowling,
• concerning the W.O.M.B.A.T
• test on her personal website

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Grading Policy

• So, what does that mean to you?
• I dont give grades you earn them. Think
  about this now, not the last week of class. It
  will save us all time and heartache!

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Grading Policy

• Grading will be assigned using the standard /-
  scale. Your final grade will be calculated as
  follows
• Lab Assignments 5 (Graded on Pass/Fail Basis)
• Lab Exam 25
• Wrap-ups (3) 25
• Term Project
• Paper 10
• Animation 35

10
Academic Dishonesty

• I take the PC honor code very seriously. If you
  have any questions about what is considered bad
  behavior ask BEFORE, not AFTER. Ignorance is no
  excuse.
• Every act of dishonesty has at least two victims
  the one we think of as the victim, and the
  perpetrator as well. Each little dishonesty
  makes another little rotten spot somewhere in the
  perpetrators psyche. Lesley Conger.

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Academic Dishonesty

• All assignments will be pledged
• "On my honor, I will abstain from all deceit. I
  will neither give nor receive unacknowledged aid
  in my academic work, nor will I permit such
  action by any member of this community. I will
  respect the persons and property of the
  community, and will not condone discourteous or
  dishonest treatment of these by my peers. In my
  every act, I will seek to maintain a high
  standard of honesty and truthfulness for myself
  and for the College."

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Academic Honesty Specifics

• If you use external resources cite clearly!
• Dont do anything that would even be considered
  dishonest. Ask if you think there is a question.
• Remember PCs standard penalty
• An F in the course
• A WF in all other courses taken that semester
• A semester suspension.
• Think is it worth it? (Answer NO!)

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Participation

• Reasons to participate
• Class means more to you and me
• More entertaining, interactive lectures
• Its 5 of your grade this can be the
  difference between a B and an A-.
• How to participate?
• Ask questions
• Make comments
• NOTE No question/comment is considered dumb

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Dates to Remember

• Wrap-ups will be given at the end of the
  modeling, rendering, and animation sections
  dates will be announced 1 class period before the
  wrap-up
• Project Presentations Thursday, April 26th at
  900am. Family and friends are welcome to
  attend.
• Check for conflicts now. If you miss any of the
  wrap-ups or final, you will receive a 0. You are
  not allowed to make up either test after it has
  been given. If you must miss the class for an
  excused reason, you must take the test BEFORE the
  rest of the class.

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• This is just an overview for details READ THE
  SYLLABUS!!

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For each task in life, remember

• What work I have done, I have done because it
  has been play. It if had been work I shouldnt
  have done it.
• Mark Twain

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Term Project

• Requirements
• Paper
• Presentation
• Obviously, depending on the animation topic,
  various techniques will need to be employed to
  create an effective animation.
• There should be at least three models that your
  team personally created within your scene.
• You should employ at least 8 of the modeling
  techniques discussed in class.
• The background, lighting and camera angles should
  be used effectively to provide for realism or
  entertainment.
• Animations should have smooth movement.
  Characters should not appear to float or sink
  above or below ground level.

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Term Project

• The Paper must include
• The Story what is your animation attempting
  to say? What was your inspiration?
• A storyboard of the animation. This can be
  hand-drawn or in digital format.
• Describe how each model and background were
  created. This includes a detailed description of
  the techniques used to build each aspect of the
  scene. A definition of these techniques would be
  appropriate to include. A description of the
  materials used for each model should also be
  included here.
• A description of the rendering process. How did
  you decide what type of lighting, to use, where
  the camera should be, textures that were used,
  etc.
• A description of the animation techniques.

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Term Project Checkpoints

• Wednesday, January 10th
• Class members should decide and inform the
  professor of their team.
• Teams can be made up of 1-3 people (no more than
  3).
• Teams should have a call name. This is the
  name that will be used to refer to the team.
  (Names like Team A or Team 1 are just so
  boring!)
• At this time, teams should also submit an idea
  for their animation. Animation ideas include
  (but are obviously not limited to)
• Animating a song are you inspired by a
  particular song? What would it look like if you
  animated it?
• A favorite story childhood fairy tale, current
  interesting book, etc.
• A cause or statement this should reflect the
  beliefs of the entire team, not merely one
  member.
• A funny and entertaining new creation for those
  who are so inspired, create your own storyline
  and plot for the animation.
• Topics can be either entertaining or meaningful.
• Thursday, January 18th A detailed storyboard
  fleshing out the idea of the animation. Each
  aspect of the animation should be included in the
  storyboard. Remember, the more detailed you make
  it, the easier it will be to create the steps of
  your animation. At this time, each team will
  present its idea to the class as a whole,
  showing the storyboards and obtaining feedback
  from the class.

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Term Project Checkpoints

• Tuesday, February 13th If you have not done so
  already, by this date, you must submit all of
  your main characters that will be a part of
  your animation. Any alteration of characters
  after this date must be approved by the
  instructor. You must submit each character as a
  model (Maya file) as well as a description of the
  characters role within your project. You
  should also include a written description of the
  modeling techniques you used in order to create
  the model.
• Thursday, March 8th At this point, you must
  submit the first 1/3 of your animation. This
  will be carefully compared to your storyboard, so
  be sure that you have had major modifications
  approved. (Minor modifications are expected and
  do not need approval.)
• Thursday, April 5th The second 1/3 of your
  animation must now be submitted.
• Thursday, April 19th Animation is due.
• Monday, April 23rd Paper due.
• Thursday, April 26th Project Presentations

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Term Project Presentations

• Presentations should be 25-30 minutes in length
  and should incorporate a brief description of the
  techniques used to create the model, an
  explanation of the storyline of the animation,
  and the animation itself.
• Teams should present together, even if there is
  only one primary speaker.
• Teams should be prepared to answer questions from
  the audience
• The date of the presentations will be Thursday,
  April, 26th at 900 am
• Family and Friends are welcome to attend

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Term Project Grading

• NOTE All members of the same team will receive
  the same grade for the animation and paper except
  under extreme circumstances.
• The paper will make of 10 of your final grade.
  It should be very descriptive and detailed. It
  would be a good idea to create the paper
  throughout the term, as each aspect of the
  animation is completed. Students will find that
  they may forget about various aspects of portions
  of the project completed earlier in the term.
• The presentation will make up 20 of the team
  project grade. It should be given with
  confidence and be an adequate description of the
  animation. This aspect of the project will also
  be graded by your peers. Each person in the
  class will receive a sheet of requirements and
  will give a grade to each team based on how well
  those requirements were met (in their opinion).
  These will be averaged with the presentation
  grade given by the professor to obtain this
  portion of the project average.
• The animation itself, and how well it meets the
  project requirements will make up the remainder
  of the project grade. (80)

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Homework Project Checkpoint 1

• Due Wednesday, January 10th
• Class members should decide and inform the
  professor of their team.
• Teams can be made up of 1-3 people (no more than
  3).
• Teams should have a call name. This is the
  name that will be used to refer to the team.
  (Names like Team A or Team 1 are just so
  boring!)
• At this time, teams should also submit an idea
  for their animation. Animation ideas include
  (but are obviously not limited to)
• Animating a song are you inspired by a
  particular song? What would it look like if you
  animated it?
• A favorite story childhood fairy tale, current
  interesting book, etc.
• A cause or statement this should reflect the
  beliefs of the entire team, not merely one
  member.
• A funny and entertaining new creation for those
  who are so inspired, create your own storyline
  and plot for the animation.
• Topics can be either entertaining or meaningful.