Digital Art and Animation Schedule 2024

Digital Art and Animation Schedule

Spring 2024.

return to course

Tuesday 01.09
Tuesday 01.09, Thursday 01.11
Week 1: Introduction
Content:
- Syllabus
- Intro to Digital Art and Animation
- Lecture: Art * Film * Animation - various works
- SCREEN: Goodbye Uncanny Valley, by Alan Warburton
- Digital Art & Animation Playlist on UF's Linkedin Learning - HERE
Assignment:
- WATCH PARTY - DUE Thursday
- Post at least one example of a cool/good/exciting 3D artwork to the EmerAgency Discord server.
- Include a paragraph with your analysis of the work and why you think it is worthy as an artwork.
- Be prepared to discuss your choice in class on Thursday.
Readings:
- Jones, Caitlin. 1996. "The Function of the Studio (when the studio is a laptop).” Artlies, Issue 67.
- Watch: Maya 2024 Essential Training - Parts Intro-3
Tuesday 01.16, Thursday 01.18
Week 2: Poly Modeling
Content:
- VISITING ARTIST WORKSHOP: Jodie Mack!
- Discuss reading.
- Develop/Discuss projects
- DEMO: Maya Polygonal Modeling Intro
Assignment:
- BEGIN: Project 1 [Simple Form (is that possible?)]
Readings:
- Alt, Casey. 2002. “The Materialities of Maya: Making Sense of Object-Orientation.” Configurations 10 (3): 387–422.
- Watch: Maya 2024 Essential Training - Parts 4-6 (especially pt. 5)
Tuesday 01.23, Thursday 01.25
Week 3: Poly Modeling
Content:
- Discuss Reading
- SCREEN: Computer Animation Rules, by Harun Farocki
- SCREEN: Parallel I-IV, by Harun Farocki
- DEMO: Maya Polygonal Modeling
- Work on Project 1 [Simple Form (is that possible?)]
- STUDIO: Bring the object you'll model to class and model it.
Assignment:
- FINALIZE: Project 1 [Simple Form (is that possible?)]
- WATCH: Turntable beauty and wire-frame render via Maya and V-Ray
Readings: None
Tuesday 01.30, Thursday 02.01
Week 4: Poly Sculpting
Content:
- Intro to CG/3D Sculpting
Assignment:
- Finish up Project 1
- BEGIN: Project 2 [Form and Meaning]
- Decide what sculpting tool you prefer (Mudbox, ZBrush), install and watch tutorials. (Thursday)
- Watch Chaosgroup VRay tutorials on UF LinkedIn Learning.
Readings:
Tuesday 02.06, Thursday 02.08
Week 5: Sculpting and Texturing
Content:
- Discuss Reading
- CRITIQUE: Project 1 [Simple Form (is that possible?) - Tuesday]
- Introduction to Texturing.
- UV layout in Maya
- Intro to VRay Materials and lighting
Assignment:
- Integrate texture and lighting as you develop Project 2.
Readings:
Tuesday 02.13, Thursday 02.15
Week 6: Texturing and Lighting
Content:
- More VRay Materials and Rendering
- Texture workflow between Maya and Paint Program (Substance, Mari).
- Create a scene that exhibits: bitmap texture, metallic car paint, transparency, reflectivity, bump map, displacement map
Assignment:
- FINALIZE: Project 2 [Form and Meaning]
Readings: None
Tuesday 02.20, Thursday 02.22
Week 7: Form and Meaning
Content:
- CRITIQUE Project 2 [Form and Meaning] Tuesday
Assignment:
- BEGIN - FINAL PROJECT [What is Real?] Thursday
- 1. Research and document (ie, post online) your project ideas.
- 2. Photograph proposed shooting locations and mock up potential shots.
- 3. Prepare to present your project proposal.
Readings: None
Tuesday 02.27, Thursday 02.29
Week 8: Lighting
Content:
- SCREEN: The Virtual is Real, Cécile B. Evans Interview
- Finish UV/Texture/Shading workflow exercise with LIGHTING and RENDERING [Thursday]
- Lighting and lighting/rendering techiques
Assignment:
- WORK on What is Real?
Readings: None
Tuesday 03.05, Thursday 03.07
Week 9: Concept and Design Development
Content:
- CRIT: Project Proposal
- 1. Begin assembly of CG elements/scene for your shot
- 2. Finalize your site photo plate.
- 3. You must pre-plan EVERY element of your shot, in advance.
- 4. Select spherical panorama for HDRI lighting (in lieu of shooting it).
Assignment:
- WORK on What is Real?
Readings:
- Maya Render Setup (UFL Linkedin Learning)
- Wood, Aylish. 2006. “Re-Animating Space.” Animation 1 (2): 133–52.
Tuesday 03.12
Tuesday 03.12, Thursday 03.14
Week 10: SPRING BREAK - No class
Content:
- SPRING NO BREAK
- That means it's time to get some work done!
Assignment
- WORK on What is Real?
- Advance your project with this dedicated free time!
Readings: NoneTuesday 03.19
Tuesday 03.19, Thursday 03.21
Week 11: Image-based Lighting
Content:
- Discuss Reading
- SCREEN: Animation, Mask (2011), by Jordan Wolfson
- Animation, Mask Review in Frieze
- High Dynamic Range Imaging
- Maya + VRay Shadow Matte, HDRI, and Compositing
Assignment:
- WORK, WORK, WORK, on What is Real?
Readings:
Tuesday 03.26, Thursday 03.28
Week 12: Compositing
Content:
- Discuss Readings
- Studio: Continue CG Work.
Assignment:
- WORK on What is Real?
Readings:
- Väliaho, Pasi. 2017. “Animation and the Powers of Plasticity.” Animation 12 (3): 259–71.
Tuesday 04.02, Thursday 04.04
Week 13: Refine and Tune
Content:
- Discuss Reading
- Studio: Continue CG Work.
Assignment:
- WORK, WORK, WORK on What is Real?
Readings: None
Tuesday 04.09, Thursday 04.11
Week 14: Compositing - Rendering - Final Production
Content:
- Put it all together and fix what is broken (trust me, it will be broken)
- WORK, WORK, WORK on What is Real?
- COTA AI and Interactions with Society Symposium (Thursday)
- REGISTER HERE for next weeks COTA AI mini-symposium
Assignment:
- Finish What is Real?
Readings: None
Tuesday 04.16, Thursday 04.18
Week 15: Button in up!
Content:
- This is it...be done!
- WORK - FINISH
- COTA AI and Interactions with Society Symposium (Thursday 11PM - 3PM)
Assignment:
- Put it all together and be happy.
Readings: None
Tuesday 04.23
Week 16: LAST DAY OF CLASS
Assignment: SUMMER WORK:Learn Python! -> HEREContent: Final adjustments, prep for Final Crit.
Friday 05.03
Exam Week: Final Exams - final review 12:30PM - 2:30PM.
Look at some ART WORK!

Digital Art and Animation Schedule

Week 1: Introduction

Week 2: Poly Modeling

Week 3: Poly Modeling

Week 4: Poly Sculpting

Week 5: Sculpting and Texturing

Week 6: Texturing and Lighting

Week 7: Form and Meaning

Week 8: Lighting

Week 9: Concept and Design Development

Week 10: SPRING BREAK - No class

Week 11: Image-based Lighting

Week 12: Compositing

Week 13: Refine and Tune

Week 14: Compositing - Rendering - Final Production

Week 15: Button in up!

Week 16: LAST DAY OF CLASS

Exam Week: Final Exams - final review 12:30PM - 2:30PM.