Digital Art and Animation Schedule

The course schedule from 2011-2019.

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Digital Art and Animation Schedule

  • Tuesday 01.12, Thursday 01.14

    Week 1: Introduction

    Content:
    • Syllabus
    • Intro to Digital Art and Animation
    • Lecture: Art * Film * Animation - various works
    Assignment:
    • WATCH PARTY - DUE Thursday
    • Post at least one example of a cool/good/exciting 3D artwork to Canvas page.
    • 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:

    Tuesday 01.19, Thursday 01.21

    Week 2: Poly Modeling I

    Content:
    • Discuss readings.
    • Screening: Norman McLaren: Creative Process
    • Develop/Discuss projects
    • Demo: Maya Polygonal Modeling Intro
    Assignment:
    • BEGIN - Project 1 [Simple Form (is that possible?)]
    Readings: None
    Tuesday 01.26, Thursday 01.28

    Week 3: Poly Modeling I

    Content:
    • Demo: Maya Polygonal Modeling
    • Work on P1
    Assignment:
    • FINALIZE Project 1 [Simple Form (is that possible?)]
    Readings: None
    Tuesday 02.02, Thursday 02.04

    Week 4: Poly Modeling II

    Content:
    • CRITIQUE Project 1 [Simple Form (is that possible?) - Tuesday]
    • Practice/Exercise: More Maya Polygonal Modeling
    Assignment:
    • BEGIN - Project 2 [Form and Meaning]
    Readings:

    Tuesday 02.09, Thursday 02.11

    Week 5: Texturing I

    Content:
    • Introduction to Texturing.
    • Intro to VRay Materials and lighting
    • UV layout in Maya
    • How to use the A+T renderfarm - local batch vs renderfarm
    Assignment: NoneReadings:

    Tuesday 02.16, Thursday 02.18

    Week 6: Texturing II

    Content:
    • More VRay Materials and Rendering
    • Intro to texture workflow between Maya and 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:

    Tuesday 02.23, Thursday 02.25

    Week 7: End Polygonal Modeling I

    Content:
    • CRITIQUE Project 2 [Form and Meaning - Tuesday + Thursday]
    Assignment: NoneReadings: None
    Tuesday 03.02, Thursday 03.04

    Week 8: Lighting I

    Content:
    • Intro to lighting and lighting/rendering techiques
    Assignment:
    • BEGIN - FINAL PROJECT [What is Real?]
    • 1. Research and document (ie, post online) your final project ideas
    • 2. Photo your proposed shooting location and mock up your shot.
    • 3. Prepare to present your project proposal on Thursday.
    • REVIEW PROPOSAL [What is Real? Proposal] - present your concept and production plan - THURSDAY
    Readings: None
    Tuesday 03.09, Thursday 03.11

    Week 9: Lighting II

    Content:
    • Demo: Rendering, shadows, layers and passes
    • Work on What is Real?
    Assignment: NoneReadings:

    Tuesday 03.16,

    Week 10: Rendering Layers

    Content:
    • We'll work on EXR render passes in VRay
    Assignment
    • WORK on What is Real?
    Readings: None
    Tuesday 03.23, Thursday 03.25

    Week 11: Rendering Passes - Image-based Lighting

    Content:
    • WORK, WORK, WORK, on What is Real?
    Assignment: NoneReadings: None
    Tuesday 03.30, Thursday 04.01

    Week 12: Concept and Design Development

    Content:
    • 1. Begin production of CG elements/scene for your shoot
    • 2. Begin Shooting site footage with RED (Thursday)
    • 3. We will also collect spherical panoramas for HDRI lighting at the sites.
    Assignment:
    • Prep for shooting background footage with RED.
    • You must pre-plan EVERY element of your shoot, in advance.
    • You must have any/all props or assets in place at the site of your shoot.
    • Continue CG development
    Readings: None
    Tuesday 04.06, Thursday 04.08

    Week 13: Modeling - Lighting - HDRI - Tracking

    Content:
    • Continue CG Work.
    Assignment:
    • WORK, WORK, WORK on What is Real?
    Readings: None
    Tuesday 04.13, Thursday 04.15

    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?
    Assignment:
    • Finish What is Real?
    Readings: None
    Tuesday 04.20, Tuesday 04.20

    Week 15: Last Day of Class

    Content:
    • This is it...be done!
    • WORK - FINISH
    Assignment:
    • Put it all together and be happy.
    Readings: None
    Wednesday 04.21, Wednesday 04.21

    Week 16: NOT SPRING BREAK - No class

    Content:
    • nothing at all
    Assignment: NoneReadings: None
    Tuesday 04.27

    Exam Week: Final Exams - final review 7:30AM - 9:30AM.

    We'll schedule how to handle the final when we get closer.