Fall 2013: 3D Animation Project requirements

Overview  Attendance required – people who do not come to class tend to create not-very-good projects!  One assignment: a complete architectural scene  Indoor or outdoor  Complete  Elegant  Due date: the final exam slot for the class

you will need autodesk maya: students.autodesk.com (free!) a video editor a sound editor an image editor

The Video  Make a one to three minute video rendered as avi, wmv, mov. Your video must be playable on  Quicktime  VLC on a Mac,  VLC on a Windows machine.  Make your video tell a story. Something begins, continues for a while, and then has an ending. There needs to be a point to why we are watching your video, something (however simple) must unfold.  Use at least 1240 by 960 pixels; anything smaller will not look good.  Use a high level of anti-aliasing.

Advice  Make sure all the parts of your environment fit together stylistically. This can be a problem if you use canned stuff from the Visor.  Don’t take on a project that is too large for you to finish completely.  Leave lots of time for rendering, and do test renderings along the way, to judge your render time needs.  We will work on the projects in class – so come

Hand in  A data (not a playable) DVD containing…  Your entire project folder, minus only the individual images you rendered for your video. These images should be the only think that makes your project folder big.  Your video – no larger than a gigabyte.  During the first 10 seconds of your video, display: Intro to Animation, Summer 2013, Joe Cool (except plug in your own name…)  Test your DVD to make sure it is readable!  Put your DVD in a case, please.

Importing content you can import textures only You can use content from the Maya “Visor” But only for minor content

Only one assignment Build a maya animated video it must be complete, including a full rendering with sound No specific content requirements beyond using maya and that there be some sort of message being conveyed you can import textures and poly meshes only you must negotiate your project with me goal: full elegance - do what you can complete

Primary goal: build an entire environment  The core of your environment must be your own work.  Please do not mimic any proprietary content, such as a character or model from a movie or a video game.  Canned material from Maya can be used only to flesh out a scene and should not be the focus of our intention when viewing your video.  Your modeling must be clean and elegant, and must contain a realistic level of detail.  For example, a living room with noting on tables or shelves looks unrealistic.  Use materials and textures only on reasonably flat, homogeneous areas like a stone wall or paved street.  Use geometry for larger grained surface features.

Primary goal: build an entire environment, continued…  You may import media to use for textures and soundtracks, but nothing else can come from outside Maya.  All your modeling must be done in Maya.  Carefully balance materials, lights, shadows, and reflective and transparent materials - to give your scene a deliberate, unique look.

Important you need a storyline You need a modeling and story inspiration Consider storyboards

equally important No models inspired by any proprietary context whatsoever no downloaded models take on only what you can finish properly! that is why i am here...

resources 47 intro videos on the classroom and lab machines have maya premiere final cut pro

The biggest stumbling block Time for rendering your project! Please keep in mind that a full, crisp rendering is required

Giving a scene a feeling Lighting, shadows, materials Fog, transparency, length and sharpness of shadows A moving camera can reveal a scene incrementally or make us dizzy Skyline (perhaps with an environment material)

Pay particular attention to.. Building a model with materials and animation in mind Outliner! A model and movement that is the focus of the viewer ’ s attention and is engaging

Textures & materials This makes or breaks a model Budget time to do this right No ugly tiling No wrap-around seams No uneven projections Consider bump maps and layered materials

Overriding goals Create a scene you can finish completely and elegantly Try to create a scene and models that are compelling Don ’ t compromise on materials/textures, modeling details, fleshing out the surrounding scene, or rendering your scenes they way they look best