# Introduction to 3D Modeling
Fall 2016
**Course Number:** FA/DATT 2500 3.0
**Lecture:** Tuesday 9:30~10:20
**Lecture Location:** ACW 004.
**Lab:** Tuesday 10:30~12:20 (Lab01), 12:30~2:20 (Lab02), 2:30~4:20 (Lab03), 4:30~5:20 (Lab04)
**Lab Location:** ACW 102 - Art and Technology Learning Laboratory
**Course webpage:** [http://jiharu.github.io/datt2500/](http://jiharu.github.io/datt2500/)
**Class portfolio webpage:**
>- (Lab 01) [http://2016datt2500.tumblr.com/](http://2016datt2500.tumblr.com/)
- (Lab 02) [http://2016datt2500lab2.tumblr.com/](http://2016datt2500lab2.tumblr.com/)
- (Lab 03) [http://2016datt2500lab3.tumblr.com/](http://2016datt2500lab3.tumblr.com/)
- (Lab 04) [http://2016datt2500lab4.tumblr.com/](http://2016datt2500lab4.tumblr.com/)
**Course Director:** Haru (HyunKyung) Ji (haruoneday at gmail.com)
**TA instructor:** Yifat Shaik (yifatshaik at gmail.com)
**Digital Media Technician:** Frank Tsonis (tsonfr at yorku.ca)
**Office:** 229 Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts
**Office hours:** Wed / Thur by appointment
## Expanded Course Description
The 3D modeling class is designed for students to learn both practical and theoretical knowledge in constructing and managing 3-dimensional modeling and texturing data. It is a highly interdisciplinary and complex subject of artistic expression and technological understanding, therefore needing a creative open mindset from students. Throughout the class, there will be three projects to help students build problem-solving abilities toward the subject in an incremental way.
Each class consists of one hour of lecture and two hours of lab practice to accomplish theoretical and practical approaches. The main software used in the class is Autodesk Maya, which has very strong support for modeling as well as other related stages of the production pipeline.
The level of the course covers beginner to intermediate modeling and shading. Evaluation will be mainly via three projects and minor assignments taking a creative approach to expressive 3D modeling and texturing.
## Course objectives
- To build a framework of skills and vocabulary to create and modify 3D modeling data.
- To understand the fundamental components and their position in the production pipeline of 3D modeling artwork.
- To appreciate the interdisciplinary research attitudes of art and technology (computer graphics).
- To invest independent and artistic expression along with problem solving processes during construction.
- To develop awareness of current 3D modeling practices through diverse examples of animation, films, video games, virtual worlds, 3D printing, and so on.
### Students will learn
Understanding 3D computer graphics / various kinds of digital modeling methods / Maya interface and structure / Maya NURBs, polygon, subdivision modeling / shading including texturing / UV (texture mapping) / deformers & shape blending / digital cinematography / lighting & rendering / global illumination / ambient occlusion shading & depth of field.
## Course format
This class is highly practice based. One-third of the class will be lecture-based, showing theory and practice using presentation media and demonstration (33%). The other two-thirds will be supervised students’ hands-on practice (66%).
- Please be patient to repeat practice exercises until you feel familiar with the logic & structure of the 3D software interface, pipeline, processes, and vocabularies, since complexities can easily overwhelm. If you have any question or difficulty in following, don’t hesitate to ask the instructor.
- Develop your unique preference as a maker/producer among a variety of 3D modeling techniques.
- If you have high fluency using 3D software, then investigate near future trends.
- When you research examples of 3D artworks, try to avoid popular mass productions such as Pixar’s or DreamWorks’; instead find a specific modeler and investigate his/her portfolio as an independent artist.
- Explore many usages of 3D modeling in different areas such as entertainment, education, medical, manufacture, and so on.
- Sharing information is recommended to accelerate the speed of progress, unless it interrupts other students’ concentration. Students will share their assignments through the Tumblr website [http://2016datt2500.tumblr.com/](http://2016datt2500.tumblr.com/). Questions and discussions are encouraged during class time.
## Grade Breakdown
- Project 1- Still life modeling (20%)
- Project 2- Still life shading & rendering (20%)
- Project 3- Free theme scene modeling & rendering (40%)
- Assigments (20%)
Failure to complete any project, assignment or to participate in lectures and lab practice will result in failure of the class. It is mandatory for all students to adhere to the course schedule.
The evaluation will be based on cumulative achievement, regular attendance and the student’s participation in research, making, and creative expression. It is expected that students will show a commitment to completing all projects and assignments with creative & aesthetic solutions based consistent work habits both in class time and outside of class time.
*** Please Note: The last day to drop this course without receiving a grade is the last day of classes.**
## Evaluation/Grading Criteria
- Quality of the work produced; with the balance of the student’s artistic expression & sensitivity as well as technical understanding, with integration of techniques and subject.
- Ability to use 3D modeling techniques and to solve problems into the process of making.
- The progress and engagement of the student in their research studies, as well as their curiosity and motivation to learn and achieve.
- The degree and details to which students can set challenges for her or himself.
- Commitment (includes attendance, participation, completing work on time, ambition of project)
When you submit your work, please **name your assignment as the following format: last name_first name_date_assignment number.extension**
###Project Description:
More details regarding projects and assignments will be announced in class.
- **Project 1- Still life modeling:** Based on a chosen reference of a masterwork of still life (painting or a photograph), reconstruct via 3D modeling with proper lighting and shadows. Submit a best-quality rendered image along with the reference image you have chosen, and a brief explanation of both, to Moodle. (20%)
- **Project 2- Still life shading & rendering:** Continuation and completion of project 1 applying proper shaders with textures and cinematographic set-up including camera, lights, and shadows. Details will be announced in class. (20%)
- **Project 3- Free theme scene modeling & rendering:** details will be announced in class. (40%)
- **Assignments:** simple hands-on practices designed to help students’ progress following each 3D modeling subtopic. Completion in time and proper targeting to the subject are the two evaluation criteria. (20%)
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### Evaluation/Grading Criteria:
- Quality of the work produced; with the balance of the student’s artistic expression & sensitivity as well as technical understanding, with integration of techniques and subject.
- Ability to use 3D modeling techniques and to solve problems in the process of making.
- The progress and engagement of the student in their research studies, as well as their curiosity and motivation to learn and achieve.
- The degree and details to which students can set challenges for her or himself.
- Commitment (includes attendance, participation, completing work on time, ambition of project)
When you submit your work, please name your assignment as the following format: *yourSchoolid\_name\_date.extension*
## Computer Lab
There will be general introduction from the lab technician in the first class. Please clean your seat and log out before you leave for a next lab session. If you have a question about using lab, address it to the lab technician or instructor.
Please turn your cell phones off before entering class and/or the computer lab.
It is expected that the majority of the assignments will be completed outside of class time. **If you plan to use the lab outside of your class time, you must purchase a Digital Media Lab Card.** Lab Cards are $30 for the year, or $20 for one term. The Digital Media Lab Card can be purchased in the Digital Media office, located in Rm. 232, Goldfarb Centre for Fine Arts. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm.
Students will be required to supply headphones in the lab to follow web tutorials.
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## References
(not mandatory to purchase)
- Class website: [http://jiharu.github.io/datt2500/](http://jiharu.github.io/datt2500/)
- Homework portfolio website: [http://2016datt2500.tumblr.com/](http://2016datt2500.tumblr.com/)
- Maya Help File (in Maya, F1 key)
- The Art of Maya: An Introduction to 3D Computer Graphics
by Autodesk Maya Press, Pub. Date: April 30, 2007 (2003/ 2005/ 2007 edition)
- Introducing Autodesk Maya 2015
by Dariush Derakhshani, Publisher: Sybex, Pub. Date: 2014
- Mastering Autodesk Maya 2015
by Todd Palamar, Publisher: Sybex, Pub. Date: 2014
- Autodesk Maya 2014 Essentials
by Paul Naas, Publisher: Sybex, Pub. Date: 2013
- [digital] Modeling
by William Vaughan, Publisher: New Riders, Pub. Date: December 23, 2011
- Maya® 2008 Character Modeling and Animation: Principles and Practices
by Tereza Flaxman, Publisher: Course Technology PTR, Pub. Date: January 01, 2008
- Advanced Maya® Texturing and Lighting, Second Edition
by Lee Lanier, Publisher: Sybex, Pub. Date: August 11, 2008
- Professional MEL Solutions for Production
by Kevin Mannens; Ed Caspersen, Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Learning, Pub. Date: June 23, 2009
- 3D Technology in Fine Art and Craft by Bridgette Mongeon, Focal Press, 2015
- Maya® Studio Projects: Game Environments and Props, by Michael McKinley and Juan Pablo Stegmann, Sybex, 2010
- Creating Visual Effects in Maya by Lee Lanier, Focal Press, 2014
- Digital Art Masters series by 3DTotal publishing
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### Useful Links:
- http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/maya#?p=MAYAUL&p_disp=Maya&sort=score
- http://forums.cgsociety.org/
- http://www.melscripting.com/
- http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/
#### Digital sculpting
- http://pixologic.com/sculptris/
#### Tutorial from Yifat
- https://tplinnovator.wordpress.com/
And more online tutorials.
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## Course Schedule
- **Week 1 (Sep 13):** Lecture: Introduction to class & projects, overview of 3D modeling & the Maya interface. Lab: Set-up account for the class portfolio website, working on using the Maya interface (using Help links); Maya/Help/1-Minute Startup Movies & Maya/Help/Tutorials/Maya Tutorials. Assignment 1 (a01).
- **Week 2 (Sep 20):** Lecture: Overview of 3D modeling: NURBS, Polygon, and Subdivision modeling, fundamental components, and different modeling methods. Lab: Practice basic NURBS, Polygon, and Subdivision modeling. Assignment 2 (a02).
- **Week 3 (Sep 27):** Lecture: NURBS modeling. Lab: Practice NURBS modeling. Assignment 3 (a03).
- **Week 4 (Oct 4):** Lecture: Polygonal modeling. Lab: Practice polygonal modeling, working on project 1: still life modeling.
- **Week 5 (Oct 11):** Lecture: Modeling techniques. Lab: Practice smoothing & sub divisional modeling, Assignment 4 (a04).
- **Week 6 (Oct 18):** Lecture: Applying materials (shaders) & textures. Lab: Practice shading. Assignment 5 (a05).
- **Week 7 (Oct 25):** Lecture: Texturing. Lab: Practice UV texturing. Assignment 6 (a06).
- **Week 8:** Lecture: Cinematography; 1-, 2-, and 3-point lighting & soft shadow plus camera set-up. Lab: Practice cinematography; lighting, camera, and Maya rendering. working on project 2: still life completion.
- **Week 9:** Lecture: More on NURBS & Polygon modeling. Lab: Practice based on the class material. Assignment 7 (a07).
- **Week 10:** Lecture: Character modeling & Low-polygon modeling. Lab: Practice based on the class material. Assignment 8 (a08).
- **Week 11:** Lecture: Global Illumination & Mental Ray. Lab:(Using Cornell Box) practice Global Illumination, Final Gather & your final project. Assignment 9 (a09).
- **Week 12:** Lecture: Ambient occlusion, DoF, Dynamics; soft body & Bifröst. Lab: Feedback & practice. working on project 3: free theme modeling & rendering.
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