ATEC 3317 Introduction to 3D Computer Animation

Course Credit Hours: 3

Time: R 7:00pm-9:45pm

Web address

Instructor Chris Tran

Email: 3d4fun@mailcity.com

Office Hours By appointment only, after class meets on Thursdays.

Course ATEC 3317 will explore 3D modeling concepts and techniques for 3D
Description computer animation. A conceptual understanding of the elements of
surface modeling will be the main focus of this course.

Course Understand the fundamental principles of modeling 3D computer -

Objectives generated forms.

Develop artistic skills and technical skills and use both to produce creative
forms.

Learn technical terms related to 3D modeling and computer animation.

Enhance ability to discuss current issues related to 3D modeling and

computer animation.

Demonstrate the ability to offer both technical and aesthetic criticisms of

the work of peers and self.

Course Students are expected to be participating and working in each and every
Methodology class. Students are encouraged to collaborate in solving some of the
difficult technical and conceptual problems that are part of their project.
Class sessions will consist of lectures, demonstration, studio work,
critiques, video reference, and discussions focusing on class assignments.

The class format will take on a variety of styles, as the subject dictates.
Examples will be presented and discussed in lectures, videos and
demonstrations. Students will present their work in critique sessions.

Students are encouraged to complete all work at the ATEC computer labs
in order to benefit from collaborative learning with your peers. Students
choosing to use "offsite" hardware and software must have their current
working files on the system and available for review at the beginning of
each and every class. Problems with "offsite" systems and/or
incompatibility will not be an acceptable excuse for missed assignments.

Tentative
Course Week Topics Kerlow In Class Activity Assign-
 Schedule Date ment

(Course Schedule is Course Orientation

and syllabus review
subject to change at the Computer Graphics
discretion of the Help -> Learning
Primer, Read Chap 1
instructor. Check Resourses ->
Wk 1 Polygons, NURBS, -4
Tutorials -> Getting A1 given
periodically for updates.) 8/18 curves, surfaces, Definition of a
Started -> Maya
projects, primitives, model
Basics
transform tools,
components
Maya intro demo
NURBS modeling,
construction history,
NURBS Modeling
layers, windows,
layouts, Hotbox,
Wk 2 Hypergraph, Channel Revolving and
8/25 Box, Attribute Editor, lofting surfaces
revolve/loft/extrude, Exercise: building a
NURBS arm
model sheet ,
storyboards
NURBS modeling,
good/bad models,
computational
efficiency, groups,
Wk 3 hierarchies, NURBS Modeling A1 symbol
9/1 hypergraph, working Lesson 2 Sculpting design due
with curves, planar
tool, duplicate, text
tool, sculpt tool,
boolean operations
Basic lighting, Work on A1 in
Wk 4 Learning Maya
basic camera,
9/8 class Lessons 7 & 8
rendering a turntable,
A1 presentation

Wk 5 Polygon modeling, A1 due

critique
9/15 conversion, surface A2 given
normals, smooth
shading,
Polygon modeling,
working with faces,
components, sculpt Polygonal
Wk 6 Modeling A2 process
tool, fill hole,
9/22 book due
combine/separate, Lesson 1
split edge, cut faces,
merge edges
Polygon modeling,
avoiding bad Work on A2 in
Wk 7
geometry, identifying
9 /29 class
"illegal faces" and how
to fix them
Wk 8 Subdivision surfaces Subdivision
Read Chap 5
10/6 Study for mid-term surfaces: Lesson 1
Wk 9 Work on A2 in
Mid-term exam
10/13 class

Wk 10 A2 presentation critique A2 due

 10/20 A3 given
Character Setup:
Fk, Inverse kinematics ,
Wk 11 Read Chap Lesson 1 A3 process
building/binding a
10/27 12 (skeletons and book due
hand
kinematics)
Wk 12 Modeling for facial Character Setup:
11/3 animation Lesson 3
Wk 13 Work on A3 in
Work day
11/10 class
Wk 14 Work on A3 in
Work day
11/17 class
Final
A3 final presentation critique A3 due
11/24

Assignments Personal symbol or logo description work submitted

Mechanical or organic model description work submitted
Rube Goldberg contraption description work submitted

Grading policy Students must demonstrate satisfactory achievement of course objectives

through fulfillment of course assignments and by contributing to class
discussions and critiques. Course assignments will require students to use
software and equipment available at the ATEC computer labs.
Collaboration between students in the course, other faculty, staff and
students in the ATEC program is encouraged. Course evaluation will be
based upon the following:

l Assignments 1 - 3: 30% each, where 30% of each assignment grade

is given to process book research.
l Mid-term exam: 10%

All students are required to be on time and in attendance for each and
every class. Students arriving to class more than 15 minutes late will be
counted as absent. Two (2) absences will lower a final grade by 1/2 a
letter. Three (3) absences will lower your final grade by one letter. Four (4)
absences will result in a failing grade ("F ") for the course.

Adherence to deadlines is expected. It is the individual student's

responsibility to keep track of the goals and deadlines and to present the
work to the class and instructor on the specified dates. Late assignments
will affect your grade:

*** Students must turn in assignments within the first 15 minutes of class to
get full credit. A letter grade will be drop for every passing 15 minutes. ***

Students will be expected to make a formal presentation of their progress

on dates specified by the course timeline.

If you need to drop the class for any reason, you are responsible for
initiating the drop procedure. Contact the Register's Office. If you do not
withdraw by the specific drop date and you do not fulfill the requirements
of the class, you will receive a failing grade.
 Grading Scale A+/A 4.00 C 2.00
A- 3.67 C- 1.67
B+ 3.33 D+ 1.33
B 3.00 D 1.00
B- 2.67 D- 0.67
C+ 2.33 F

Textbooks The Art of 3 -D Computer Animation and Effects, 3rd Ed, Isaac Victor
Kerlow (required)

Course Notebook/Sketchbook
Supplies Archive Material: Zip Drive, Flash Drive, CD or DVD

Accommodation It is the policy of UTD to provide reasonable and appropriate

Process accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities. This
University will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws,
regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable
accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is
the student's responsibility to contact the appropriate office in a timely
manner if s/he desires to arrange for accommodations.

Scholastic Dishonesty UTD may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of
scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to
statements, acts, or omissions related to application for enrollment, the
ward of a degree, and/or the submission of one's work of material that is
not one's own. Scholastic dishonesty may involve one or more of the
following acts; cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and falsifying academic
records.

Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized

manner during an examination, illicitly obtaining examination questions in
advance, copying computer files, copying internet material, using
someone else's work for assignments as if it were one's own, or any other
dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.

Plagiarism is the use of an author's works or ideas as if they were one's

own without giving credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure
to acknowledge a direct quotation.

Copyright Violations It is a federal crime to reproduce copyrighted software. Anyone caught

reproducing software from the UTD labs will be subject to disciplinary
action. In addition, anyone caught reproducing outside software in the lab
will automatically lose all lab privileges and will be subject to other
disciplinary action as deemed necessary.