- Research Paper on the state of 3-D modeling today
- Full name and last four (4) digits of student ID number
- Class number and section number
- Research paper title
The subject of the paper will be open to your selection, but should be on a topic relevant to the 3-D modeling/animation industry and its current state of technology. How has the development of 3-D modeling contributed to the various media in which it's influence has been felt. it is a good thing? With this assignment, I am requiring students to locate, access, evaluate, organize, use, and attribute information that you find to support or defend your position. I do not want an essay; I want details and facts, then your analysis of that information in support of your position on the issue.
The campus library has resources that will assist you. Every year new and better resources are added to expand the library's collection, maintain currency, and improve access. There are also excellent electronic resources in a number of areas that are currently underused — areas that you cannot access over the Internet without a password. It is a distressing but common occurrence to talk with students about the library who say, "If only I'd known about this [resource, service, facility]. It would have really helped me [last month, last semester, last year]." Let the library staff help you with this assignment.
Read the RESEARCH PAPER GUIDE about how to approach this assignment.
This assignment will be submitted in electronic form. The filename of the RTF document will be your last name and last four digits of your student ID number (example: woodland1234.rtf). That's ALL I want in the filename — DO NOT include more than I ask for because it makes it harder to find you among the other students. However, the first page of this paper MUST include the following information:
Papers without this information may be unilaterally rejected, depending on the frustration level of the instructor.
ASSIGNMENT #1
- Create a humanoid figure, animal shape, or some other easily-recognized inanimate object using primitives ONLY
Turn in a minimum of nine (9) rendered images. Render three images from at least three view positions. Use a different rendering method for each of the three images at each position -- Open GL (wire, flat, or shaded), ScanLine, Raytracing, or Raydiosity. In additional to gaining experience thinking in three dimensions, this will also help you begin to understand the differences between available modeling and rendering methods.
Assignment examples from former students
NOTE: Before the modeling process can start, you must visualize the idea of what you want to create. This is usually done best by doing hand-drawn thumbnail sketches. Drawing by hand, no matter how crudely, forces you to think through and possibly solve most (if not all) of the design issues BEFORE you begin a project. You should develop and strictly adhere to this habit early in your learning of 3-D modeling software. Most beginners skip this important step, naively thinking they can just start a project and address any problems later as they arise. It is all too easy to get sidetracked solving an impasse this way and lose focus of the overall project. Success is much higher when you have a written or drawn plan.
ASSIGNMENT #2
- Model a 3-D version of an existing or original logo
This should be a viable logo, i.e. using all the recognized principles of good design. You may use an existing logo design, but you must construct it in three dimensions. Render several images from different viewing positions. One of the images must be rendered from a close-up position using a wide angle lens setting for an enhanced or exaggerated 3-D perspective.
Assignment examples from former students
Render the images with an alpha channel enabled and save all your images in PICT format with 32-bit color. Turn in the images and the 3-D model inside a folder titled ONLY with your last name and last four digits of your social security number.
ASSIGNMENT #3
- Design a globe with transparent oceans
Build the model with an external frame holding the globe. Build a world map texture with transparent oceans or a glass-like appearance. Map this texture on a sphere and render it so the backside of the continents are visible through the sphere. Then, put the globe into a real photograph; matching perspective so it will appear to be part of the photograph. Be sure to address the design issues of shadow and reflection as you add the globe. See how realistically you can match the globe to the photograph, such that someone else would believe it was physically present when the photo was taken.
Assignment examples from former students
For this assignment, submit the original rendered image and all Photoshop files used in your project in Photoshop format (PSD) with all components present -- layers, channels, and any layer masks used, if any.
ASSIGNMENT #4
- Model a soft drink can, with original label
Build a scene for this can (or multiple cans). This would involve creating a set of textures for the label of a soft drink can which would provide color, reflectivity, metallic appearance, etc. The lid should also have as much realism as possible, especially the "pop top" tab. Then, put the one or more cans into a photograph appropriate for the subject -- kitchen counter, sales advertisement, a 6-pack on a store shelf, on a desk, etc. For best results and enhanced realism, pay attention to lighting, shadows, reflections, etc.
Assignment examples from former students
For this assignment, along with the 3D model and rendered images, also submit the original label files used in your project in Photoshop format (PSD) with all components present -- layers, channels, and any layer masks used, if any.
ASSIGNMENT #5
- Design and build a room with children's toys
Use what you have learned about texture maps and shape instances. In this scene, include many toys. Some ideas of what you could include are wooden blocks using bump map(s) to simulate the wood grain of the block, a toy train (perhaps also made of wood, but a different type), a jack-in-the-box (with pop-up visible), a spinning top, furniture, lamp(s), a Woody® doll, Mr. Potatoe Head®, etc. Use your imagination. As you assemble the scene, include at least three wood blocks showing a different letter on each visible face and make sure the wood doesn't all look exactly the same. You can rotate and scale the grain as needed to achieve a natural variety.
Assignment examples from former students
For this assignment, I want a daytime and a nightime version. That is, render images with the sunshine through the window and then render images with no sun but the lights in the room on.
ASSIGNMENT #6
Choose One of the following projects...
-
A. Animation of a ball bouncing
The frame size must be 320 pixels wide by 240 pixels high. This is a standard 4:3 aspect ratio -- the same proportion as full-screen, full-motion video or television broadcast. The length should be at least three seconds, but no more than six seconds. Of course, the rebound angles must be correct as the ball bounces; realism is an important aspect of this project. This project will work best if you can design an animation sequence that loops seamlessly, e.g. The end of the animation puts the ball in exactly the same location as the start of the animation (minus one frame for seamless looping).
Assignment examples from former students
B. Animation of multiple meshed gears.
Animate a series of gears that work together to perform some useful task. Assemble a gear-train of at least six meshing gears. Of the gears used, at least two must be a different size. All gears must mesh correctly, even those of different size, which will require a different number of teeth on smaller or larger gears. Local light sources should also be used to help illuminate the gears in dramatic ways that increase the rendered animations' interest. You can design this animation to loop or not. If it should loop, then the motion should be seamless. If not, the complete animation must be 20-30 seconds long.
Assignment examples from former students
Animated example from a former student
C. Animation of a spinning top
The spinning top should have realistic wobble and movement. Using proper hierarchical modeling techniques, you will be able to easily add these enhancements to the realism. Tell the complete story of the birth, life, and death of a spinning top. The frame size for the animation should be 320 pixels wide and 240 pixels high. The length should be no less than 20 seconds long.
Assignment examples from former students
For this assignment, whatever you choose to do, submit your project in QuickTIme or AVI format.
MID-TERM EXAM
- The test is at the Campus Testing Center
The mid-term exam can be taken anytime during week 8 of the semester, but it must be done by the Testing Center's closing time on Friday of that week. To review for mid-term test, study these possible questions as a guide on what information you should know for the test. Remember to bring a photo ID and a 100-question (green ink) ScanTron card.
FINAL EXAM
- The final is at the time and day designated in the published semester schedule
For convenience, it is also indicated on the calendar for this course. Study these possible questions as a guide on what information you should know for the test. Bring a standard 100-question ScanTron card. You cannot take the written final without it. (...Nor can you take the test at other than the designated time without prior arrangement.)
Last Updated 08/16/2007
Send questions and comments to
Prof. Ron Woodland
