DXARTS 441 - 3 Space 1: Computer Modeling and Environments

HOMEWORK AND ASSIGNMENTS

PLEASE NOTE:

Whenever a disk is required for hand-in, you are required to label it in the following manner:

Name
Class
Term
Assignment or Homework #
Assignment or Homework Title

Homework 1

Context: You must use only Poly primitives and the following operations in this assignment: duplicate, translate, rotate, scale. Only use these functions on whole objects. Create a highly imaginative interpretation of an environment. You should use the permutations on primative shapes to define the space and relationship between elements in the design. Your challenge here is to use simple tools to sketch out and evoke an interesting spacial landscape. Equally important in this homework is to organize the hierarchy of your structure - you must name and group the components of your scene in a manner that is easy to navigate and understand.

Some students have been asked to complete a more advanced project. If this applies to you, please complete the following variation of the assignment instead of the one above...

Advanced Context: You must use only Polygon primitives and the following operations in this assignment: duplicate, translate, rotate, scale. You may use these functions on any portion of the primatives: points, faces, etc... Simple color can be added. Create two very different highly imaginative interpretation of an environment. You should use the permutations on primative shapes to define the space and relationship between elements in the design. Your challenge here is to use simple tools to sketch out and evoke an interesting spacial landscape. Equally important in this homework is to organize the hierarchy of your structure - you must name and group the components of your scene in a manner that is easy to navigate and understand.

Turn in your project directory and text file on disk.

Homework 2

Content: Create a virtual sculptural work that resides within the environment you created previously. The sculptural element need not be one single object, but it should reveal a deeper attention to detail, form, and relationship. Your work should demonstrate a sophisticated use of the polygon modeling tools that have been introduced, as well as engage the viewer. The sculpture should be detailed and well-constructed, making sure you are modeling the forms elegantly and not creating excess geometry. Be adventurous with content while still using good form.Challenge yourself to explore the relationship between the context you already created, and the content you are adding.

The sculpture should be accompanied by a short description of your intent. Factors you may want to include in your description are: Is the object meant to represent something that could exist in real life? Are they intended to be experienced in screen-space, in print, or through some other format? How would you 'finish' the work if you were to keep evolving the project?

Note: Do not edit your original environment, unless it is a small or simple change.

Turn in your project directory and text file on disk.

Some students have been asked to complete a more advanced project. If this applies to you, please complete the following variation of the assignment instead of the one above...

Advanced Content: Create a virtual sculptural work that resides within the two environments you created previously. The sculptural element need not be one single object, but it should reveal a deeper attention to detail, form, and relationship. Your work should demonstrate a sophisticated use of the polygon or nurbs modeling tools, as well as engage the viewer. Any editing technique of editing can be used on your models. The sculpture should be detailed and well-constructed, making sure you are modeling the forms elegantly and not creating excess geometry. Be adventurous with content while still using good form.Challenge yourself to explore the relationship between the context you already created, and the content you are adding.

The sculpture should be accompanied by a short description of your intent. Factorsyou may want to include in your description are: Is the object meant to representsomething that could exist in real life? Are they intended to be experiencedin screen-space, in print, or through some other format? How would you 'finish'the work if you were to keep evolving the project?

Note: Do not edit your original environment, unless it is a small or simple change.

Turn in your project directory and text file on disk.

Project 1 - World View

Description: Using the modeling techniques you have learned, create an environment that the viewer experiences through live interaction using the Cortona VRML viewer(Cortona Links on reference page). Consider how the person might investigate the space, and create your world with this in mind. Remember, someone else controls the camera. You may work from the ideas you have created previously, but this project should be a significant deepening of the project if you do so. You may also start over on a new idea if you feel you've grown beyond what you started with.

Build your models smartly - make sure you keep your polygon count within reason for the speed of interaction. It's important in this assignment to construct an environment that feels like a complete world unto itself. This means you may want to block off or control the space at a large scale. For instance, creating a bubble inside of which your objects dwell. You may use solid colors and transparency on your models to differentiate them from each other in the virtual space. (NO procedural or photo based textures). You may also include up to 5 lights added manually in VRML to augment the experience, but this is not required. You may just use the default headlight if you wish. Design your environment with the assumption that the viewer is going to be "walking" through it.

Turn in your project directory on disk, make sure to include your VRML file and a 400 word description of the concept for your project. For the in class critique, you will start off showing your work through the Cortona viewer interface with another student controlling the movement through the space.These projects will then be showcased in the Class Gallery section of the 3Space website.

Homework 3: Illume

Create two completely different moods through the use of virtual lighting techniques and an modelled scene you have already created. You will need to complete two different scene files with drastically different lighting configurations, and render a wide angle of each. Feel free to use any trick in the lighting continum to transform your scene, but strive to build a continuous environment in each instance. Make sure to use the same view onto your scene for your two different lightscapes. You should incorporate the following considerations when constructing your illuminationed environment: What is happening? How should the viewer feel about it? What's happening around this scene? How do the various colors in the lights and shadows coordinate with each other? How can the lights be used as a narrative element in their own right? On disk, turn in the two .mb files and .tif renderings inside your project folder.

Homework 4: Surface

Using your existing scenes and lighting setups create two different scene files, each with different surface materials. You can modify your models and lights but don't spend too much time changing them. Concentrate on texturing your objects. For one scene strive to create a "realistic" image manipulating only the surface textures. In the other scene create a Non-Photo Real image using "imaginative" surface textures. On disk, turn in the two .mb files and .tif renderings inside your project folder.

Project 2 : FINAL - Augmented Virtuality

Using all the techniques you've learned throughout the term, create a completely envisioned 3D scene with models, an environment, materials, and lighting. You may incorporate previous work, though you should continue to develop and deepen your ideas if you do so. You are also welcome to create a new scene - just remember to budget your time so you can complete all the elements. Your final work will be printed for lenticular, using the ProMagic software to create the output. Compositionally, you should be aware of the illusionistic depth of the 3D space created by this format and use it to your advantage. Your project should also be tied together by a strong conceptual base. When you turn your project in, you'll need to include the final Photoshop file created by ProMagic, the Maya project folder where your scene was created, and a 400 word description of your art piece. In order to finish the project on time, make sure to leave plenty of time to render your scene. You will be provided with a lenticular screen, four pieces of photo paper, and use of the Epson 2400 printer in 105 for this assignment. The project will be calibrated carefully for use with this printer, so make sure to use this one for your final image.

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