FIT3001 Advanced 3D - Semester 1, 2015

This unit builds upon the skills, techniques and theory introduced in FIT1033 Foundations of 3D towards an emphasis on 3D character design and modelling for animation. Students will be introduced to advanced techniques for character detailing (modelling and texturing) and character animation (rigging, binding and animation). The theoretical and practical considerations contributing to the conceptualisation, creation and preparation of 3D characters for animation sequences will constitute a key focus of this unit.

Mode of Delivery

Workload Requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

• Two hours of lectures
• One 2-hour laboratory

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

• A minimum of 2-3 hours of personal study per one hour of contact time in order to satisfy research and assignment expectations.

See also Unit timetable information

Unit Relationships

Prohibitions

MMS3409

Prerequisites

FIT1033 or FIT2015 or DES1911

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Tutors

Your feedback to Us

Previous Student Evaluations of this Unit

Based on previous student feedback this unit is well structured. The only change being made this semester is the inclusion of tutorial tests (three tests of 10% each) preceding each of the three major assignments.

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

• research, evaluate and implement complex 3D geometry, 3D texturing and 3D animation techniques;
• explain the principles of 3D animation theory and the development of computer generated 3D characters;
• design, model and texture original and geometrically efficient 3D characters;
• prepare (rig and bind) 3D characters for animation;
• render images of 3D characters and objects into animated sequences.

Unit Schedule

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.

Teaching Approach

Assessment Summary

In-semester assessment: 100%

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Assessment Tasks

Participation

Because assignements in this unit build consequetively upon one another, and because of the precise technical nature of 3D animation, it is crucial that students attend as many lectures and tutorials as possible. To make this easier for students, lectures and tutorials have been scheduled close togehter on the same day.  

• Assessment task 1

  Title:

  Tutorial Test 1: Basic Character Modelling, Component Assemblage and Texturing

  Description:

  This test reviews the basics of assembling a character out of constituent parts.

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  • Modelling technique 
  • Assembly of 3D character geometry 
  • Basic texturing

  Due date:

  Week 5 Tutorial

• Assessment task 2

  Title:

  Assignment 1: Modelling and Texturing your Character

  Description:

  In Foundations of 3D, the final assignment involved the creation and basic texturing of an original game character. In the first assignment of Advanced 3D, we will be revisiting 3D character creation, though this time the emphasis is on the creation of a well designed, textured character model which will later be rigged (in Assignment 2) and animated (in Assignment 3).
  
  Because Assignment 1, 2 and 3 are linked, students need to consider that their character is neither overly complex nor unsophisticated. Realistic human character models with joints that correspond to motion capture system settings are not an option in this unit because Autodesk software applications, and many other 3D animation applications besides, can generate human character models and human IK rigs automatically.  
  
  Articulated characters, that is, characters that are made up of movable parts rather than soft, flexible or fluid assemblages, make for good character studies because character rigging is easier and more predictable. Robots are probably the best examples of articulated characters, but armoured figures and creatures with exoskeletons (such as insects and crustaceans) are also possibilities.

  Weighting:

  20%

  Criteria for assessment:

  • Modelling technique and geometry
  • UV texturing technique and detailing
  • Finished renders of your model
  • Visual and written documentation

  Due date:

  Friday, Week 4

• Assessment task 3

  Title:

  Tutorial Test 2: Character Rigging and Controllers

  Description:

  Your tutor will provide you with a sample articulated character. Your task is to rig this character (add an internal skeleton) and create animation controllers so that your character can be manipulated for animation.

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  • Rigging procedures and execution
  • Creation of working controllers 

  Due date:

  Week 9 Tutorial

• Assessment task 4

  Title:

  Assignment 2: Rigging, Binding and Preparing your Character for Animation

  Description:

  Using the character you have created in Assignment 1, this assignment requires you to bind a functional rig (internal skeleton) and create functioning controllers so that you can manipulate and animate your character.

  Weighting:

  20%

  Criteria for assessment:

  • Rigging 
  • IK Chains
  • Controllers
  • Visual and written documentation

  Due date:

  Friday, Week 8

• Assessment task 5

  Title:

  Tutorial Test 3: Character Animation

  Description:

  In this test, your tutor will provide you with a sample rigged character with controllers and a subject theme. You will be required to manipulate the character and create keyframes to produce an animated timeline of 5-10 seconds.

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  • Character manipulation and keyframing
  • Animation timing, weighting, gestures and actions

  Due date:

  Week 12 Tutorial

• Assessment task 6

  Title:

  Assignment 3: Rendering a 20-30 second Animation

  Description:

  This final assignment requires the animation of your character in a 20-30 second rendered sequence. The animation you plan and assemble should express the personality of your character and demonstrate the graphic and technical detailing you have invested in it through the course of the previous assignments.

  Weighting:

  30%

  Criteria for assessment:

  • Animation technique
  • Animation narrative 
  • Three key renders from your animation 
  • Visual and written documentation

  Due date:

  Week 14

Learning resources

Reading list

Textbooks for Autodesk Maya will be available in the library:

Todd Palamar, Eric Keller "Mastering Autodesk Maya 2015: Autodesk Official Press", Sybex,   ISBN: 978-1-118-86251-3

See also:

Dariush Derakhshani "Introducing Autodesk Maya 2015: Autodesk Official Press" Sybex,  ISBN: 978-1-118-86284-1

Although Autodesk Maya updates its software annually, the principles of character creation, texturing, rigging and animation remain largely the same in earlier versions of the software. As such, textbooks published for earlier versions of Maya, especially in the last 4-5 years, will still be valid for the techniques we are studying in this unit. A number of earlier publications are listed below:

Maraffi, Chris, "Maya Character Creation", Pearson, 2004, ISBN: 0-7357-1344-8

Wilkins, Mark, "Mel Scripting for Maya Animators", Elsevier, 2005, ISBN: 0-12-088793-2

Petitot, Luc, "Maya Ultimate Workshop", Editions Eyrolles, 2003, ISBN: 0-07-142169-6

Ratner, Peter, "Mastering 3D Animation", 2nd Edition, Allworth Press, 2004, ISBN: 1-58115-345-7

Ratner, Peter, "3D Human Modeling and Animation", Wiley, 2003, ISBN: 0-471-21548-1

Feedback to you

• Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
• Graded assignments with comments
• Interviews
• Test results and feedback

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Assignment submission

Online submission

If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Required Resources

Autodesk® Maya® 2015 software will be provided on campus lab computers, and students are encouraged to register with the Autodesk Education Community for their own educational trial version of Autodesk® Maya® 2015 and related Autodesk software under the company's terms and conditions.

Please see: http://students.autodesk.com/

Technological Requirements

Lecture notes, tutorial notes and recommended links will be made availabe each week on Moodle, and students should check the unit Moodle page regularly for announcements.  

As mentioend above, all required software will be provided on the lab computers, but students are welcome to bring their own laptop to tutorials if they wish. AutoDesk Maya 2015 runs on both PC and Mac computers, but students should be aware that it is very difficult to manage the Maya editing environment on small laptop screens. If you have a Mac computer, a standard PC mouse is recommended for right/left/middle mouse button operations. 

Recommended text(s)

Todd Palamar. (2014). "Mastering Autodesk Maya 2015: Autodesk Official Press". () Sybex (ISBN: 978-1-118-86251-3).

Additional subject costs

Wooden articulated artist models, costing anywhere between $7 and $25 (depending on their size), are available at the Caulfield campus bookstore are at most art supply shops. These may be benefiical for students as animation and rigging references. 

Other Information

Policies

Graduate Attributes Policy

Student Charter

Student services

Monash University Library

Disability Liaison Unit

Other

Tutorials will begin in Week 1 and end in Week 12.