Course Syllabus

Fall/2007

Prof. Kirt Witte

Montgomery Hall, 417B

(912) 525-8534

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs: 10am to 11am

Savannah College

of Art and Design

ATLANTA ––LACOSTE– SAVANNAH– e-LEARNING

School of Film & Digital Media, Department of Visual Effects, Savannah

VSFX 210, 01
Digital 3-D Visual Effects

Mission of the College: The Savannah College of Art and Design exists to prepare talented students for careers in the visual and performing arts, design, the building arts, and the history of art and architecture. The college emphasizes learning through individual attention in a positively oriented environment.

Course Description: This course explores space environments, including the foundations of modeling
techniques for the creation of digital sets and effects. Shading techniques and
natural and studio digital lighting are introduced. Motion studies specific to
camera animation, special effects motion, complex parenting techniques, key frame
interpolation techniques and basic expression animation techniques are covered.
Prerequisite: VSFX 130.

Course Goals: The following course goals articulate the general objectives and purpose of this course:

Though technical proficiency is expected, Digital 3-D Visual Effects primarily emphasizes the study of digital aesthetics. Digital 3-D Visual Effects seeks to develop technical and conceptual abilities that lead to content delivery in a linear, cinematic context. Professional work habits, techniques, and results are stressed.

Course Outcomes: The following course outcomes indicate competencies and measurable skills that students develop as a result of completing this course:

3D Modeling, Deformations, and Texturing

Procedural and Bitmapped Shaders

Lighting & Animation

Cameras & Rendering techniques

Presentation & Critical discussion

Required Text(s): Learning Maya 8 – Foundation - Autodesk , 2006. (ISBN: 1-897177-33-X)

Recommended Text(s):

Visual Quickstart Guide: Maya 8, by Morgan Robinson (ISBN: 0321476751)

The Art of Maya (3rd Edition): Alias, 2005 (ISBN: 1-894893-82-4)

Creating Striking Graphics with Maya and Photoshop: Daniel Gray, 2004 (ISBN: 0-7821-4274-5)

Digital Texturing and Painting, by Owen Demers (0-7357-0918-1)

Digital Lighting and Rendering, by Jeremy Birn (1-56205-954-8)

Adobe Photoshop for VFX Artists, by Lopsie Schwartz (1-59200-487-3)

Legal Guide for the Visual Artist (4th Ed.) Tad Crawford (ISBN# 1-58115-003-2)

The HDRI Handbook: High Dynamic Range Imaging for Photographers and CG Artists -by Christian Bloch (ISBN-10: 1933952059)

Required Materials: Blank CDs or DVDs. Sharpie to label your CDs/DVDs.

SCAD Attendance Policy: There are no excused absences. The accumulation of more than four absences will result in the student’s failure for the class. Missing more than fifteen minutes of class is considered an absence.

Additional information: Please let me know ahead of time, if possible, if you will be missing

any scheduled classes.

Schedule of Classes: Key events including assignments, projects due dates/exam dates:

Class 1: Monday, 9/10: Intro to class and overview, syllabus, pre-test given

Class 2: Wednesday, 9/12: Intro to Maya – interface overview & setting projects

Maya Preferences

Class 3: Monday, 9/17: Curves, Primitives, and Polygons

Class 4: Wednesday, 9/19: Modeling with Polys – Box Modeling demo

Class 5: Monday, 9/24: Nurbs & SubDs

Class 6: Wednesday, 9/26: Modeling with Polys - Assignment 1 Due (Tutorials)

Class 7: Monday, 10/1: Texturing, mapping, and UV Editor

Class 8: Wednesday, 10/3: Cameras & Rendering discussion (Group finalization)

Class 9: Friday, 10/5: (MAKE UP CLASS) Assignment 2 Due (High Res Render 4K), in class critique

Class 10: Monday, 10/8: Midterm Exam (Begin Assignment 4)

Class 11: Wednesday, 10/10: Lighting techniques

Class 12: Monday, 10/15: Maya Paint FX and Fluids

Class 13: Wednesday, 10/17: Intro to Maya Particles and Dynamics

Class 14: Monday, 10/22: In class work session

Class 15: Wednesday, 10/24: Texturing for Modeling & Modeling for Texturing demo

Class 16: Monday, 10/29: Assignment 4 Due (Group Project) in class critique

Class 17: Wednesday, 10/31: Constraints and Tree Building

Class 18: Monday, 11/5: In class work session

Class 19: Wednesday, 11/7: In class work session

Class 20:Wednesday, 11/14: Assignment 5 Due, in class critique, post test

Grading Opportunities:

Your overall course grade will be computed according to the following breakdown:

Assignment / Weight
Class participation / 20 percent
Project 1 & 2 Tutorials / 0 percent*
High Res (4000 pixel) Still Rendering / 20 percent
Midterm Exam / 20 percent
Group Project / 20 percent
Final Project / 20 percent
*NOTE – Unless you do not complete the tutorials. If not, then your final letter grade will be dropped by one letter, per tutorial.
Grading Standards / Range
Letter grade: A = excellent / 90 –100 %
Letter grade: B = good / 80 – 89 %
Letter grade: C = * / 70 – 79 %
Letter grade: D = * / 60 – 69%
Letter grade: F = failing / 0 – 59%

*Refer to the student handbooks and departmental standards for minimal acceptance for passing grade.

Field Trip (s): Savannah Film Festival (Oct 27th – Nov 3rd) Details to be discussed in class.

Extra Help Session (s): Extra help is available via email and by appointment.

Conference (s): Each student enrolled in the course will have a midterm conference scheduled outside of class time with the professor. Students are expected to keep this appointment.

Academic Integrity: Under all circumstances, students are expected to be honest in their dealings with faculty, administrative staff, and fellow students. In speaking with members of the college community, students must give an accurate representation of the facts at hand. In class assignments, students must submit work that fairly and accurately reflects their level of accomplishment. Any work that is not a product of the student’s own effort is considered dishonest. Students may not submit the same work for more than one class. A student may be suspended or expelled for academic dishonesty. Please refer to the Student Handbook for additional information regarding the policy on academic integrity.

Incomplete: A grade of incomplete may be granted to students who have suffered serious personal illness or critical, emergency circumstances during the academic term, preventing the student from completing all assignments by the end of the quarter. The appropriate school dean must approve a grade of incomplete before the end of the quarter. Students with more than four total absences are not eligible for an incomplete. Please refer to the college catalog for additional information.

Learning Support Resources and Academic and Safety Polices: Information about SCAD learning support resources and academic and safety policies, including the Learning Assistance Center, the Jen Library, the Writing Center, SCAD Helpdesk, the Visual Resources Center, and Student Counseling and Disabilities Services can be found in the menu area of the Blackboard web site for this course.

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Revised August 2007