MDIA 2210 - CGI and Visual Effects/Game Art II

Tea Tree Gully - Semester 1 - 2016

The course information on this page is being finalised for 2016. Please check again before classes commence.

This subject provides intermediate level training in 3D modelling, texturing, compositing and an introduction to animation. Students will be taught the skills required of artists in game development and CGI and Visual Effects. In 3D modelling students will develop skills in polygonal, NURBS and sub-division modelling. Texturing will include techniques such as normal, specular and displacement mapping. Compositing will include lighting and rendering techniques in MAYA and further development of skills in Nuke. In the animation component students will be introduced to the tools and principles used within 3D.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MDIA 2210
    Course CGI and Visual Effects/Game Art II
    Coordinating Unit Media
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s Tea Tree Gully
    Units 6
    Contact 6 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites Successful completion of MDIA1009 CGI and Visual Effects/Game Art I
    Incompatible Not available to students who have entered BMedia program via TAFE articulation
    Assumed Knowledge Basic competence in computer graphic applications Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, Autodesk Maya and Nuke
    Restrictions Available to BMedia students only
    Quota A quota of 20 applies
    Course Description This subject provides intermediate level training in 3D modelling, texturing, compositing and an introduction to animation. Students will be taught the skills required of artists in game development and CGI and Visual Effects. In 3D modelling students will develop skills in polygonal, NURBS and sub-division modelling. Texturing will include techniques such as normal, specular and displacement mapping. Compositing will include lighting and rendering techniques in MAYA and further development of skills in Nuke. In the animation component students will be introduced to the tools and principles used within 3D.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Peter Pugsley

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

    WK01

    (Maya)

    Project brief, outcomes and schedule explained – Project start (resources, references and modelling to begin)

     

    Understanding lighting, the physics of light, human perception

     

    WK02

    (Maya)

    Refresher* UVs – layout for CGI or games

     

    RGB colour space and computer graphics

     

     

    WK03

    (Photoshop)

    (Maya)

     

    Introduction to photorealistic texturing

     

    Practical real world lighting setup replicated in 3D

     

    WK04

    (Photoshop)

    (Maya)

     

    Photorealistic texturing cont.

    Intro to Mental Ray rendering techniques

     

    WK05

    (Photoshop)

    (Maya)

     

    Introduction to hand painted, stylised texturing

    Mental Ray rendering techniques cont.

     

    WK06

    (Photoshop)

    Hand painted, stylised texturing cont.

    Photo realistic CGI using High Dynamic Range Images

     

    WK07

    (Various)

    Normals masterclass (2d creation, hp-lp baking)

    Vertex baked lighting

     

     

    WK08

    (PTGui)

    HDR photography on set/location

    (Covered shoes, sunscreen, water etc.)

    HDR 360 degree panoramic image stitching

     

     

    WK09

    (UDK)

    (After Effects)

    Intro to Unreal Development Kit (importing models, Shaders)

    Utilising render passes in compositing

     

    WK10

    (Unity)

    (Maya)

    Intro to Unity (importing models, Shaders)

    Setting up lighting, background plate and render passes for diorama project

     

    WK11

    (UDK)

    (Maya)

    Portfolio presentation in UDK

    VFX breakdown construction

     

    WK12

    (After Effects)

    Final composite of diorama project with camera move and colour correction

     

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    1.Create and manipulate 3D geometry.

    2.Intermediate Lighting principles

    3.Create 2D texture maps for use with 3D models.

    4.Introduction to animation of 3D models

    University Graduate Attributes

    No information currently available.

  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Facilities and resources will be provided through the Creative Industries Centre, Tea Tree Gully; some additional resources will be available to students through the Discipline of Media, University of Adelaide
    Recommended Resources
    Access to following applications: Autodesk Maya, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe After Effects, Nuke
    Online Learning
    Students will be provided with access to the online system used at the Creative Industries Centre. Essential information on enrolment and other administrative information will be provided via MyUni.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lock step classroom attendance required. Practice-based learning including the delivery of skills by demonstration with set projects to practice and develop those skills.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    72 hours class teaching; approximately 210 hours of independent work to complete assignments
    Learning Activities Summary
    This is a practice-based course that provides a thorough grounding in the essential skills required to use industry-standard, computer graphic applications. Students complete tasks assigned in workshop classes under the active instruction of members of CIC staff
    Specific Course Requirements
    Mandatory attendance at classes conducted at Creative Industries Centre, Tea Tree Gully.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Formative: Lecturer led software demonstrations with students submitting files at end of lessons

    Summative: Individual projects demonstrating knowledge acquired during formative exercises Assessment is entirely determined by teaching staff of the Creative Industries Centre and identical in every respect to the approach and standards used in the equivalent qualifications regularly taught through the CIC. A joint management group comprising senior staff from both UA and CIC will monitor assessment processes and student outcomes.
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Compulsory attendance at workshops. No external provisions.

    Assessment Detail

    Week 1:

    Understanding lighting worksheet

    Project reference sheet

    Week 2:

    Project files, with UV coordinates

    Week 3:

    Rendered image of 3D lighting for a close up shot

    Week 4:

    Photo realistic tileable texture (psd working file)

    Week 5:

    Mental Ray rendered image

    Week 6:

    Hand painted tileable texture (psd working file)

    Week 7:

    Progress save, Diorama with vertex baked lighting and ambient occlusion

    Week 8:

    Spherically mapped HDR Image

    Week 9:

    Rendered image of CGI car composited into 2D background

    UDK asset package

    Week 10:

    Unity Asset folder

    Week 11:

    Realtime Turntable capture (AVI or MOV format)

    Week 12:

    QT video and AE files of diorama project

    Final Diorama submissions (either pre rendered footage CGI, or html link GA)

    Submission
    Assessments must be submitted on due dates. Late submissions must be negotiated with the lecturer through prior contact no less than three days before the due date.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    GS8 (Coursework Grade Scheme)
    Grade Description
    CN Continuing
    FNS Fail No Submission
    NFE No Formal Examination
    F Fail
    NGP Non Graded Pass
    P Pass
    C Credit
    D Distinction
    HD High Distinction
    RP Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    TAFE electives will use the following grading scheme:

    NGP   Non-Graded Pass
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F       Fail

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
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