EDUC 685-1G: INTRO. TO COMPUTER GRAPHICS & ANIMATION
SUMMER 2002
Professor: Rob Johnson
Email: rjohnson@otterbein.edu
Website: http://www.otterbein.edu/home/fac/RBRWJHNS/
Office Hours: By Appointment (Cowan Hall Rm 034)
Office Phone: 823-1648
Home Phone: 891-4656 (please do not call after 10:00 p.m.)
Class Days: M & W
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m
OBJECTIVES: This course is designed to give students a general familiarity with computer
graphics and 3D visualization and animation for the PC; namely an introduction to:
1) creating/manipulating computer graphics (2D & 3D)
2) creating 3D computer models with lighting and materials
3) creating modest computer animations & presentations for a
variety of teaching & professional applications
The goal of this course is not to train experts in any of these fields, nor to certify the
student as being trained in a particular piece of software. Rather the goal is to let students see
the possibilities of computer-aided design using industry-standard software, to give them basic
skills in using a computer to explore and present ideas, and to encourage experimentation and
further study that will hopefully result in the ability to apply the technology to a chosen field in an
effective and useful way.
FORMAT: Every attempt will be made by the instructor to support the student in this exploration
with information, analysis, demonstration, class exercises, suggestions for project work, and
guidance to reference sources of information.
Project work shall be student-driven in the sense
that the student will be expected to determine specific applications relevent to their goals while
working within the parameters set by the professor - (see below).
EVALUATION: The most important aspect of the work in this course is the student's
willingness and ability to find ways to use computer graphics/animation as a tool. Equal weight will
be given to the quality of the results obtained by the student, and to finding ways to apply the
technology to solve problems and achieve desired presentation outcomes. Each student will
complete the class projects outlined below. All grades will be averaged.
PROJECTS: The requirements of this course include a series of electronic portfolios (see
descriptions below) as well as a short paper (4-7 printed pages, due on the final exam day)
exploring the possible uses of this technology in your field of interest. Please submit as a
Microsoft Word document (.doc format) or turn in a hard copy. Since skills will be building
throughout the course, the portfolios are due for evaluation at the end of the term to allow for
improvements as the student becomes more informed and develops more advanced techniques.
There will be a personal mid-term critique of Portfolios 1 & 2 to help students manage the
workload and to provide evaluative feedback to the student. To pass this course, the minimum
portfolio requirements are as follows:
PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS
Portfolio #1 - 2D Graphic Manipulation
The student will modify three existing graphic files or scanned images for
design purposes, using Photoshop tools for manipulation. Examples include
color correction or manipulation, saturation, contrast, levels modification, scale
transformations, sharpness and blur, application of filters, etc. The student must
save the originals to compare to the manipulated images and should save one
or two significant intermediate steps to show progress towards a goal. Final
output must be at least 640 x 480 resolution or higher and saved as a .jpg
(3 images X 3 or 4 steps = 9-12 total images)
Portfolio #2 - 2D Graphic Compositing
The student will create two composite images from several sources (scanned
images, graphic files from the Internet or off of a CD-Rom, original photography
or art created with paint tools, etc.) utilizing the layers features in Adobe
Photoshop. Final output must be 640 x 480 resolution or higher and should be
saved as a Photoshop file (.psd) to show the layers. Each layer should contribute
something unique to the final composition.
Portfolio #3 - 3D Modelling/Rendering
Create a 3D scene with at least 3 original objects modelled in 3D Studio Max
(more “pre-made” objects can be imported from outside sources such as the
Internet or from a CD of samples as well). Apply materials created in Photoshop
and/or chosen from the MAX library, and basic lighting techniques. Render and
save three high resolution still images of the scene (800 x 600) from
a variety of camera viewpoints. Save images as .jpg
Portfolio #4 - 3D Animation Project
Create a fully rendered, 3-Dimensional animation of no more than 5000 frames
designed to illustrate a concept, to express an artistic statement, or to entertain.
Try to think of a simple but effective piece of animation that you can produce
with quality rather than a Steven Spielberg epic that would only prove frustrating.
The scene may be an animated version of the scene modelled in Portfolio #3.
Save as a 320 x 200 compressed .avi file.
WARNING!!! BACK-UP ALL OF YOUR WORK ON ZIP DISKS OR FLOPPIES AT EVERY
SESSION. THE NETWORK MAY GO DOWN AND YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BACK-UPS!
ALSO BE SURE TO WORK ON WINDOWS COMPUTERS OUTSIDE OF CLASS UNLESS YOU
ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO SAVE THE PROPER FILE FORMAT
ONTO A DISK FORMATTED FOR WINDOWS. WORK DONE ON A MAC WILL NOT BE
ACCEPTED UNLESS IT CAN BE OPENED ON THE CLASSROOM COMPUTERS. WORK
DONE OUTSIDE OF CLASS MUST USE VERSIONS OF THE SOFTWARE THAT ARE
COMPATIBLE WITH THE CLASS VERSION (NEWER VERSIONS OF THE SOFTWARE
GENERALLY HAVE COMPATIBILITY ISSUES. REMEMBER, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
HAVING YOUR WORK READY AND ABLE TO BE DISPLAYED IN THE CLASSROOM).
GENERAL COURSE CALENDAR
week
day
date
topic
1
M
W
6/19
2D & 3D Graphics Basics / Intro to Photoshop
2
M
W
6/24
6/26
Photoshop Basics / Scanning Demo
Photoshop: Graphic Manipulation
3
M
W
7/1
7/3
Photoshop: Graphic Manipulation
Photoshop: Studio session / Red White & Boom
4
M
W
7/8
7/10
Photoshop: Compositing
3D Studio Max Overview / Max Interface
5
M
W
7/15
7/17
3D Studio Max Overview / Max Interface
3D Studio Max Modelling Basics
6
M
W
7/22
7/24
3D Studio Max Lighting & Cameras
3D Studio Max Materials
7
M
W
7/29
7/31
3D Studio Max Animation
3D Studio Max Animation
8
M
W
8/5
8/7
3D Studio: Studio session
3D Studio Max Materials
9
M
W
8/12
814
3D Studio: Studio session
Portfolio Presentations
Network Information / Project Submission:
This class has a folder on the network where you will have a directory in your name for
projects, and class information will be accessible for review.
You can access this folder using the following path:
[I:]\Thr\
You will have read and copy access to most of the folders. The one you will find most
useful will be the folder named [CGA Info]. In this folder you will find many of the
demos, examples, and handouts (such as the glossary of terms) that will be used in
class. You may use these for review or print them out if needed.
You also have access to a special folder named [Student]. You will have read and write
access only to this directory (no change or delete access).
Note:
When working with Photoshop do not work directly with files in this folder nor save
files to this folder from Photoshop. Use your own home folder to work in (or a
removable disk for back-up) and when finished with a project, copy it to
Class on Ochome [I:]\Thr\Student\ [your folder]
I will be creating a personal folder for your work here during the first week of class.
There will also be a subfolder system for final versions of projects to be evaluated.
ONCE AGAIN, BACK-UP ALL OF YOUR WORK ON ZIP DISKS OR FLOPPIES AT EVERY
SESSION. THE NETWORK MAY GO DOWN AND YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BACK-UPS!