ENTITY is project that you will complete part by part over several weeks. This is considered PART ONE. The full rendered HD version is due in TWO WEEKS see below. This is a project, not homework. All the parts of the ENTITY will eventually be brought together into one united piece, and presented at midterm time. You will also have homework assignments in this class, sometimes related to the projects.
In ENTITY-1 virtual, you will begin with Maya where we will start with a Polygonal Sphere, or variety of mathematical geometry. We will create at least 20 seconds of experimental animation of the sphere changing form, color and texture over time.
We we learn a plethora of tools in Maya to manipulate the sphere. You are to leave the background empty for an Alpha Channel, yet you may use environmental lighting depending on render time.
I will demo an example in class. If this is the first time you have used MAYA, you will need to get up to speed with tools quickly, yet we will be using a very limited amount of the software to create experimental effects.
These are tools and strategies that we will learn and experiment with:
- hypershader and connecting inputs/output nodes for experimental effects.
- animating textures
- using expressions and set driven keys
- using good lighting and animating lights
- using effective rendering techniques
Some rules to follow:
- keep "entity" centered in frame
- make all animation "cycle-able" first frame and last frame must be key-framed the same
- should be at least 20 seconds, or rendered animation, 24 fps, HD sized. This render is due in TWO WEEKS.
