Project 1 : Modeling

Autumn 2001

Project 1 : Modeling

Assigned:    Thursday, Oct. 9, 2001
Reference Objects Due:         Tuesday, Oct 16, 2001
First Critique:         Thursday, Oct 18, 2001
Revisions Due:         Tuesday, Oct 23, 2001

Reading - Chapter 1

This first assignment introduces you to the process of creating a model using Maya. This assignment has two parts. The first part is two tutorials on 3D modeling. For the second part of the assignment you will work in a group of three or four. Groups will be assigned during class and will change after every project. The work you do individually or as a group will vary for each assignment. For this assignment, the purpose of the group will be to create models which will populate a particular room in a house. Each group member will work alone, handing in their own models.

Part 1 - Maya Tutorials
What to do
You will be completing the first two tutorials (Polygon Modeling and Curved Surface Modeling).
You will only be handing in the finished product from each tutorial. Don't wait until the last minute to start the tutorials. (They take a bit of time).

Turn-in
When you save your models from Maya, a Maya Binary (.MB) file is created. You will only turn in this file.   Specific instructions for turning-in and saving projects will be given in class.

Part 2 - Modeling
What to Do

For this part of the assignment each person in your group will choose two objects which might be found in a specific room in a house. Meet with your group as soon as possible to brainstorm ideas for this project. Make a list of related objects and choose a grouping that seems fun and challenging to each of you. Try to imagine a group of objects that tell a story, or will at least make a compelling scene, when placed together. In future projects you will be working with your room and the objects that you create, so the more interesting you make them now, the more fun future projects will be. Each member of the group will be responsible for two of the models through all phases of modeling.   The first model can be something simple, like a glass, or lamp or chair. The second, however, should be considerably more involved, e.g. flowers, food, fountains, clothing, etc. Look for objects in your dorm room or apartment and the homes of your parents, friends, or anyone else who lets you borrow stuff . Each person must bring reference materials for their objects on Tuesday, Oct 16. One of your reference materials should be the object itself. For the other object, photographs will be acceptable, as long as you have multiple photographs from different angles. As a group, you should arrange a meeting time with the TA assigned to your team to discuss your plans.
What we're looking for
The important thing to remember when working on your model is that we will be much more concerned with quality than complexity. Here are some tips to remember when designing your models:

Too much detail is as bad as too little -- remember that more detail can be added later with texture mapping.
Try not to use too much geometry (or too many CV's ).
The model should have no cracks or seams.
Your models should not be too regular (noise and asymmetry are good).
One-sided surfaces (with outward-facing normals) render much faster.
The group's related models should be properly scaled to each other.

Be creative! Don't just make plates and chairs.

Technical Requirements

Your scene should be uncluttered and easy to read:

Delete any extra cameras and lights
Delete any unnecessary geometry such as construction curves or histories.
Group the entire object under a single node.
Name your object something sensible, and also name any major components. (For example, the front wheel of a bike should be called "frontwheel", not "torus#31".).
Turn in
Projects will be critiqued in the lab on Oct. 18th. Turn- in instructions will be given out during class.
Tips
Be sure to start early so you can bring your questions and problems to the help sessions.

Name your components as soon as you create them. It'll be much easier than changing them all later. Name your objects something simple. The idea is that the names should be easy to type. When you have a complex model and need to pick one little part, it is MUCH easier to pick it by name than with the mouse

Take the time to learn keyboard shortcuts (especially for transforming the camera), the marking menus, and how to customize your workspace.