3D Modelling and Visual Effects Production

Course Code: IMAG 350

Mudbox is fast becoming an industry standard and should be in any 3D artist?s arsenal. Students will explore the basic tools and techniques necessary to become a digital sculptor and will also learn how Alpha channels are an integral part of the digital sculpting workflow to achieve certain details. Sculpting inorganic and organic objects will be explored.

Course Code: IMAG 351

Using Adobe Photoshop, students learn the essentials of texture painting. By observing and understanding an object?s surface qualities, students acquire the skills necessary to create photorealistic textures. Starting with a reference captured using a standard flatbed scanner; students learn how to create colour, bump and specular maps, how each type of map affects the surface qualities of a CG model, and how these three basic map types work together to create a photorealistic surface.

Course Code: IMAG 352

There are many different features and tools available, within Autodesk 3ds Max, to assist in the production of Visual Effects. In particular, the animation tool set can be extremely useful in creating not only key-framed animation but also more complex procedural and physically simulated animations that add depth and reality to your work.
Starting with fundamental animation concepts, students create a foundation of knowledge around standard practices and techniques. From there, various tools and resources that can be used to create basic interfaces and rigs to aid in the process of animating are examined. Finally, students explore different tools that can be utilized in creating physically accurate simulations. All topics in this course will be project driven.

Course Code: IMAG 353

This course provides students with hands-on training in building 3D objects, organic and inorganic, essential to creating a fully realized scene. Students learn the basics of working with polygonal objects, working in consistent scale, and understanding how to manipulate faces, points, edges and UVs. Students then create more complicated objects including, vehicles and organic objects.
Provided with a sound skills foundation, students learn and apply the basics of modeling, lighting, texturing and animating a scene using 3ds Max. While working through various projects, students gain a firm understanding of the interface and workflow of 3ds Max.

Course Code: IMAG 354

This course will explore how light behaves and how we can try to recreate it in a 3D environment. Further to this, we will be exploring how to output images that look realistic.
To accurately portray a realistic scene, three main themes are explored; lighting; rendering and materials. These three topics are integral to each other and will need to be explored together in order to fully realize a realistic rendering. The projects in this course are driven by this concept and are meant to show how each plays off the other; combining to give a realistic portrayal of mood, atmosphere and time of day.

Course Code: IMAG 355

In this course, we will expand on Mudbox by further exploring the integration of 3ds Max and Mudbox. How proper topology and good UVW layout lends itself to a good base mesh that can be used within Mudbox to create a fantastic sculpt will be examined. Students will also investigate the paint tools available to create seamless textures, or to create textures with a natural feel. The techniques and workflows taught in this course will focus on the creation of a single highly detailed and fully textured model.

Course Code: IMAG 356

In this course, we will expand on Mudbox by further exploring the integration of 3ds Max and Mudbox. How proper topology and good UVW layout lends itself to a good base mesh that can be used within Mudbox to create a fantastic sculpt will be examined. Students will also investigate the paint tools available to create seamless textures, or to create textures with a natural feel. The techniques and workflows taught in this course will focus on the creation of a single highly detailed and fully textured model.

Course Code: IMAG 357

In this course, students combine modelling, texturing, lighting and visual effect techniques with colour correction, layering and two-dimensional effects. Students are also taught workflows and techniques for incorporating match-moving, 3D assets and particle effects seamlessly into live footage or still images. Topics such as mattes, colour keying, stabilization, and using simple effects such as glows, flares and depth of field, will be covered.

Course Code: IMAG 358

Having the ability to take a 3D element and incorporate it into a live action scene is an important asset in the visual effects (VFX) artist?s toolbox. Students will be shooting live footage while using various techniques to record lighting and camera information. This information will be used in tandem with tracking software to map out the footage into a 3D environment that can be used to place 3D assets and particle effects realistically into a scene. This course will operate in conjunction with IMAG 356 and IMAG 357 to produce a completed VFX shot.

Course Code: IMAG 359

Complete a demo reel that highlights your skill set, while encompassing many of the production methodologies and techniques developed in the first semester. Storyboards, animatics, shot breakdowns, production schedules, etc., will come into play during the production of this student reel. There will be regular critiquing and troubleshooting sessions with the instructor on an individual basis. Group critiques take place throughout the course as peers view, comment and forward helpful suggestions on the work in progress. This process will help refine previously created work and guide current projects that are ongoing throughout the semester.