Course Overview

This course introduces students to modeling and simple animation using the industry-standard tool, 3DStudio Max 6, and provides a foundation for further work with sophisticated 3-D and imaging tools. Students will become acquainted with basic block-modeling, lofting, extrusion, and various techniques for creating regular structures and terrains. They will explore basic and advanced approaches to lighting and several methods for designing materials and applying textures to 3-D meshes. They will also learn the fundamentals of set-key animation and basic character rigging. In addition to technical subjects, students will learn about the history and developmental trajectory of 3-D graphics, especially in their application to simulation and games.

Required Texts

• T. Boardman, 3DS Max 6 Fundamentals. New Riders, 2004.
• N. Stephenson, Snow Crash. Bantam, 1993.
• Optional and Recommended: M. Matossian, 3DS Max 6 Visual Quickstart Guide. Peachpit Press, 2004.

Grading Scheme

Preview of Assignments

The following are general descriptions of the assignment objectives and are subject to change. Follow the later instructions given out and posted on the Web site.

Assignment 1

Assemble a basic ensemble of primitives and generate a number of images from differing viewpoints. One object in your set must be a Boolean compound.

Assignment 2

Create an outdoor scene with trees, a skydome, and at least one mesh-edited object.

Assignment 3

Create three textured fish, using techniques learned from the Maestri videos.

Assignment 4

Create an animation in which several objects move and/or transform at the same time.

Final Project

The final project represents four weeks of work on an original idea demonstrating several key skills and concepts learned during the semester. I will provide ground rules, but you will propose the concept.

Materials and Software

You will need at least two 100-megabyte Zip disks (NOT the 250MB kind!). Maintain copies of all work on both disks.

You are not required to purchase any software for this course. You may use 3DStudio Max 6 on PCs in the AIT/SDE lab in 224 Academic Center, which will be open at various times weekdays and weekends. One copy of Maestri's video set will be available from the lab attendant for use in AC 224. Please use headphones to listen to the audio track.

Additional Policies

A statement of general academic policies appears on my Web site as an extension of this syllabus. I expect you to read it.