Month: October 2022

Wednesday

Introduction to the Interface

The agenda of today’s class was introduction to a 3d software, Maya. We discussed the user interface and basic navigation i.e. panning, scrolling, tumbling and tracking. We discussed some essential controls like move, rotate, scale and explored how to use channel box, tool bar and attribute editor for basic modelling.

Basics of Modelling

In addition to the interface we also explored basics of modelling and how it is done. A 3D Model is a mathematical representation of any three dimensional object (real or imagined) in a 3D software environment. Unlike a 2d image, 3D models can be viewed in specialized software from any angle, where they can be scaled, rotated, or freely modified. 3D models are comprised of faces, edges, and vertices. Any model you make is made from the basic polygon primitives like Sphere, Cube or Cylinder etc. Later on we use some modifiers like extrude, bevel or sculpting to transform it into a complex model.

Like I said any complex shape is made from a basic shape. I am making a minion from a basic spherical mesh and then will build up on it using extrude.

By using soft selection tool I modified the geometry to give it less rounded look. Later on I added some basic textures to the geometry to give it the final look.

Basics of Lighting and Rendering

After making the model, I used the sky dome light from the arnold tool shelf to take a pleasing render. I have used the environment texture from Polyhaven.com. Skydome lights act as a circular light, surrounding the scene. It also has another added feature. Skydome lights can use Image Based Lighting to give your scene/model a background and specialized lighting.

We used the Arnold renderer to take some final renders.

I have done some editing on the renders to give them old photographic look.

Slug Race

Apart from understanding basic modelling, lighting and rendering we also touched some portions of animations and introduction to graph editor.

I have adjusted curves of the speed in the editor so that all the slugs move in different speed.

Conclusion

Today’s lesson was helpful to give an understanding of the basics of Maya. It has also given me a basic understanding of modelling and how the modifiers of extrude, and bevel works. Moreover, it gave us an idea of how lighting is done and how we can use the Arnold renderer. In the end we also explored the graph editor which is a significant tool for animation.

Today we started the class by doing brief introductions of everyone. After it, we discussed how to plan and structure our animation scene and how to setup a project. We also discussed Twelve Principles of Animations.

Twelve Principles of Animation

Disney’s 12 principles of animation were written by the animator’s Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas in the books The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation. We can use the basic principles of animation as the starting point for our animation work. They are not just useful for movie animation but for cartoons and other fields as well.

Bouncing Ball Planning

The most important thing in an animation is to plan it first. Bouncing ball animation is considered the most important animation exercise to build a strong foundation. The most important thing to make this animation looks believable is timing and spacing. By simply animating a ball bounce we learn how objects move in the real world, and how to make them look as if they are moving with the same laws of physics that we are constrained to.

Ball Animation (Work in Progress)

This is the first pass on the bouncing animation. The timing and space was fine in this. But upon the critique I got to know that the squash and stretch need to be fixed to give the animation cartoonish look.

Final Animation

Upon doing the changes in the squash and stretch and in the motion arc. Here is the final animation.