Computer Graphics

Course Outline

This one-semester non-phased course will expose the student to computerized three-dimensional (3D) graphics. Students will experience, first hand, some of the difficulties and challenges involved with creating 3D scenes. Topics that will be addressed include shapes, textures, lighting, moving and rotating, and animation.

Micrografx’s Simply 3D computer graphics software application will be used throughout the course. First the student will follow the step-by-step instructions of eight project-based tutorials. The student will then create his or her own 3D renditions of some common items. The assignments will become more challenging as animation and lighting requirements are added. Finally, the student will use 3D graphics to illustrate familiar physical occurrences.

Prerequisites: Must be a junior or senior.

I. Introduction to a computer graphics application

The first two tutorials use the project wizard to create simple 3D scenes. The next three tutorials introduce the necessary skills for using Simply 3D. The last three tutorials introduce more advanced techniques.

1. Getting started

a. Start Simply 3D

b. Use the project wizard

c. Use a template

d. Preview animation in a scene

e. Save and close a Simply 3d project

2. Create a custom 3D scene

a. Create and animate 3D text

b. Add an animated background

c. Save the scene as a video (movie) file

d. Play the movie file

3. Create same scene without the wizard

a. Use text tool to create and animate 3D text

b. Set options for previewing 3D objects

c. Apply a deformation to an object

d. Use catalog materials

e. Move, scale, and rotate objects

4. Create a picture of a 3D scene

a. Add primitive 3D objects

b. Use catalogs to add resources

c. Delete, copy, and paste scene resources

d. Position objects in 3D space

e. Change the appearance of a material

f. Save bitmap image of a scene

5. Apply multiple animations

a. Insert an object from another scene

b. Attach an object to another object

c. Animate attached objects

d. Render shadows

e. Adjust, move, and aim camera

f. Use PowerPoint to display an animated scene

6. Create special effects

a. Use bitmap as the image for a material

b. Repeat an image across the material

c. Add and remove lights

d. Move and aim lights

e. Modify a light’s characteristics

f. Use ray tracing

7. Modify animations

a. Rename scene resources

b. Modify frame count in an animated scene

c. Change an animation’s start and end times

d. Scale an animation

e. Reverse an animation

f. Manipulate an animation’s path

8. Create an animated magnifying glass

a. Scale primitive objects

b. Use profile creation tool to create new objects

c. Group multiple objects

d. Modify animation path

e. Create refraction

f. Align objects

II. Construct scenes of common objects

Students will create their own 3D renditions of some common items. The following are typical of the assignments that students will work on. Not all of these will be assigned. Other assignments may be added.

1. Snowman

a. Requirements for snowman

i. Start with primitive shapes then modify as desired

ii. Add facial features such as nose, eyes, and mouth

iii. Add body parts such as arms or legs

iv. Add texture and bump patterns

v. All parts of snowman must be attached (not float in space)

b. Requirements for the scene

i. Add a background and a foreground

ii. Add garments such as a hat or a scarf

2. Wizard

a. Requirements are similar to snowman

b. Encouraged to be creative

3. Soft drink can

a. Requirements of can construction

i. Top and bottom surfaces of the can are metallic

ii. Realistic contours for the top and bottom of the can

iii. Tab on the top of the can

iv. Pattern or texture on the can's vertical surface

b. Lighting

i. Shiny surfaces

ii. Demonstrate reflections

III. Create animated scenes

Students will create animated scenes featuring some common items. The following are typical of the assignments that students will work on. Not all of these will be assigned. Other assignments may be added.

1. Coffee Cup

a. Requirements for the door

i. Create cup from primitive shapes

ii. Cup should be filled with a liquid such as coffee, tea, or hot chocolate

iii. Cup should sit on a table or other horizontal surface

b. Animate the scene in some way(s) such as:

i. Spoon stirring the coffee

ii. Steam rising from the coffee

iii. Sugar (or milk) being added to the coffee

iv. Coffee being poured into the cup

v. Marshmallows floating atop hot chocolate

c. Other objects should be included to enhance the scene

2. Construct a working model of a door

a. Requirements for the door

i. Most of the door must be made of a solid material

ii. Door must have some finite thickness

iii. Part of the door must have a see-through glass window

b. Door must be part of the scene:

i. Door must be surrounded by a "wall"

ii. Wall must have some finite thickness

iii. Door must be positioned slightly above some a "floor"

iv. Door must close off something

v. Several objects must be behind the closed door

vi. Some of these objects must be visible through the door’s window

c. Animate door to completely open (or close)

i. Door must revolve around some center point or hinge

ii. Door must not collide into the wall or any other object

iii. Objects behind the door should become visible when door is open

iv. As the door opens, changes in light shadows must be illustrated

3. Construct a realistic working model of a lounge chair

a. Requirements for the lounge chair

i. Must contain a back rest and a foot rest

ii. Must be created from primitives

iii. Must have a sitting (upright) position

iv. Must have a lounging position that is relatively flat and horizontal

v. Use appropriate materials (that is, materials common to furniture)

b. Demonstrate the chair's movement from its sitting position to its lounging position

i. Footrest must move from a closed (vertical) position to an open position

ii. Backrest must move from an upright position to an approximately horizontal position

iii. Individual parts of the chair should work (and mate) together during the entire movement;

iv. All parts of chair should be attached at all times

4. Illustrate the rotation of a realistic six sided die

a. Construct a realistic six sided die (or several dice)

i. Layout of the dots must duplicate that of a real die

ii. Dots should be attached to the die

b. Animate the die

i. Rotate over the X, Y, and Z axes

ii. Expose all six sides.

5. Illustrate a game of checkers

a. Checker board:

i. Size: eight by eight squares

ii. Two contrasting colors for adjacent squares

iii. Must have some finite thickness

b. Checkers:

i. Must be created from S3D primitives

ii. At least ten checkers must be present

iii. Should be roughly circular in shape

iv. Two contrasting colors

v. May have some texture or design on its top surface

vi. Should lie flat on the checker board

c. Illustrate at least consecutive four consecutive moves (turns)

i. At least two moves must involve capturing (jumping) an opponent’s checker(s)

ii. Captured checkers must be removed from the board

iii. At least one move must be a double jump (two of the opponent’s checkers are captured during a single move)

iv. At least one move must involve a checker being “crowned”

d. Scene and lighting

i. Add an appropriate but not distracting background

ii. Other objects may be included to enhance the scene

iii. Lighting should be appropriate for the scene

iv. Game pieces should cast shadows and reflections onto the checker board

6. Construct an animated scene relevant to Pi Day (March 14)

a. Project scene must be related to or associated with p.

b. Entries will be judged on their originality, content, quality, as well as the use of S3D

c. Other objects may be included to enhance the scene

d. Project must be animated

IV. Illustrate familiar physical processes

Students will select at least one following projects that require using 3D graphics to illustrate familiar physical occurrences. Each of these projects requires some research and planning before they may be implemented using a 3D graphics application.

A. Lunar movement

1. Illustrate

a. Phases of the moon

b. Lunar eclipse

c. Solar eclipse

d. As seen by an observer on the earth

2. Research

a. Determine the sizes, angles, and periods of the Earth and Moon.

b. Decide upon how the S3D scene should look in order to illustrate each of these events.

i. Draw sketches on paper to illustrate each of the above astrological events

ii. Decide where the camera should be placed

3. Requirements

a. Requirements for the Earth:

i. Must rotate on its tilted axis (an earth day)

ii. Must appear to revolve around the sun (an earth year)

iii. Must have a realistic surface

b. Requirements for the Moon:

i. Must rotate on its axis (a lunar day)

ii. Must revolve around the earth (a lunar month)

iii. Must have a few identifiable features on its surface

c. Requirements for the Sun:

i. Provides the only lighting for the entire scene

ii. May be represented by a stationary or moving light source.

iii. Must be seen during a solar eclipse

iv. Does not have to be seen when illustrating the phases of the moon or lunar eclipse

d. Relationships between earth, moon, and sun

i. Sizes (radii) of moon and earth must be in correct proportion to each other.

ii. Distance between the earth and moon should be about ten to twenty earth radii. This is not to scale!

iii. Periods of rotation and revolution of the moon must be in correct proportion to each other.

iv. Same side of the Moon should always face the Earth.

v. Sun does not have to be to scale.

vi. Distance between earth and the sun does not have to be to scale.

vii. Period of rotation of the Earth (an Earth day) does not have to be to scale with a lunar month or Earth year.

viii. Revolution and rotation (tilt) angles of the Moon and Earth should correspond to reality.

B. Depth of field

1. Investigate

a. Relationship between the camera view angle and the depth of field of a still and an animated scene

b. Use the following camera view angles

i. 45° (normal lens)

ii. 10° (telephoto lens)

iii. 110° (wide angle lens)

iv. 1° (extreme telephoto lens)

v. 170° (extreme wide angle lens)

2. Requirements

a. Scene

i. At least five separate objects to the scene

ii. Objects must all have different sizes and shapes

iii. Objects must have different orientations to the camera site line (that is the z-axis).

iv. At least one object must have a repeating pattern that is at a small angle (but not parallel) to the camera site line.

v. Position objects to fill the scene as viewed by the camera

vi. Objects must be positioned at different x, y, and z coordinates

b. Lighting

i. Use several lighting sources

ii. Position of lights must not be changed during this project

iii. Objects should cast shadows

c. Camera

i. Position of the objects must not be changed during this assignment

ii. Camera target position must not change

iii. Camera must be positioned to view entire scene

d. Animate several of the objects in the scene.

i. Animations must be different sizes and shapes

ii. Some of the objects should move in front of each other

iii. Some of the objects should change their orientations relative to the camera

e. Summary

i. Use PowerPoint to illustrate the results of your investigation

ii. Compare the 2D views of the scene at each camera view angle

iii. Compare the animations of the scene at each camera view angle

iv. Include your observations, discussion, and conclusions

C. Gear train

1. Demonstrate a system of gears working together

2. Research

a. What is a gear and how does it operate?

b. Design the system of gears

i. What types of gears will be used

ii. What action will it accomplish

iii. Draw sketches on paper to illustrate your ideas

3. Requirements

a. System of gears:

i. System of gears should perform some function such as raising an object.

ii. Allowable gear types include spur, sprocket, chain, worm, rack and pinion, bevel, or helical.

iii. More than one types of gears may be used in combination:

iv. Gears must be properly aligned and not collide with each other:

v. A tooth on a driving gear must always be able push a tooth on its driven gear

vi. Objects, such as chains, ropes, belts, wheels, or pulleys, may be used to connect the gears to other objects in the scene.