Project 1 : Modeling

Date Assigned: Monday, March 25
Date Due: Wednesday, April 3

Reading: Learning Alias, lessons 2-3 (required); 1,4-8 (recommended)

This first assignment introduces you to the process of creating a model using the tools of our lab. For this assignment, and for the four that follow, you will be working in groups of three. Groups will be assigned during the first class, and will change after every project.

A help session, designed to aid with the introduction to Alias | Wavefront (AW) will be given by the TA's later in the week.

What to do

For this assignment you and your group will design and model three or more related objects found in a room (e.g., two chairs and a table, fruits in a bowl, a telephone and answering machine, and so on). Each member of the group will be responsible for at least one of the models, through all phases of design.

We would like a paper design first before you dive into the modeling with AW. Your paper design can be either hand-sketched or copied from a book or photograph. Bring the design to class on Wednesday or Friday. Some sample physical models may be handy too.

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 model:

Too much detail is as bad as too little
Try not to use too much geometry (or too many CV's)
The model should have no cracks or seams
The model should not be too regular (noise and assymetry are good!)
One-sided surfaces (with outward-facing normals) render much faster
The group's related models should be built to the same scale

Turn in

Once each team member has built one or more models, your group will assemble them all together in a single scene.

Don't worry yet about shading or rendering (but use quick-render to look at the model).

Projects will be critiqued in class on Wednesday. Specifics on outputting the models for the critique will be discussed in class.