Project 1 : Modeling<BR>

Date Assigned: Monday , June 20th<BR>
Model sheet due: Wednesday, June 22th<br>
Individual Files Due Date: Sunday, June 26th<BR>
Group Files Due Date: Monday, June 27th, 11:59am (1 hour before class)<br>

<P>
Reading: Chapters 3 and 4 (Kerlow) (prepare for quiz)
<P>
This first assignment introduces you to the process of creating a
model using Maya. For this assignment, and for the four that follow,
you will be working in groups of two or three. Groups will be assigned
during the first class and will change after every project.
<P>

Start up Maya, press F1 to get the man pages (it will start up an HTML
window if you don't already have one running).  You should view the
one-minute learning movies found by clicking on Help, then Learning
Movies.  The ones you should watch are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 (all but
6).  Click on "Tutorials" and do enough of the tutorials: "Overview",
"Maya Basics", and "Polygonal Modeling" to get started on this
assignment (at least read thru all of them, but you will learn more by
trying the tutorials than by just reading them).
<P>

<h3>What to do</h3>

For this assignment you and your group will design and model two or
three related objects that might be found together in a setting (e.g.,
two chairs and a table, fruits in a bowl, a flower and some autumn
leaves, and so on). Each member of the group will be responsible for
one of the models through all phases of design.
<P>
Make a paper design first before diving into the actual modeling. Your
paper design can be either hand-sketched or copied from a book or
photograph. Bring the design to class on Tuesday. Some
sample physical models may be handy too.
<P>
What is a model sheet you ask?<br>

Well is a set of drawings, done by hand or in a computer illustration package that include:
<UL>
<LI>  List of parts of the model
<LI>  Over all drawing of the model from the side, top, front, and any other additional views that make sense.
<LI>  More specific drawings of other parts if necessary
<LI>  It may include size (dimensions), etc.

</UL>
Modeling ideas:
<UL>
<li>Places: underwater, space, desert, rainforest, farm, room in your house, desk, ...
<li>Toys or Cartoon characters
<li>Stories, fables, jokes
<li>occupations
<li>Seasons
<li>Things that are green, things that are blue...
<li>objects like fruit, dinner, candy, flowers, cell phone, bike,...
<li>
</UL>

</UL>


<P>
<H3>What we're looking for</h3>

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:
<P>
<UL>
    <LI> Too much detail is as bad as too little --
      remember that more detail can be added later with texture mapping.
    <LI> Try not to use too much geometry (or too many CV's).
    <LI> The model should have no cracks or seams.
   <LI> The model should not be too regular (noise and assymetry are good).
    <LI> One-sided surfaces (with outward-facing normals) render much faster.
    <LI>The group's related models should be built to the same scale. 

</UL>
<H3>Turn in</h3>

Once each team member has built one or more models, your group will
assemble them all together in a single scene. The models and scene
need not be shaded or rendered. Just use quick-render to view
them.
<!-- Retrieving models without overriding all aspects of the current
scene is covered in Lesson 1 of Learning Alias (p33). -->
<P>
Projects will be critiqued in class on Monday. Before the critique,
hand in your models and scene as follows:
<P>
<oL>

  <LI> Use Blackboard to upload your assignment, which should contain the following
   <OL>
      <LI> A README file containing group member names and a short explanation of who did what.
    <br>       <b>FORMAT:</b> <UL>
    <b> README_GroupX.mb</b> ("X" is your group number)
     </UL>
      <LI> maya binary files containing each of the models (one file per model) 
<br>     <b>FORMAT:</b> <UL>
<b>     FirstName_ModelName.mb </b> ("FirstName" is your first name; "ModelName" is one word which explains what your model is)
     </UL>
      <LI> maya binary file of the scene 
<br>     <b>FORMAT:</b> <UL>
   <b>  GroupX_SceneName.mb </b> ("X" is your group Number; "SceneName" is the name of your scene without spaces)
     </UL>
      <li> Image of each of the models  
<br>     <b>FORMAT:</b> <UL>
<b>     FirstName_ModelName.tif</b>
     </UL>
      <li> Image of the final scene (no coloring or special lighting necessary) 
<br>           <b>FORMAT:</b> <UL>
<b>     GroupX_SceneName.tif </b> (Where "X" is replaced by a number)
     </UL>
</OL>   
To access blackboard:<br>
<UL> <a href="https://courses.northwestern.edu/webapps/login">Blackboard</a>
</UL>
To handin a file (click thru the following menu options):<br>
<UL>  Communication > Group Pages > Project 1 > File Exchange > Add File
</UL>

</OL>

<hr>
<h3>Assigned Groups</h3>
<PRE>

Group 1
Che Yusoff, Asrif
Edwards, Tennile 
Teng, Xian Yi 

Group 2
Chin, Ying 
Johnson, Rejaie 
Simpson, Alan 

Group 3
Md Ishak, Nizam 
Nesbitt, Kiel 
Pylypczak, Jaroslav 

Group 4
Ku Abdul Rahman, Ku Azharul Nizar 
Krueger, DeBorah 
Schatz, Matthew

Group 5
Lee, Brandon 
Miller, Josh 
Meor Hamzah, Nurul  

</PRE>

<HR>
Potential Grading Criteria<br>
<PRE>
(out of 5)
Model was handed into blackboard as required:

(out of 10)
Model choice (originality):

(out of 10)
Model matches/based upon sketch:

(out of 10)
Detail (too much or too little or just right):

(out of 10)
Good use of vertices/control points:

(out of 10)
No Cracks or unwanted seams:

(out of 10)
Regularity (noise & assymetry added?):

(out of 10)
Normals correct:

(out of 10)
Model Grouped and Named:

(out of 10)
Group's related model size:

(out of 10)
Group scene composition:
</PRE>