Computer Graphics

This course introduces students to the principles of 3D environment design. Theatrical sets, architectural simulations, and level design are considered. In order to provide students with a broader skill set, this course also presents the mechanics of how to use other 3D animation software, with an emphasis on the unique strengths of the package. Students explore the comparative strengths of different software packages and the impact that this has on workflow. The course emphasizes critical thinking skills and strategies for tool selection.

This course introduces an array of digital modeling, sculpting, and painting techniques with a set of industry-standard 3D and 2D tools. After a series of exercises, students learn the tools and work flow of digital sculpting and enhance their knowledge of anatomy. As part of this class, students create a highly finished 3D character that is fully designed, modeled, posed, sculpted, and textured. They also demonstrate knowledge of environmental sculpting.

This course explores a variety of modeling techniques for both man-made and organic surfaces.

This course examines the methods required to combine 2D and 3D art for cinematic, computer animation and gaming environments. Issues of scale, perspective, palette and color matching, atmospheric perspective and lighting, parallax, horizon and eye level are addressed in a series of exercises designed to create convincing interaction of 2D and 3D art in interior scenes, cityscapes, and landscapes in a variety of media.

The content of this course may change each time it is offered. It is for the purpose of offering a new or specialized course of interest to the faculty or students that is not covered by the courses in the current catalog.

This course introduces an array of digital modeling, sculpting, and painting techniques for use with a set of 3D and 2D tools. Sculpting, modeling, posing, anatomy, texturing, and workflow are practiced.

This course focuses on how to generate efficient and accurate texture maps. The course also explores techniques for generating landscape-, architectural-, objects-, and character-based textures.

This course focuses on the building techniques and theories behind 3D biped or quadruped character creation, including anatomy, design, lighting, shading, and rendering.

This course focuses on how to effectively rig characters for games or films. Multiple rigging methods are explored such as: building a hierarchy of joints, creating flexible controls for characters, forward kinematics and inverse kinematics.

This course focuses on advanced rigging techniques. Topics may include biped rigs, quadruped rigs, and scripting.

This course introduces 2D digital art. Topics include digital drawing, painting, material studies, conceptualization, and illustration.

This course introduces 3D digital art with a focus in modeling and texturing. Topics include modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials, lighting, and rendering.

This course introduces 3D digital art pipelines and software workflows with a focus in digital sculpting and modeling, texture painting, and managing digital art assets through various software. Topics include digital sculpting techniques, modeling, UV unwrapping, 3D texturing and painting, materials, and digital art pipeline.

This course introduces digital sculpting for character creation, including building techniques and pipeline processes. Topics include digital sculpting, poly painting, texturing, lighting, rendering, and level of details.

This course focuses on advanced digital sculpting for character creation, including high level details and pipeline processes. Topics include digital painting, lighting, and rendering of hair and clothing.

This course focuses on character creation and implementation in real-time rendering engines. Topics include re-topologizing, hair optimization, texturing, lighting, and rendering.

This course focuses on advanced 3D digital character creation and implementation for portfolio presentation. An emphasis is placed on refining a digital character model based on personalized critique of individual work, applying advanced 3D character creation techniques and methodologies, and documenting the production process.

This course focuses on the design of 3D environments and techniques for environment creation. Topics include environment layout, 3D modeling, lighting, texturing, materials, and rendering.

This course focuses on advanced techniques and theories of environmental hard surface modeling for 3D real-time engines. Topics include environment research and design, 3D modeling, lighting, texturing, material creation, and rendering.

This course focuses on advanced techniques and theories of organic environment creation for 3D real-time engines. Topics include environment research and design, 3D modeling, digital sculpting, lighting, texturing, material creation, and rendering.

This course focuses on advanced 3D digital environment creation and implementation for portfolio presentation. An emphasis is placed on refining a digital environment based on personalized critique of individual work, applying advanced 3D environment creation techniques and methodologies, and documenting the production process.

This course focuses on modeling hard surface objects with complex textures and materials. Emphasis is placed on lighting and rendering to showcase the models. Topics include theory and practice of modeling hard surfaces.

This course is an exploration of connected procedural art workflows to create visual effects and simulations with an emphasis on project-based learning. Topics may include: procedural workflows, rigid body destruction, pyrotechnic effects, procedural modeling, fracturing techniques, lighting, realtime rendering, vellum, game engine integration, programming languages.

This course focuses on the texturing of 3D models. Emphasis is placed on generating efficient textures and materials, practicing texturing techniques, and exploring texturing workflows. Topics include UV unwrapping, textures and materials creation, digital painting, lighting, and rendering.

This course focuses on the fundamentals of lighting a scene. Emphasis is placed on understanding common digital lighting approaches and creating a mood through lighting. Topics include materials, shaders, rendering, scene composition, and effective use of light and shadow.

This course explores a variety of techniques and workflows for both organic and hard surface modeling. Topics include digital sculpting techniques, modeling, UV unwrapping, 3D texturing and painting, materials, workflows, lighting, and rendering.

This course is an exploration of connected procedural art workflows to create visual effects and simulations with an emphasis on project-based learning. Topics may include: procedural workflows, rigid body destruction, pyrotechnic effects, procedural modeling, fracturing techniques, lighting, realtime rendering, vellum, game engine integration, programming languages.

This course introduces digital sculpting for character creation, including building techniques and pipeline processes. Topics include digital sculpting, poly painting, texturing, lighting, rendering, and level of details.

This course focuses on advanced digital sculpting for character creation, including high level details and pipeline processes. Topics include digital painting, lighting, and rendering of hair and clothing.

This course focuses on character creation and implementation in real-time rendering engines. Topics include re-topologizing, hair optimization, texturing, lighting, and rendering.

This course focuses on the design of 3D environments and techniques for environment creation. Topics include environment layout, 3D modeling, lighting, texturing, materials, and rendering.

This course focuses on advanced techniques and theories of environmental hard surface modeling for 3D real-time engines. Topics include environment research and design, 3D modeling, lighting, texturing, material creation, and rendering.

This course focuses on advanced techniques and theories of organic environment creation for 3D real-time engines. Topics include environment research and design, 3D modeling, digital sculpting, lighting, texturing, material creation, and rendering.

This course focuses on modeling hard surface objects with complex textures and materials. Emphasis is placed on lighting and rendering to showcase the models. Topics include theory and practice of modeling hard surfaces.

This course focuses on the texturing of 3D models. Emphasis is placed on generating efficient textures and materials, practicing texturing techniques, and exploring texturing workflows. Topics include UV unwrapping, textures and materials creation, digital painting, lighting, and rendering.

This course focuses on the fundamentals of lighting a scene. Emphasis is placed on understanding common digital lighting approaches and creating a mood through lighting. Topics include materials, shaders, rendering, scene composition, and effective use of light and shadow.