Syllabus

SMD-3803-C 3D Digital Sculpting Characters:

Semester: Fall 2017 

Instructor: Daniel Williams

Class: Times: Saturday 3:10 – 6:00 p.m.

E-Mail: dwilliams@sva.edu

Grading Policy:

  Project execution:  70% Blog posting/Updates:15%  class participation:  15%

Promptness: 

Class will begin, and end on time. Because of my travel schedule, I will have to leave as soon as class finishes. Since this is the case, I'll try to be around a bit before each class in case anyone needs to discuss anything. We will also open up the last half our of each class for general questions and answers. If you think you will have an issue meeting this requirement, please speak to me about it, and alert me to your circumstances so we can work something out.

Communication/Participation:

I try to encourage dialogue between us, so please let's speak frequently in class, especially if you have questions regarding the work. After all, you, or someone else, is paying money for you to be here. So, why not take advantage of this by joining in the conversation and asking questions when you have them? If you have a question, chances are, someone else does too, if neither of you ask, you both may not get the answer. Use me!

Class Blog:

It's required you sign up for the class blog. Each week, you are required to post images showcasing your progress. Each image should have your name as it appears on the roster (or a noted nickname we establish from the start of the course) watermarked on the image. If you feel like there is an issue with your ability to communicate in front of the rest of the class, please talk to me in private about it, and we will see if we can find a resolution.

Attendance:

The Computer Art Department’s Attendance Policy dictates that a student missing more than 2 sessions, for any reason, is subject to failing the course.

Academic integrity:

Academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, will not be tolerated. Students found to have committed an act of academic dishonesty will fail the assignment for which an infraction is suspected and substantiated. More serious violations will be handled through the process enumerated in the  SVA Handbook  (p.8). Put simply, make sure your work is your own.

Students with  Disabilities:

In order to receive academic accommodations due to a disability, a student must first register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS).    Students approved for accommodations will be given an  ODS Accommodation Letter  to submit to their instructors.   If a student does not provide an  ODS Accommodation Letter  to their instructor, they will  not  be eligible to receive accommodations in that course. All instructors are required to adhere to SVA's policies regarding accommodations for students with disabilities.    Students who have a need for academic accommodations, or suspect they may have a disability, should contact the ODS via telephone:  (212) 592-2282, or visit the office: 23 Lexington Avenue, Mezzanine, in the George Washington Residence, or email:  disabilityservices@sva.edu

Course Outline:

Depending on the average pace of the class, the number of assets we create will number between three and five. This syllabus is not meant to be a rigid outline, but instead a loose guideline we can use to keep us on task. If I feel the class is moving swiftly, we can accelerate the pace, and if I feel some subjects require a bit of extra attention, we can make sure we spend more time on them.  If we are ever moving at a pace that feels uncomfortable, please let me know.

Week One:Zbrush Basics: Creating a character bust:

Week Two:Zbrush Form development and tools:

Week Three:Creating a simple render setup in Zbrush and Photoshop:

Week Four:Cartoon characters – process and practices:

Week Five:Retopology,UV, and base textures for your cartoon character:

Week Six:Finalize and polish your cartoon character:

Week Seven:Hard Surface techniques – process and practices:

Week Eight:Hard surface UV, Retopology, textures:

Week Nine:Finalize Hard Surface Model:

Week Ten:Sculpting a realistic likeness – process and practices:

Week Eleven:Sculpting the face Pt. I:

Week Twelve:Sculpting the face Pt. II:

Week Thirteen:Details and accessories:

Week Fourteen:Finalize Likeness Study:

Week Fifteen:Review:

No work will be accepted after (end of semester/date of last class)