CSE/ISE 334 Assignments
Overview
There are 3 media projects, worth up to 25 points each (75 total).
There is a documentation assignment worth up to 25 points, due at the end of
the term.
The first task of the semester is to prepare a project proposal for the instructor's approval. It should be emailed to the instructor: tony@cs.sunysb.edu, with "334 proposal" in the subject line. The proposal should follow this template.
The first media project is a graphics project with several components. You should build a library of images to be used throughout the term as backgrounds, texture maps, masks, reference, etc. This library should be included with your final project documentation as a web page of thumbnails linked to the images. The majority of the images in the library should be original. In addition to still images you could also include interactive QuickTime VR objects or panoramas you've created as studies to inform your 3D modeling.
The graphics project itself will be a composite still image developed with images from your library. It might be used as a title screen for your final project, or as a background you use in your 3D project.
The second media project, the 3D project, is a modeling and animation project. You should try to model objects and a scene based on actual dimensional data from real objects. Lighting and texture maps should convey realism. Animation of your scene could include inverse kinematics for animating a character, or camera movements like fly-throughs.
The graphics project and the 3D project should provide the content for your final project. In addition you will need to create a library of audio files to use.
The final media project is a linear, digital video presentation that will combine graphics, animation, text, and audio. The project's purpose is to tell a story in an engaging way. For example, you might illustrate a particular aspect of any course you have taken at Stony Brook (including this course), based on the lectures or the text for that course. The presentation should make the concept or process clear to a general audience. Or you may choose to express a point of view, political or otherwise, like a public service announcement or a 30 - 60 second advertisement.
Project documentation is the "take-home exam" for the semester. You should build this web site throughout the semester. It may include screen shots, sketches, storyboards, reference materials, and a bibliography. It should definitely include a narrative describing your objectives and your process in detail. It should document your learning curve.
In general you should think of all of this work as related and integrated, not as a series of discrete homework assignments. You should try to have a "big idea", and think across these projects to see how they relate to each other and your final presentation.
The projects and documentation assignment are described in detail below.
Submitting your work
Directory structure and file naming conventions:
1. Create 4 directories at
the top level of your account,
and name them: "graphics", "audio", "3D",
and "final". You will use the "Sites" directory already in your account for your project documentation/web site.
2. A source file (as described below) for each assignment must
be uploaded to the appropriate directory to receive credit, and the files must
be readable on a lab machine with the currently installed software.
3. Key source files should be named in this manner: your ID-dot-file
extension (as in "123456789.psd", or "123456789.car").
Appropriate file extensions are described below for each assignment.
4. Students are expected to maintain a backup of all their work for the class.
Instructions for logging
into your account on the file server >>
Note: It is very important that permissions be set properly on your project files so they can be reviewed. Check the permissions for your submission by selecting the file and then choosing "Get Info" from the File menu in the Finder. A dialog will appear with the name of the file, its file size, creation date, etc. Twirl down the "Ownership & Permissions" tab. The last group, "Others", should be set to "Read only".
Graphics Project - up to 25 points
Create a title screen for your final project or a background for your 3D scene. It should communicate a clear message without the need for text or captions, although including text is OK, especially as a design element.
Objectives:
1. Demonstrate competence in digitizing.
2. Show proficiency in editing, filtering, masking, and compositing.
3. Make a visually compelling statement.
Specifications:
1. Source file - multilayered .psd file, 800w X 600h (pixels), 24 bit, 72
dpi (these are the defaults!)
2. Upload to "graphics" folder
3. Email to instructor with "334 graphics" in the subject line
Image library component:
Create a portfolio of at least 10 - 20 original images that will support your projects. Photos may be scanned or taken with a digital camera. These photos might only be used for reference, for example, in building your 3D model (by taking pictures of an object you want to model from different angles), or they might be used as texture maps. They may be used for your graphics project, or as backgrounds in your final project. Export the image library as a web page from iPhoto.
Objectives:
1. Demonstrate competence in capturing, scaling, and compression.
2. Show proficiency in cropping and image processing.Specifications:
1. Source files - various file types and dimensions are acceptable, no specific file names
2. Project file - .html file
3. Upload web page and related folders to your "Sites" directory
4. Email the instructor the URL for your project web site, in this manner: 130.245.140.251/~yourIDnumber/theNameofYourStartPage.html (eg. http://130.245.140.251/~123456789/index.html)
3D Animation Project - up to 25 points
Take dimensional data and model a scene based on it. Create realistic movement based on motion studies (rotoscope).
Objectives:
1. Demonstrate competence in modeling and texture mapping.
2. Show proficiency in lighting and composition.
3. Demonstrate competence in rotoscoping, interpolated animation, inverse kinematics
and construction of heirarchical models.
3. Render a realistic scene and animate it.
DRAFT RENDER (required):
1. Render a still image of your scene. Choose the perspective view or a camera
view you have created. The scene should contain textured models, lights,
and backgrounds. Everything but the animation!
2. Source file - Carrara file(s),
texture maps etc.
3. Project file - .png file, 640w X 480h (pixels)
4. Upload Carrara project and the .png file to the "3D" folder
5. Email the .png file to the instructor with "334 3D" in the subject line
TEST
RENDER (optional but recommended):
1. Animate your scene. It may be a camera fly-through or a character animation.
You may want to render several different scenes. Choose one to upload to the
gallery.
2. Source file - Carrara file(s),
texture maps etc.
3. Project file - .mov file, 320w X 240h (pixels), approx. 15 seconds, 15 FPS, mpeg-4 compression
4. Upload source and .mov file to "3D" folder
FINAL RENDER (required - for inclusion in the video final project) should
be 640w X 480h, .mov, no compression
Examples >>
Final Project - up to 25 points
Combine elements of the preceding projects to create a linear, digital video presentation. You do not have to use all of your project material. The final project must incorporate graphics, audio, and animation.
Audio component:
Objectives:
1. Demonstrate competence in sampling, downsampling, and compression.
2. Show proficiency in editing, filtering, and mixing.Specifications:
1. Source files - multitrack or single track .aif or .band files, maximum 30 seconds, 44khz, 16 bit, no specific file names.
Video component:
Objectives:
1. Demonstrate competence in editing, and superimposition.
2. Show proficiency in synchronizing media.
3. Create a compelling clip.
Specifications:
1. Project file - multitrack .dv file (at least 1 audio and 1 video track), 720w X 480h (pixels), maximum 60 seconds, DV compression. (These are the defaults!)
2. Upload to "final" folder
3. Burn final project, documentation, media projects and all source files onto CD-R or DVD-R. Label with your name and student ID.
Project Documentation - up to 25 points
The final project documentation should trace the evolution of your project through a narrative and visuals. It can have a number of components, such as your image library, screen shots and/or photos of your work in development, sketches, a script and a storyboard. It should be a web site whose start page is named "index.html". But don't waste time "decorating" the site with animated gif's, etc. The focus should be on your work, clean and professional.
Objectives:
1. Show a coherent design and production process.
2. Document the stages of your work.
Specifications:
1. Name the start page "index.html". Check links to files and folders within
your directory.
2. Upload to "Sites" directory.
Script component:
Research the topic of your final project. For example, it could be a lecture topic from any course you've taken at Stony Brook in CS or as an elective, or it could be another topic of your choice. Use the template to render the narrative in script form, using SMPTE time code to correlate visuals and text/audio.
Specifications:
1. Project file - .html file
2. Upload to "Sites" directory
Storyboard component:
Prepare a visual storyboard with brief captions that outlines your final project.
Specifications:
1. Source file - .psd or Comic Life file
2. Project file - .jpg, .png, or .pdf file
3. Upload to "Sites" directory
4. Email to instructor with "334 storyboard" in the subject field
Grading
The general criteria for grading all assignments is 40% for meeting assignment specifications, 40% for technical proficiency, and 20% for innovation. Please note that projects with content that is offensive or defamatory will have points deducted. Plageurized work will recieve no credit.
A grade of "I" (incomplete) for the semester is rarely given.
Student Scores
The projects account for a total of
75% of the grade. No assignments will be accepted
after 5 pm on the last day of class for the semester.