DGMA - Digital Media and Animation

This course develops a refinement of skills from the preceding semesters' work with modeling focusing on NURBS based models. The student will build upon their knowledge of modeling and will provide an in depth study of NURBS modeling coupled with lighting and texturing. The course shows students how to visualize an object and how to effectively build it in the 3D world using various NURBS surface types and communicate scenarios and moods through the use of textures and light to surface interactions.

In this class students will experiment with stop motion animation using single frame cameras and 3-dimensional objects from a video feed into computer software. Students will learn how to apply the principles of animation to stop-motion filmmaking, and will then take their projects through the post-production process.

This course will introduce the student to the use of current non-linear editing technology. Class projects will develop an understanding of the methods used for creating, sampling and storing digital video and audio and the constraints placed on these media assets when used for media based products. Emphasis is placed upon the technology of digital video and audio, including: formats, data rates and compression algorithms.

In this course, students will integrate knowledge learned in the previous two semesters and create a 15 week production. This might be character animations, commercials, public service announcements, or interactive presentations. There is a focus on individual creative projects with emphasis on visually communicating a message and theme to the audience through animation.

This course will prepare students for the task of finding a career in the Digital Media and/or Animation fields. Instruction will be given to develop and design web portfolios, print portfolios, and demo reels that promote the individual's work. Web authoring software such as Dreamweaver and Flash will be used in the creation of individual websites. Non-linear video and sound editing software, such as Soundtrack Pro, SoundBooth, Final Cut Pro, and Premiere will be used to optimize video, sound, and animation work for the various forms of portfolios being created.

This course is an intermediate exploration of visual and verbal communication through interactive media/interface design. The students will explore the fundamental concepts of interactivity, the basic concepts of flow charting, as well as hierarchal organization and visual perception with regard to computer interface and interactivity for Web sites, interactive media, informative media and DVD authoring. Students will use a variety of computer tools to implement and demonstrate the various concepts in studio design projects.

This is a course which introduces the student to 3D computer animation. Autodesk's Maya software is emphasized. The course focuses on the building and rigging of skeletons for organic and inorganic objects as well as animation of biped, quadruped, and object motion, and soft-body and rigid-body object motion to visually communicate specific actions and/or emotions. Traditional animation concepts and 3D computerized animation techniques will be theoretically explored and practically applied.

This is a course that introduces the student to the art of creating cartoon-style animation applicable to industry needs in graphic design, interactive media, the Internet, film, and television using Macromedia Flash. The course emphasizes student acquisition production with both cameraless and computer-based techniques.

This is a course that provides beginning experiences in 3D polygon modeling. It focuses on creating organic and inorganic objects that visually communicate a given mood, emotion, and/or scenario. Students will analyze objects geometrically and use defined processes and techniques to produce these objects for visualization and communication through modeling, lighting, and texturing using polygonal shapes.

This is a course that focuses on creative, technical, and environmental/collaborative issues involved in visual communication. Building on the elements and principles of design/communication the students work through increasingly difficult projects to their final cumulative piece. An investigation of color theory as it applies to traditional and computer generated images is also pursued.