Mar 29, 2024  
2020-2021 Course Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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GRD 488 - Introduction to Cinema 4D

Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 2
Lab Hours: 2
Practicum Hours: 0
Work Experience: 0
Course Type: Voc/Tech
Overview course of Maxon’s Cinema 4D software, a 3d application used within the motion-graphics and animation industry. This course will focus on the fundamental knowledge needed to create assets for motion-graphic animations. Through demonstrations, exercises, and projects, students will learn software techniques and technical pipelines while creating various 3d and animation assets.
Prerequisite: GRD 467  , GRD 485  
Competencies
  1. Appraise the software interface
    1. Examine graphical interface
    2. Demonstrate various methods to navigate 3d space
    3. Select and toggle between different viewing modes
    4. Review and configure user interface and preferences
    5. Demonstrate how to open existing 3d files
    6. Assemble and save created 3d files
    7. Examine the various file formats
    8. Demonstrate how to import 3d files
    9. Review and export 3d files
    10. Prepare and merge several files
    11. Apply the use of common keyboard shortcuts
  2. Create and organize 3d objects
    1. Illustrate primitive shapes and forms
    2. Employ the use of copy and instance
    3. Demonstrate various selection methods
    4. Transform 3d objects using move, rotate, and scale tools
    5. Examine an object?s properties
    6. Select and use Layer Manager to organize complex scenes
    7. Review Object Manager to tag, filter, and control objects within a scene
  3. Evaluate object modeling techniques
    1. Produce primitive shapes
    2. Select and adopt Nurbs and Splines
    3. Develop Polygon models
    4. Examine Sculpting Manager layout
    5. Apply the use of the Structure Manager
  4. Modify objects using deformers
    1. Determine level-of-detail on object before deforming
    2. Apply deformers to objects
    3. Change and edit deformer parameters
    4. Manipulate with deformer settings
    5. Examine various essential deformers
  5. Generate materials and textures for objects
    1. Examine the Material Editor
    2. Select and display materials in the 3d viewport
    3. Employ process for applying textures to objects
    4. Review material terminology and reasoning
    5. Demonstrate how to use multiple shaders and channels
    6. Identify and edit materials
    7. Select and assign materials to objects in scene
    8. Examine layer materials to build complexity
    9. Apply and use Substance Asset Manager
    10. Select and explore BodyPaint to map and paint UV Layouts
    11. Apply texture tags
  6. Evaluate the animation process
    1. Examine viewing, editing, and creation of hierarchy before animation begins
    2. Distinguish between Inverse and Forward Kinematics
    3. Review and utilize the Animation Process
    4. Employ various methods to create keyframes
    5. Apply various methods to adjust timing
    6. Change key frame behaviors (ease in, out, etc.)
    7. Adjust animation curves
    8. Examine interpolation tangent types (smooth, linear, step, slow, fast, spline)
    9. Determine bone hierarchies
    10. Select and adjust skin weights
  7. Produce and critique lighting for 3d models
    1. Review common lighting terms and definitions
    2. Distinguish between real-world lights to 3d lights
    3. Explain a light source and type
    4. Change light and shadow parameters
    5. Adjust and manage multiple lights within a scene
    6. Apply Three-Point lighting techniques to 3D scenes
    7. Practice use of Area lighting
    8. Adjust Global Illumination parameters
  8. Appraise proper camera use
    1. Explain camera terminology and definitions
    2. Distinguish between real-life cameras to 3d cameras
    3. Demonstrate how to create a Target Camera
    4. Prepare and use a Stereo Camera
    5. Adjust Camera parameters
    6. Select and use Depth of Field
    7. Apply null objects to define Camera hierarchies
    8. Demonstrate how to animate a Camera move
  9. Evaluate the rendering process
    1. List rendering terms and definitions
    2. Select and prepare render settings for a Linear Workflow
    3. Prepare and save a rendered image
    4. Build and save a rendered sequence
    5. Examine and composite an image and sequential renders
    6. Produce separate multi-pass renders for compositing
    7. Prepare alpha channels for compositing
  10. Generate complex scenes using MoGraph Module
    1. Assemble a scene by procedurally populating with multiple objects
    2. Develop cloned objects
    3. Change clones by changing parameters and settings
    4. Adjust effectors to combine clones
    5. Select and refine clone behaviors for motion graphics
  11. Create integrated assets using Cinema 4D and After Effects
    1. Examine workflow pipeline for developing assets between Cinema 4D and After Effects
    2. Explore Cinema 4D Lite within After Effects
    3. Examine Cineware settings
    4. Assemble Cinema 4D content into After Effects layers
    5. Develop Cinema 4D assets within After Effects
    6. Select and export various shared assets between Cinema 4D and After Effects



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