3D Workshops: 3 Week Rotation

3D Workshops

Introduction

This post is about the three week rotation period where I did three weeks of learning how to use the 3D software Maya and apply the animation principles to the objects we created in the software. 

Week 1:Bouncing Ball

Introduction

This post is about my first attempt at 3D animation using Maya. I have tried to use 3D software before such as Blender, with no success. However with time and effort I managed to understand some parts of Maya, whereas before I had completely no clue how to do anything 3D. 

Within the workshop we were taught a number of key and essential tips and tools about Maya and we gained a basic understanding on how the software worked. 

Within the lesson we also applied the principles of animation to the bouncing ball using Maya. 

These included: Slowing in and out, Squash and Stretch, Timing and Spacing and Point to Point vs Straight Ahead.

Production

What I found when using Maya is that it is very mathematical compared to hand drawings which feel very organic. This was when I was squashing and stretching the ball, I had to maintain the balls volume as it stretched and squashed; when it stretched the proportions of the ball would be manipulated but the volume would remain the same. An example of this the ball stretches to twice the size (Y=1 / Y=2) therefore the width of the ball must be halved to maintain the ball's volume (X=1 / X=0.5) (Z=1 / Z=0.5).

This makes the squash and stretching of the ball more believable, whereas if I did not monitor the volume it would appear that the ball would be getting smaller and larger. 

Video

We also had to create 6 different shapes with 6 different renders, to learn how to use renders, and to be able to move shapes within the Maya space/ stage. 

Conclusion

Despite the worries and fears of 3D, I really enjoyed learning how to use it. I do have a LOT more to learn though. But I am pleased with the results. From this I have learnt that there is a lot of potential with 3D animation and I need to learn how to use it effectively.

Week 2: Bat and Ball

Introduction

This was the second week of our rotation. This week we would be applying the principles of: Anticipation, Squash and Stretch, Arcs, Staging and Over Lapping action to a baseball and bat. From this we would also continue to learn how to use Maya 2016. 

Production

To demonstrate these principles, we had to create a baseball bat and a ball that would fly in and be struck by the bat. Anticipation would be demonstrated by the bat pulling back ready to hit the ball. The ball would then fly in with the stretch of the ball demonstrating the speed and the squash the moment it is struck. The bat would follow an arc as it swings around to strike the ball. After the ball is struck, the bat would continue to move because of the excess energy used to swing and hit the ball. Finally the entire scene is staged in a way to demonstrate our understanding of staging using the lighting tools in Maya. 

We first created the bat using a circle, line and rotate tool to sculpt the bat. I found this a different way to create objects in Maya but yet effective. I did have to create a few bats before creating the ideal bat. My first bats looked like either champagne glasses or caveman clubs. 
Then using the rotate tool and side view I moved the bat into the key positions where it would swing and hit the ball. I had to time the bat striking the ball and how long it would take for the bat to make contact with the ball as well as the spacing to show the energy of the bat swing and overlapping action after. 

Applying what I had learnt last week, I found this task easier but still challenging. 
After we had done that we continued to learn the features and tools of Maya and we learnt about lighting. We were assigned to create a setup with at least a 3 lighting system and an object that followed a NERB path. 

Video

Conclusion

Overall I have found this rotation challenging as we are learning two different subjects at the same time: the software and applying the principles to that software. However this is needed and I wish to learn more, but there is much more to learn. I would probably improve the swing of the bat by making the bat swing faster as it hits the ball to add more power to the swing. 

Week 3: Man Walking

Introduction

This was the final week of 3D workshops as part of the three week rotation period and we had to create a walk cycle for character in Maya 2016. 

From this we would apply the principles of: Secondary Action, Exaggeration, Solid Drawing and Appeal. 

Production

We first created a basic structure of a humanoid character with a torso, four limbs and a head.

This was done by using the primitive shapes tools and creating the basic structure of the body. We were keeping the body simple just by using the primitive shapes as they were rather than trying the model a body out of them. This would have taken too long and over complicated the session.
From there we started to add keys to the movements of the character as he walked along. How he moved was very simple but to get that result was a challenge using Maya. This is because we have to remember the old tools and methods from before as well as applying and learning new ones.
Taking advantage of the software we also learnt how to loop the animation by telling Maya to continue the animation without us (the user) to do it ourselves. We would only have to make two keys positions of the walk and then tell Maya to keep the character moving.
We also added sound to the scene to make the character react to the sound to give the character more life and more of a personality. How he would react to the sound would reflect his personality and this was linked to appeal.

Video

Link to 3D Animation Collection 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kim034L4vZE

Conclusion

This being the final week of the 3D rotation period I feel that i have learnt a lot from the first session and that I have progressed significantly. But I have much to improve on including understanding the tools and works of Maya as well as the delivery of my animation in Maya as they are not as effective as they could be.
Therefore from what i have learnt so far, I will continue to use Maya in my personal projects and research different methods o using Maya to find ones right for me.