Wednesday, May 18, 2011

First-checkpoint for Assignment

Storyline
The tray I am modeling will be part of the track itself. The race car will hit the "wall" of the tray at the correct angle with sufficient speed to follow the flow and continue forward. For those race cars who stray off track, they will fall into the pit at the middle of the tray, inevitably.
Shape
There are only about two primitive shapes I will be using and that would be the cylinder and the cone. Aside from that, the rest of my object will be created by using the "Revolve" tool. I will be using the "Extrude" function to extrude the food seperator at the base and the wall, which diverts the race car direction. For the extra details, I may be creating a pattern on top of the cover by creating the curve using the CV Curve tool, and "Difference" out the pattern on the cover.
Design
Click to expand picture

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Week 4: Reflections

  • Does multi-tasking give you a real or false sense of having accomplished something?
According to the two articles given, multi-tasking gives a false sense of accomplishment and even heightens the person's sense of distraction.


  • Is learning 3D and design different from learning programming, or is all learning the same?Why?
For me personally, I would say that it is both. Learning something, anything, requires attention and I can say that I may be able to learn everything at a average rate if I can pay attention at it.

However, as mentioned in the article, my attention for 3D and design is a "stimulus-driven attention" whereas my attention for programming is "controlled attention". Personally, I find that learning something using "stimulus-driven attention" is much easier then learning something you force yourself to learn.


  • The article states that “Learning is actually a very complex operation for an individual”. Do you agree with this? Do you feel that you approach your learning in the best way – if yes, how, and if no, how can you change your work style?

Having mentioned above MY personal view on learning, I agree that learning differentiates among individuals.

I feel that I am not approaching my learning in the best way possible as I dislike using "controlled attention" to learn. I have entered the wrong course (should have gone to Game Design in NYP) and hence I have to learn programming which I dislike. However, since I HAVE to learn my course modules, I have to find a way for me to get enthusiastic about the subjects I do not really like so that I can learn with a "Stimulus-driven attention".

  • What are your thoughts about the last paragraph in the extract?

I believe that the last paragraph in the extract is absolutely true. To thrive in the working industry, one has to have talents and personality in order to work with their co-workers and a good relationship is needed for a healthy and successfully career.

  • Should your lecturers also focus on your work attitude, or just leave you to sink or swim on your own? Why?

The way this question is structured makes the answer quite obvious. Lecturers should definitely try and focus on our work attitude it they have the time to. The students work attitude and motivation determines their results and everyone wants to get good grades.


Monday, May 16, 2011

Week 3: Lab 2 (Tracks & Washboards)

Tracks

After using the "Extrude" function at the cardboard box exercise, I was amazed that the "Extrude" function can be separated to divisions. In this case, the divisions makes the track looks like it is formed and connectable with other pieces of the track.

The "Bend" function is a amazing function, being able to bend the object without destroying it.

Washing Board



This washing board was particular frustrating to make as I did not know how to use the alignment tool and it took me quite some time before I realized how to use it. However, asides from that, I did not have other problems with the other instructions given.

The washing board required me to bevel so many times and I was just awed by it's detail. ^_^

References
As mentioned above, I had problems using the alignment tool in the Washboard exercise and I had to go online to find some help. This video I watched gives a reasonable explaination on using the alignment tool.

Week 3: Lab 1 - Part 2

Weird Vase


This is just a workout exercise to train us on our "Revolve" and "CV-Curve" function.

Reference
I went online to learn more about the "Revolve" tool and this link is to a video which basically does the "Weird Vase" exercise.

Week 3: Lab 1 - Part 1

The Bucket


This exercise is much more difficult compared to the usual exercises and it teaches me many new skills by itself. The "Revolve" tool is very useful when making objects with a circular base and it reduces the user's workload.

This bucket required more precise work such as creating the bucket handle and the knob. The curve used to create the handle had to be in place with the knob and the soft modification tool only made it.

Reflection
This bucket is a somewhat like the first milestone in this subject. Utilizing all of the past skills learnt here. My basics for Maya is somewhat oK~~~ and I hope I can remember all the skills learnt to create an awesome model for my project!

Reference
A difficult part in this exercise is understanding the use of the soft modification tool. There is a video on Youtube about this tool and the link is here.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Week 2-Lab 2- Part 3

CardBoard Box

This is the cardboard box I did (before making it look old):



And this is after I added effect....



I have only achieved completing the boxes after two attempts, where my first attempt fail when not understanding the instructions posted online.

I have learnt how to use the wave function in which it gives an object it's crumpled look. I have also realized that the "strength" of the wave is determined by it's size and learning not to over-do it is also a good practice.

Reference
This cardboard box requires me using the "Extrude" tool and here is a link for a tutorial for extruding in Maya.

Here is also a link for a video of non-linear deformers, which made my cardboard box look older.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Week 2 Exercise 2

Block Toy Train

Front View:


Back View:
It took awhile but I have finally completed the toy train. I have bevel-ed the entire train and managed to create the windows of the front carriage. I'm PrOgReSsInG!!!

Week 2 Exercise 1

My completed toy block


This is one of the toy blocks I modelled in class.

This exercise teaches us how to us the Boolean -> Difference function and it also teaches us how to change the shape of an object using it's vectices. These two functions taught seems to be very useful in the near future whenever I want to make more complex objects with holes in it.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Week 1 Exercise 3a

Angle 1:



Angle 2:
Above are two screenshots of Prinny. I do not really have anything to comment since I modelled Prinny after I modelled the IMP which was harder to do.

However, I have realized that modelling these two robots drills us in our fundamentals such as switching between the camera views (Perspective and 4 angles), changing of controls using shortcut keys (Example: E, R, T, ....) and the moving of the camera with the mouse + ALT key.

Week 1 Exercise 3b

My Robot "IMP"

Angle 1:


Angle 2:
This is my companion robot "IMP" which stands for IMPossible. It has two wings and is able to breath polygons out of it's mouth. Wherever I am, the IMP will make sure that I am safe from bird dropping by circling above me. The "IMP" is extremely reliable with it's unlimited battery life Kryptonite*. It makes sure that I am spending my time doing something useful by constantly dismantling itself and unpacking my bag for no reason.

The "IMP" is currently for sale at the discounted price of $313 @Somerset.



*Please purchase your Kryptonite from Krypton if still avaliable



Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Week 1 Exercise 2

Robot
This is a drawing of one of the robot image given for this exercise. In my drawing, I have shown some primitive shape by seperating them from the original picture.
The feet of the robot is a plate which is an flattened rectangle while the bullet-like feature at the robot's legs is made by connecting a cylinder and a semi-circle.
The last part of the robot I seperated is the arm, which is a curved cylinder. As an arrow is not drawn, that piece is on the top left-hand side of the drawing

Monday, May 2, 2011

Week 1 Exercise 1

Lander Ship




This drawing is a drawing of the Lander Ship image. The description of the parts are difficult to read and will be explained here.

At the bottom left hand corner of the image is a drawing of the Lander Ship without it's wings from it's front view. In this view, we can see that the body of the ship is an Octogon. The line cutting through the middle of the octogon is the sharp edge at the head of the ship.

The drawing at the bottom right hand corner of the picture is the ship's turbine drawn to show it's three different primitive shapes.

Gundam Gun




This is a drawing of the Gundam Gun image. I have seperated a few of it's components to show the primitive shape used to create that part of the gun.

First is a cylinder used as a nozzle to connect the tip of the gun with the barrel of the gun.

Then there is the half cone supposedly used for the laser pointer of the gun.

The main frame of the gun is an elongated hexagon with the top of it stretched upwards.

And finally the scope of the gun, with is made by combining a cylinder for the top, a 3/4 cone for it's base and a 1/4 bottom half of the cone for the tip.