CSE/ISE 334 Assignments
Overview
There are 4 media assignments, and one design assignment, worth 75% of the total grade. These assignments help build the final project incrementally.
There is a final project due at the end of the term (which incorporates the media assignments), and project documentation to be completed by the end of the term. Together they make up the remaining 25% of the grade.
• The first task of the semester is to prepare a project proposal for the instructor's approval. It should be emailed to the course email account: cse334@cs.sunysb.edu, with "334 proposal" in the subject line. The proposal should follow this template.
• The second task is to establish a basic project website to document the development of your term project as it progresses. It will include all of your media assignments, documents such as your project proposal, examples of work in progress such as screen captures, and design documents such as your storyboard. Please include an email link to you on the start page of your project web site.
The URL for the site (on the lab's file server) follows this form: http://www2.mm.cs.sunysb.edu/~yourIDnumber/
(eg. http://www2.mm.cs.sunysb.edu/~123456789/)• The next task is to create a library of images to support your project, to be used throughout the term as backgrounds, texture maps, masks, reference, etc. The majority of the images in the library should be original. The library will be uploaded to the project web site as a page of thumbnails linked to the original images.
• Students will then create a storyboard and upload it to their project web site. The storyboard visualizes the story that the final project will tell. (5 points)
• The first media project is a raster graphics project. The graphics project 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. (10 points)
• The second media project is a vector image/animation project. It may be a rotoscoped motion study of a character, or a technical animation that shows a process or product. (20 points)
• The third 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, with accurate scale. Lighting and texture maps should convey realism. Animation of your scene could include character animation, particle systems, or camera movements like fly-throughs. (20 points for modeling, texturing, and lighting; 10 points for animation)
• The fourth media project is an audio track. The audio track could include narration, sound effects and music to support your final project. (10 points)
• 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 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 second advertisement. (20 points)
• Project documentation is the "take-home exam" for the semester. You should build your web site throughout the semester. It should 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. (5 points)
In general you should think of all of this work as related and integrated, not only 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
1. Create 6 directories at
the top level of your account on the file server,
and name them: "storyboard", "raster", "vector", "3D",
"audio", and "final". These directories should contain your source files (such as .psd, .band, or .car files). 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. 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".
Project Proposal - (part of project documentation)
Students should focus on a topic of interest to them, that they are familiar with and can obtain resource/reference material for, and that can be presented in 30 - 60 seconds. Avoid being overly ambitious or, conversely, too vague. Most students are new to multimedia, but some propose projects it would take a studio of experienced developers months to create (numerous characters, multiple scenes, etc). Others make an amateur attempt to be humorous, but they are not script writers. The most successful projects start with a sober assessment of the requirements for the course, and an interesting topic that lends itself to visualization. Many proposals need some initial refinement in consultation with the instructor.
Avoid licensed characters, such as comic book superheroes, game characters, TV characters like Elmo, or Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, etc. One quick suggestion for inspiration: http://www.howstuffworks.com/
The proposal should be emailed to the course email account: cse334@cs.sunysb.edu, with "334 proposal" in the subject line. The proposal should follow this template.
Project Web Site - (part of project documentation)
The project web site should be developed incrementally, like an online journal of the project's development. The web site does not need to embellished with decorative graphics or animations, it merely needs to provide simple navigation and good content. You will use the "Sites" directory already in your account for your project documentation/web site.
The URL for your project web site should follow this form: 130.245.140.251/~yourIDnumber/ (eg. http://130.245.140.251/~123456789/) Please include an email link to you on the start page of your project web site.
Image Library - (part of project documentation)
Create a portfolio of at least 10 - 20 (mostly original) images that will support your projects. Pictures 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
Storyboard - 5 points
Prepare a visual storyboard with brief captions that outlines your final project.
Objectives:
1. Design an audiovisual narrative that will convey a clear message in 30 to 60 seconds.
2. Visualize the synergy of the various media elements.
Specifications:
1. Source file - Comic Life file (.comic)
2. Project file - .jpg file
3. Upload source file to "storyboard" directory
3. Upload .jpg to "Sites" directory, include in project website
Raster Graphics Project - 10 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 image.
Specifications:
1. Source file - multilayered .psd file, 800w X 600h (pixels), 24 bit, 72
dpi (these are the defaults!)
2. Upload to "raster" folder
3. Scale to 640 X 480, compress as .jpg (80%), and upload to project web site.
Vector Graphics Project - 20 points
Create an animated title for your final project, or a rotoscoped motion study, or a technical animation.
Objectives:
1. Demonstrate competence in converting raster images to vectors, and in manipulating vector images.
2. Show proficiency in tweening keyframe animation.
3. Make a visually compelling animation.
Specifications:
1. Source file - multilayered .fla file, 640w X 480h (pixels)
2. Upload to "vector" folder
3. Scale to 320 X 240, compress as .mov, appropriate compression codec (probably H.264, mpeg-4, or Sorenson), and upload to project web site.
4. Render as 640 X 480, .mov, no compression, for inclusion in your final project.
3D Modeling/Animation Project - 20 points for modeling, shading, and lighting; 10 points for animation
Take dimensional data and model a scene based on it. Texture map the object and light the scene to convey realism. Create believable movement based on motion studies.
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. Animate a realistic scene and render it.
Still image:
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) .car,
texture maps etc.
3. Image file - .png file, 640w X 480h (pixels)
4. Upload Carrara project to the "3D" folder
5. Upload the image file to your project web site
Test render:
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 your project web site.
2. Source file - Carrara file(s),
texture maps etc.
3. Project file - .mov file, 320w X 240h (pixels), approx. 15 seconds, 15 FPS, appropriate compression codec (probably H.264, mpeg-4, or Sorenson)
4. Upload .car file to "3D" folder
5. Upload .mov file to your project web site
Final render:
1. Render as 640 X 480, .mov, 15 FPS, no compression, for inclusion in your final project.
Examples >>
Audio Project - 10 points
The audio track could include narration, sound effects and music to support your final project.
Objectives:
1. Demonstrate competence in sampling, downsampling, and compression.
2. Show proficiency in editing, filtering, and mixing.
Specifications:
1. Source files - multitrack .band file(s), 44khz, 16 bit, stereo. (These are the defaults!) Maximum 30 seconds. Upload to "audio" directory.
2. Project file - stereo .aif file, 44khz, 16 bit. Incorporate into iMovie final project.
3. Compress to MP3 (QuickTime) and upload to project web site.
Final Project - 20 points
Combine elements of the preceding projects to create a linear, digital video presentation. You do not have to use all of your media project material, but the final project must incorporate graphics, audio, and animation.
Objectives:
1. Demonstrate competence in editing, and superimposition.
2. Show proficiency in synchronizing media.
3. Create a compelling clip.
Specifications:
1. Source file - multitrack iMovie file (at least 1 audio
and 1 video track)
2. Project file - multitrack .dv file, 720w X 480h (pixels), DV
compression. (These are the defaults!) Maximum 60 seconds.
3. Upload iMovie file to "final" folder
4. 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 - 5 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, and your storyboard. 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. Check links to files and folders within
your directory. The URL for your project web site should follow this form: 130.245.140.251/~yourIDnumber/ (eg. http://www2.mm.cs.sunysb.edu/~123456789/)
2. Publish to "Sites" directory in your account from iWeb.
Grading
The work for the course is expected to be developed iteratively, so grades posted when assignments are due are advisory grades, and can be improved upon with refinement in the final project.
The general criteria for grading all assignments is 40% for meeting assignment specifications, 40% for technical proficiency, and 20% for innovation. Late submissions will have points deducted. Projects with content that is offensive or defamatory will have points deducted. Plagiarized work will recieve no credit.
A grade of "I" (incomplete) for the semester is rarely given.
No assignments will be accepted after 5 pm on the last day of class for the semester.