UT Dallas Syllabus For Atec4370.501 06f Taught by (gch061000)

ATEC 4370 SECTION: 501
Course
Topics in Art and Technology: Special Effects
Professor Garman Herigstad
Term Fall 2006
Meetings Tuesday, 7:00pm - 9:45pm
Professor’s Contact Information

Office Phone To Be Announced
Other Phone none
Office Location 1.702
Email Address gch061000@utdallas.edu
Office Hours Tuesday / Thursday 5:30 - 6:45 PM
Other Information Procedural modeling and animation interface questions can be left at
"contact" at atec-4370-501.vizyacky.com.
All homework written documents must be turned in with the correct
document formatting in both PDF and hard copy.
Filenames must follow an exact naming convention and
homework without will not be accepted, even if you turn in
on time. All written and computer files must start with the
student UID and class number in the file name followed by
the assignment number, then the student's version. An
incorrect filename will not be considered.
General Course Information

Pre-requisites, Co- None
requisites, & other
restrictions
Course Description Introduction to Special Effects for computer generated visual effects for
live action feature films and commercials.
Overview of the various careers within a feature film visual effects
production, the number systems, common uses of math (algebra and
trigonometry).
Overview of the Linux shell usage and customization for 3D computer
graphics production and its advantages for a large feature film job
system. Introduce Linux scripting for the development of basic tools
for repetitive tasks such as renaming files and loops.
Introduction to the fundamentals of CG, the 2D and 3D object spaces,
how numbers are used, how geometry models are constructed,
transformations, rotations and deformations, methods of animation
and how final images are created. The fundamentals of procedural
working and problem solving for the creation of visual effects such
as massive variation geometry, explosions, natural effects.
Learning Outcomes 1. Describe the production work flow for the visual effects of a feature
length live-action film for 3D computer generated and 3D
composited effects and describe the specific jobs related to the 2D
and 3D visual effects components in this production workflow.
2. Define common Linux shell commands and demonstrate how to
move around a job system directory structure using only shell
commands and edit files, identify and create user environmental
Page 1 of 1
variables and aliases, create basic shell script commands and execute
them, create a basic hscript text script to create to externally modify
a hip file.
3. Describe the types of spaces used in computer graphics, the
differences between 2D and 3D computer graphics, the color layers
in 2D images. Describe the various space environments such as the
Cartesian coordinate system, UV coordinates, geometry attributes
and changes over time, the components of the obj, geo geometry
formats.
4. Identify and describe the geometry primitives of 3D geometry, the
methodologies of constructing 3D geometry models, the methods of
creating animation using key frames, expression, kinematics and data
referencing, the components required to render a 3D computer image
and how the rendered image layers are used in post production with
live action elements for the creation of visual effects.
5. Identify the places numbers in 3D and 3D computer graphics can be
accessed and manipulated.
6. Explain geometry attributes and how they are used to manipulate the
geometry point positions, color and other components, demonstrate
how to manipulate geometry attributes (position, color, alpha,
normal, velocity) over time.
7. Become comfortable with the procedural modeling interface, identify
and demonstrate basic techniques of polygon and NURBS modeling,
create and edit procedural networks, methods of common modeling
techniques with the addition of procedural controls for variation and
animation, create variables for fast manipulation of complex
procedural networks, read and write moving geometry for use with
other 3D software tools.
8. Create a setup for an effect such as exploding bricks or roof tiles,
animation of colors and shader parameters or "an imperfect factory"
object assembly shop.
9. Understand the foundation for creating complex natural effects such
as ocean swells, moving fields of grain and clouds.
10. Become comfortable with standard computer graphics terminology
for computer modeling techniques and with The procedural
modeling and animation interface's terminology for modeling.
Required Texts & The Magic of The procedural modeling and animation interface:
Materials ISBN:1598630822
The procedural modeling and animation interface 101: Interface and
Workflow: Gnomon Workshop
Suggested Texts, Links: vizyacky.com/dir_links/vizy_links.html
Readings, & Tutorials: tutorials.vizyacky.com (New and In Progress)
Materials Ops and Functions: opp.vizyacky.com (New and In Progress)
Assignments & Academic Calendar

[Topics, Reading Assignments, Due Dates, Exam Dates]
All assignments are due at the start of the following class unless otherwise
indicated. A PDF file must be created to describe which operators are used
and what functions are used. Naming conventions are mandatory and without
exception.
August 22 Class 01
Page 2 of 2
Lecture/Discussion 01: Introduction to Special Effects, the Linux operating
system, procedural modeling.
Introduction to the procedural modeling and animation interface, working in the
viewport and in the network editor, building a desktop, overview of
fundamental modeling tools. Finding operator, function, and variable help.
Demonstration of how to create procedural networks created with polygons.
Overview of polygon tools. for creation of points, lines, curves, polygons,
patches and NURBS, procedural approach to non-static modeling.
Keeping notes for now and the future.
Reading Assignment 01A: Houdini Help: Surface Operators, Grid SOP, Color
SOP, Sphere SOP, Line SOP, Merge SOP, Copy SOP, Edit SOP, Transform
SOP.
Reading Assignment 01B: Gnomon DVD Chapters 1-3
Reading Assignment 01C: Cunningham Chapters
Work-Session: Common Linux usage, intro to The procedural modeling and
animation interface, intro to procedural modeling
Assignment 01A: Storyboard for two ideas with one paragraph written
description of the effect.
Assignment 01B: Creation of a model using the following surface operators.
Grid SOP, Color SOP, Sphere SOP, Line SOP, Merge SOP, Copy SOP, Edit
SOP, Transform SOP. Provide one rendered jpg frame, the hip file and the
written description.
Assignment 01C: Purchase a notebook with a bound edge and number the pages
and create a table of contents.
August 29 Class 02
Lecture/Discussion 02: Create basic shell script command and execute them.
The 2D and 3D geometry space. Variables and math functions to manipulate
the geometry attributes.
Reading Assignment 02A: Houdini Help: Expression Cookbook.
Work-Session: Review notebooks. Review storyboard ideas in class. Discuss
the feasibility of the projects & suggestions. Working on the demonstrated
examples.
Assignment 02A: Revised storyboard with a work breakdown.
Assignment 02B: Create a model using these the point SOP to modify the
position and color attributes using position and bounding variables. Provide
one rendered jpg frame, the hip file and the written description.
September 05 Class 03
Lecture/Discussion 03: Introduction to noise functions for modeling and
demonstration of how noise is created and used in visual effects. Introduction
to the Primitive SOP.
Reading Assignment 03A: Houdini Help: Noise functions.
Work-Session: Review the revised storyboards. Working on the demonstrated
examples.
Assignment 03A: Modify geometry using noise to effect the geometry position
and color attributes over time. Use noise with both the Point SOP and
Primitive SOP. Provide one rendered jpg frame, the hip file and the written
description.
Assignment 03B: My favorite effects Movie and why (1-page), plus Director,
VFX Supervisor, All Visual Effects Companies.
Lecture/Discussion 04: Demonstration of NURBS modeling tools. Modify
position using the normal
Page 3 of 3
Reading Assignment 04A: Houdini Help:
Reading Assignment 04B: Gnomon DVD Chapter 10
Work-Session: Working on the demonstrated examples.
Assignment 04A: Modify the using noise to effect the geometry position by
using the geometry's normal attribute. Render three-second animation.
Provide movie file, the hip file and the written description.
Assignment 04B: Final Project Ideas, storyboard, written description and
breakdown.
Lecture/Discussion 05: Demonstration of intermediate complex procedural
networks created with parameter and attribute animation. Demonstration of
the lookup-table concept.
Reading Assignment 05B: Cunningham Chapters
Work-Session: Approval of Final Project Ideas. Working on the demonstrated
examples.
Assignment 05A: Create and modify geometry based on the lookup table
concept. Render three-second animation. Provide movie file, the hip file
and the written description.
Assignment 05B: Last Submission of Final Project Ideas.
Lecture/Discussion 06: Methods of creating animation and variation in
geometry.
Work-Session: Working on the demonstrated examples.
Assignment 06: Create an animated procedural network " imperfect factory"
object assembly shop from a list of provided examples. Write out one bgeo
file, one rendered jpg file, the hip file and the written description.
October 03 Class 07
Lecture/Discussion 07: Demonstration of the foundations for creating complex
effects such as ocean swells
Work-Session: Working on the demonstrated examples and in class work on
student final project.
Assignment 07A: Create an animated ocean with the floating object from
assignment 06. Render three-second animation. Provide movie file, the hip
file and the written description.
October 10 Class 08
Midterm Exam: Analysis of an effects setup.
Lecture/Discussion 08: Approval of Final Project Ideas. Demonstration of the
foundations for creating complex effects with massive amounts of geometry
variation.
Assignment 08: None
October 17 Class 09
Lecture/Discussion 09: Description of the 2D and 3D spaces used in computer
graphics, components of 2D image layers, uses for various image formats,
differences between 2D and 3D, overview of essential terminology for
computer graphics.
Page 4 of 4
Assignment 09: None
October 24 Class 10
Lecture/Discussion 10: Lecture and Lab: Steps to modify user login
environmental variable and compare a default login settings with those created
when using a shell based job system.
Create the text based scripts and tools with headers for csh, bash. Create tools to
manipulate text inside files, rename files and produce files with padded and
unpadded numbers. output and input data from that program into the directory
structure using environmental variables.
Work-Session: In class work on Final Project.
Assignment 10A: Final Project progress hip file.
Assignment 10A: Final Project written progress report (pdf).
October 31 Class 11
Lecture/Discussion 11: Elements required for 3D rendering, how images are
rendered and how image layers are used in visual effects post production.
Examination.
Assignment 11: None
November 07 Class 12
Lecture/Discussion 12: Lecture: Production workflow, specific jobs, the jargon
of production, careers paths within this production flow, resources for
information about production.
Assignment 12: None
Lecture/Discussion 13: Identify and create user environmental variables and
aliases. Overview of an example directory structure used in a large feature
film visual effects company. Learn to navigate, store and retrieve data using
commands, aliases and environmental variables.
Work-Session: Final Projects All Due.
Presentations of Final Project Group A.
Assignment 13: No assignments..
Lecture/Discussion 14: Demonstration on how to read and write moving
geometry for use with other software packages.
Work-Session: Presentations of Final Project Group B.
Assignment 14: No assignments.
Final Exam
Presentation of Final Project
Page 5 of 5
Course Policies
Grading (credit) A: 91-100 Excellent
Criteria B: 81-90 Above Average
C: 71-80 Average
D: 1-70 Poor
F: 00-60 Failing
Assignments 35% All Assignments will be graded. And all project based assignments must be
accompanied by a written description. The following is a breakdown for each
assignment and the strict naming convention the files must observe. The version
number is at the discretion of the student.
These filename use the example NetID xyz099000. Replace your own NetID, then
the rest of the name of the assignment should be exactly as shown, except the
version number can be your won choice.
5%: Assignment 01A Storyboard Idea

xyz099000_4370501_asg01a_v01.pdf
2% Assignment 01B Model: Basic
xyz099000_4370501_asg01b_v01.hip
xyz099000_4370501_asg01b_v01.pdf
2% Assignment 01C Notebook and Prep
visual inspection
2% Assignment 02A Storyboard Revised Idea
xyz099000_4370501_asg02a_v01.pdf
2% Assignment 02B Model: Point SOP
xyz099000_4370501_asg02b_v01.hip
xyz099000_4370501_asg02b_v01.pdf
2% Assignment 03A Model: Noise
xyz099000_4370501_asg03a_v01.geo
2% Assignment 03B Visual Effects Movie Paper.
xyz099000_4370501_asg03b_v01.pdf
2% Assignment 04A Model: Modify the Normal
xyz099000_4370501_asg04a_v01.hip
xyz099000_4370501_asg04a_v01.pdf
xyz099000_4370501_asg04a_v01.mov
2% Assignment 04B Final Project Ideas
xyz099000_4370501_asg04b_v01.pdf
2% Assignment 05A Model: Modify the Normal
xyz099000_4370501_asg05a_v01.hip
xyz099000_4370501_asg05a_v01.pdf
xyz099000_4370501_asg05a_v01.mov
2% Assignment 05B Final Project Ideas (Final Submission)
xyz099000_4370501_asg05b_v01.pdf
3% Assignment 06 Model: Imperfect Factory
xyz099000_4370501_asg06_v01.hip
xyz099000_4370501_asg06_v01.pdf
xyz099000_4370501_asg06_v01.geo
xyz099000_4370501_asg06_v01.jpg
3% Assignment 07 Model: Natural Effect
xyz099000_4370501_asg07_v01.hip
xyz099000_4370501_asg07_v01.pdf
xyz099000_4370501_asg07_v01.geo
xyz099000_4370501_asg07_v01.mov
Assignment 08: None
Assignment 09: None
2% Assignment 10A Final Project Progress File
xyz099000_4370501_asg10a_v01.hip
2% Assignment 10B Final Project Progress Report
xyz099000_4370501_asg10b_v01.pdf
Assignment 11: None
Assignment 12: None
Page 6 of 6
Assignment 13: None
Assignment 14: None
Quizzes 10%
Midterm Exam 05% Analysis of an effects setup.
Final Project Final Project 30%
Final Project File
xyz099000_4370501_final_v01.hip
Final Project Report
xyz099000_4370501_final_v01.pdf
Final Project Animation
xyz099000_4370501_final_v01.mov
Final Exam 10%
Make-up Exams There will be no makeup exams.
Classroom 10% The ability to communicate, be helpful, and demonstrate good working manners
Citizenship are critical to success.
Extra Credit 02% Extra Credit for analysis of a provided procedural modeling and animation
interface file.
Late Work 50% off the grade given per day late. (If you scored 100%, then 1-day late would be
50%, two days late would be 50% of that = 25%, then 12.5% and 6.25%)
Class Attendance Attendance is mandatory. Lack of attendance will affect your grade because absences
will not only lave holes in understanding of the lesson contents, but also degrade the
benefit to other students in regard to discussions and work sessions. Coming to class
late or leaving early will also be counted as absences without prior approval from the
instructor. Excessive absences can result in grade penalty or even failure of the
course. Three unexcused absences will result in an adjustment in the final grade
down by one level (ex. 'A" down to a 'B').
Field Trip There will be no field trips in this class.
Policies
Student Conduct The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and
and Discipline regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the
responsibility of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable
about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General
information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A
to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic year.
The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the

procedures of recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and
described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas
System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these
rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students,
where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).
A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of
citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the
Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject
to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place
on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such
conduct.
Academic The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic
Integrity honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute
integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student
demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.
Page 7 of 7
Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions
related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission
as one’s own work or material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic
dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or
falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject
to disciplinary proceedings.
Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and
from any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s
policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course will use the
resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over
90% effective.
Email Use The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of
communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the
same time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each
individual in an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email
correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty
and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a UTD
student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in
the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted
information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used
in all communication with university personnel. The Department of Information
Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas
mail forwarded to other accounts.
Withdrawal from The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-
Class level courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog.
Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to
handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or
withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not
receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you
are enrolled.
Student Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Grievance Activities, of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.
Procedures
In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other
fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make
a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or
committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”).
Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and
evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be
submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent’s School Dean.
If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, the
student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not
resolved by the School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the
Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene
an Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final.
The results of the academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.
Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the
Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting
the rules and regulations.
Incomplete As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work
Page 8 of 8
Grades unavoidably missed at the semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has
been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from
the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the
course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline,
the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.
Disability The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational
Services opportunities equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located
in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30
a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30
a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)
Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable
adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For
example, it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders
or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an
assignment requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an
oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students
with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The
college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-
taking, or mobility assistance.
It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an
accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to
faculty members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations.
Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class
or during office hours.
Religious Holy The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required
Days activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose
places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code,
Texas Code Annotated.
The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as

possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student,
so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a
reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a
maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any
missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails
to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a
failing grade for that exam or assignment.
If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the
purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about
whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed
assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling
from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief
executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC
51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief
Page 9 of 9
executive officer or designee.
Off-Campus Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law
Instruction and and University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities.
Course Activities Information regarding these rules and regulations may be found at
http://www.utdallas.edu/BusinessAffairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm.
Additional information is available from the office of the school dean.
These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.
Page 10 of 10

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ATEC 4370 SECTION: 501

Professor’s Contact Information

General Course Information

Assignments & Academic Calendar

5%: Assignment 01A Storyboard Idea

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the

The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as

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