Digital Arts - MArt

This undergraduate module introduces the practical techniques for creating interactive visual display using Processing, a Java-based IDE. We will also develop interesting tangible interfaces using Arduino IDE, with a range of sensors and actuators. Students will learn to manipulate images, create realistic motions, use motion sensing and speech recognition, in a series of lectures and workshops.

The module provides an introduction to the basic knowledge required to understand, design and write computer programs and the basic principles underlying the process of Software Engineering. No previous programming experience is assumed and the module proceeds via a sequence of lectures supported by simple exercises designed to give practical experience of the concepts introduced in the lectures.

This module is concerned with the techniques and technology required to build web sites using HTML to define page structure and CSS to define page style. Topics include HTML, CSS, web design basics, web graphics, adding media, tables and forms. The module also looks at developing interactivity with JavaScript..

This module provides an introduction to visual culture, an interdisciplinary field of studies that integrates historical knowledge, critical thinking and reflection on visual images, their context of production and consumption. Examples of traditional and modern artefacts from the fields of art history, graphic design and digital media will be investigated using appropriate visual methodologies.

This module introduces you to the theory and practice of digital photography and photographic effects, particularly photo-montage. The theory is followed by practicals and workshops. Having learnt the basics you will then produce a portfolio of digital photographs and a poster (photo-montage).

This is a practical module which covers the steps for integrating computer-generated elements within a photographic back-plate. Each workshop includes hands-on training in visual effects and compositing software. The module covers 3D modelling, texturing and animation as well as digital camera and lighting techniques. The module introduces the basic visual effects production pipeline using the appropriate industry-standard software.

This practice-based module introduces key principles of graphic design for the digital platform. Practical work in the workshop is underpinned by tutorial lectures. Students will learn to conceptualise design problems and produce work using industry-standard software tools. Indicative topics include composition, use of colour and typography, placement of elements on screen, branding and poster and creative CV design.

This module is an introduction to digital film-making. Students learn the creative and technical skills in making a short film, whilst working as a member of a production team.

This module introduces the basic animation pipeline using industry-standard software packages.

Each technical workshop session includes hands-on training in visual effects and compositing software.

Practical sessions cover 3D modelling, texturing, lighting and animation.

This module introduces the techniques required to design and develop interactive on-line portfolios, using HTML5/CSS/JavaScript, and the software tools which support their implementation. There is extensive practical work supporting the development of the on-line portfolio. Topics include: information architecture, responsive design, web accessibility, web frameworks and website usability testing.

This module introduces you to key aspects of media production building on the conceptual and critical skill you developed in the first year (photo/video editing, media analysis, programming). To achieve this, you will develop and produce artworks, learn to work with media ecologies and apply creative thinking.

The module is concerned with undertaking a substantial digital media project against time and resource constraints. Topics include: intellectual property rights, privacy, data protection, research methods, project planning and management, working in teams. This module prepares students for the demands of the final year project.

The final year project is a substantial piece of work based on students' own personal interests. This may be developing an interactive visual experience, creating a 3D animation, producing a motion graphic, or developing a mobile or web application. The project is a largely independent piece of work, with guidance from an academic supervisor

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This module introduces the tools and techniques for the integration of live video footage and computer-generated elements so that students will become familiar with what is involved in visual effects film production. Weekly module workshops introduce relevant industry-standard applications, and the techniques necessary for production, resulting in a practical understanding of the entire process.

The main strand of the lecture material will establish the foundations of organisational behaviour in the context of the historical development of ideas and theory. The theories will be related to practical examples and thence students will be introduced to modern experience, practice and scholarship. Once the information of the foundation of organisational behaviour is established, at the next level, contemporary topics of management will be touched upon briefly. This will provide students with basic knowledge related to modern management practices. The content of the module will, therefore, be based on the following topics:

• Scientific Management

• Human Relations School

• Bureaucracy

• Post Bureaucratic Organizations

• Contingency Approach

• Group and teams

• Motivation

• Power and authority

• Managing diversity

This module is designed to provide students across the university with access to knowledge, skill development and training in the field of entrepreneurship with a special emphasis on developing a business plan in order to exploit identified opportunities. Hence, the module will be of value for students who aspire to establishing their own business and/or introducing innovation through new product, service, process, project or business development in an established organisation. The module complements students' final year projects in Computing, Law, Biosciences, Electronics, Multimedia, and Drama etc.

The curriculum is based on the business model canvas and lean start up principles (Osterwalder and Pigneur 2010) on designing a business plan for starting a new venture or introducing innovation in an established organisation.

Each student uses all the experience gained on the course to produce a digital short in high definition which showcases his or her professional skills in CGI and forms a suitable entree to a professional career.

The subject, script, models and soundtrack of the piece are agreed with the academic staff.

Studio Classes:

Introduction to Modelling,Animation,Lighting, Rendering, Compositing.

Coursework:

Integrated project inclusive of outcomes

Workshops:

Step by step instruction on tackling the problems.

Coursework

1. Production of a character design portfolio illustrating adaptation to various professional briefs, backed up by life drawing sessions.

2. Intensive research into surface anatomy and detail for the modelling project.

3. Production of a clean, animateable, basic 3D model with an even structure of vertices, quadratic face surfaces and form reflecting edge loops.

4. Production of image displacement, bump and normal maps in a sculpting programme using paint and sculpt tools and upon the previous model.

5. Application, rendering and final compositing of all maps upon the model resulting in a professional turntable render to create a final high resolution film.

This module is a group project which allows the student to work on a model of an actual animation job provided by our industrial partner. Each group produces an animation from established plates and models to a 4 week deadline. The student works with a model of a production pipeline, becoming familiar with the production process, chains of approval and departmental divisions.

Particle dynamics

Particle tool and particle emitters, cycle emission, volume emitters, force fields, lifespan, constraints, adding springs, soft-body dynamics, active and passive rigid bodies, setting static and dynamic friction, damping, mass, bounciness, caching, rendering in software hardware and Mentalray.

Fluid Effects

2d and 3d fluid containers, emitting fluids from objects and curves, colliding

fluids with objects, explosions, creating atmospheric systems, realistic fire, explosion and smoke effects, interacting fluids with particles, combustible fluids.

nCloth

nParticle, nConstraint, nSolver, cloth collision, collision layer, wind and gravity, nCache.

Coursework

Students are required to assemble a portfolio contains various dynamic instances created, simulated and rendered using Maya tools.

Assessed.

Overall techniques and methodology, modern solution to the problems, examples from productions.

Analysing and creating action - examples of extracting key and timing information from live action.

Biped locomotion 1 - walks and runs. Basic mechanics laid out, walks and runs analysed and discussed.

Biped locomotion 2 - sneaks, scrambles, stairs, climbs, trips, falls, collapses, halts, moving holds.

Quadruped locomotion 1 - walks, trots, runs or gallops.

Quadruped locomotion 2 - scrambles, turns, stumbles, falls, halts, moving holds.

Avian locomotion - flight, flaps, glides, take-offs, landing, falls, walks on ground.

Using clips in the Trax Editor, creating transitions.

Using path animation with cycles.

Creating crowd and herd shots - composition, hero animation, collisions and customisation. Detailed examples with multiple working versions.

Observation and invention. Analysis of a major piece of animation character acting and its sources.

Theory and practice of acting. Acting theories and examples of practical methods.

Film acting - silent and dialogue - analysis of advice and tips from the world's best film actors and directors.

Schools of animated movement matched to acting performance.

Uses of character animation and motion capture techniques. Analysis of animation scripts and special effects uses.

Dynamics and problems of two-character interaction in 3D animation.

Advanced facial animation in Maya.

Animating to dialogue.

Analysis of highest achievements in character animation.

Texturing & Lighting:

The physics of lighting,

Computer lighting models,

Surface shading fundamentals,

Texture,

UV mapping,

Photo realistic texture painting.

Advanced lighting techniques: light shaders, shadow generation, global illumination.

Rendering:

Software, hardware and mental ray rendering,

Rendering with Render Man.

Mattes:

difference keys, luma keys, chroma keys, garbage mattes.

2D and 3D Tracking:

techniques to track elements from a live action background plate

Video compositing:

blending modes, motion attributes, rotoscoping, using alpha channels.

Workshops around tasks pertinent to producing high quality film pieces.

Introduction to basic methods and considerations for animators

Basic figure drawing for animation.

Basic human anatomy for animation.

Comparative anatomy for animation.

Coursework:

Portfolio:

An assessed portfolio of artwork created over a series of practical assignments in Workshops and Studio Classes, including drawings, sculpture, 2D and 3D sequences.