3D LIGHT AND COLOR

Content

Weeks	Topics
1. Weeks	Week 1: Introduction to Fundamental Concepts Topic: Concepts of light, color, and rendering in 3D. Overview of the Maya interface and basic use of the Arnold render engine. Application: Create a simple geometric object (cube, sphere) and render it with basic lighting in Arnold.
2. Weeks	Week 2: Fundamentals of Textures and Shaders Topic: What is a texture? Different types of textures (color, normal, roughness, etc.). Basic parameters of Arnold shaders (AiStandardSurface). Application: Apply a ready-made texture file (e.g., a brick wall) to a given object and examine the effects of different shader parameters.
3. Weeks	Week 3: Fundamentals of UV Mapping Topic: The importance of UV mapping. Introduction to the Maya UV Editor, automatic UVs, and planar, cylindrical, and spherical projections. Application: Students prepare a simple object of their choice (e.g., a glass or bottle) for texturing using UV mapping techniques.
4. Weeks	Week 4: Advanced UV and Introduction to Retopology Topic: Tools for cutting, sewing, and arranging UVs. Organizing UV shells. Application: Properly unwrap and arrange the UVs of a more complex object (e.g., a toy car) to apply a texture.
5. Weeks	Week 5: Understanding Surface Textures of Objects Topic: Examining the properties of different surface types (metal, glass, wood, plastic) in Arnold. Roughness, specularity, and transmissive properties. Application: Create different material shaders (plastic, metal, glass) for a given model, render them, and observe the differences.
6. Weeks	Week 6: Reflection & Refraction Topic: The logic of PBR (Physically Based Rendering). Principles of how surfaces reflect and refract light. Reflection and refraction settings in Arnold. Application: Render a water drop or crystal object model by adjusting its reflection and refraction properties.
7. Weeks	Week 7: Midterm Assignment Topic: The midterm assignment will be explained. This will be an object modeling assignment that requires students to combine all the topics they have learned so far. Application: Work on a sample object model (e.g., a coffee maker) together to make final preparations before the midterm.
8. Weeks	Week 8: Project Fundamentals and Concept Development Topic: The post-midterm project assignment will be explained. Creating a concept or story for the project. Application: Students will determine their project topics and begin working on story outlines or concept visuals.
9. Weeks	Week 9: Character, Vehicle, and Environment Lighting Topic: Three-point lighting technique. Use of key light, fill light, and rim light. Application: Experiment with different lighting scenarios by applying three-point lighting to a simple character model.
10. Weeks	Week 10: Advanced Lighting Techniques Topic: Types of lights (Point, Spot, Area, Directional). Use of HDRI (High Dynamic Range Image) and the importance of Environment lights. Application: Create realistic lighting for project models using HDRI.
11. Weeks	Week 11: Conveying Emotion with Light and Color Topic: How light and color affect the atmosphere and emotion of a scene. Warm/cool color palettes. Application: Use the project models to create an emotional impact with different color and light settings (e.g., day vs. night).
12. Weeks	Week 12: Render Settings and Optimization Topic: Sampling and Ray Depth settings in Arnold. Methods to optimize render time. Application: Students optimize the render settings for their own projects and take quick preview renders.
13. Weeks	Week 13: Render Layers (AOV) Topic: What are AOV (Arbitrary Output Variables) and why are they used? Exporting render layers and preparing for post-production (in After Effects or Photoshop). Application: Create separate layers for project renders using AOVs.
14. Weeks	Week 14: Project Presentation and Final Preparation Topic: Students finalize their projects and prepare for the presentation. Feedback and final touches. Application: Take the final renders of the projects and get them ready for class.