Nikki Dunsire

(MA362) Advanced Lighting & Texturing I

About the Course

This course familiarized students with the advanced features and processes of texturing, lighting and rendering in a high-end 3D environment. Emphasis was on critical thinking and evaluation to the development of highly photorealistic and stylized computer graphic imagery. Topics included the use of shaders, materials, UV layout, atmosphere, lighting, camera control and rendering optimization.

This course focused on utilizing render nodes in complex shading networks to achieve stylized and photorealistic outputs, while being render-time conscience and using render nodes to simulate often render heavy and complex visual effects and animation.

Basic knowledge of particles and MEL scripting was a recommendation but not a requirement.

​

Students had the option to focus on one of the three: characters, environments, or product advertisement.

Objectives:

• Develop critical ideas for surface treatment and lighting.

• Demonstrate the layering of light in space to create mood, emotion, and theme.

• Become familiar with advanced principles of texture, lighting, and rendering.

• Explore the capabilities of complex shading networks for time sensitive projects.

Software used: Maya, Arnold, Mental Ray, vRay, Keyshot, Photoshop, Quixel

Credits: 3 | 1 Quarter

Student Examples: The below projects represent exemplary work for this course and point of progression in the program. For student privacy, artist names are withheld. If you'd like the name of a project author, feel free to reach out and I would be happy to try to pass along your contact information to the former student. Responding will be at the discretion of the graduate.