Nikki Dunsire

An overview of the games industry, theory, history and practices.

Proficiencies in organic modeling and sculpting within a digital environment (ZBrush).

Proficiencies in the advanced features and processes of texturing, lighting and rendering with Maya, Photoshop, Headus UVLayout and After Effects. Expanding upon the techniques used in Advanced Lighting & Texturing I by emphasizing Mental Ray nodes, Arnold, light rigs, advanced rendering setups and compositing for animated scenes.

Proficiencies in the advanced features and processes of 3D texturing, lighting and rendering with Maya, Photoshop and Headus UVLayout. Course emphasis on utilizing hypershade nodes in complex shading networks in conjunction with render layers and compositing to achieve stylized and photorealistic imagery while being render-time conscience.

Character rigging basics. Exploring techniques, tools, and elements of simple embedded programming: Emphasis on hierarchies, structure, weight painting, GUI elements and functionality.

Refinement and completion of portfolio projects related to major area of focus.

Fundamentals of Maya’s particle and dynamic systems to create effects for compositing.

Fundamentals of modeling, lighting, texturing and animation in Maya. Course emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving.

Students learned concepts and skills related to modeling, texturing, Lighting and rendering in the 3DS Max.

Students worked collaboratively to produce production materials for an original game.

Foundation Portfolio (MA377) - Prepared second year students for their first portfolio review and introduced them to the post-graduate environment including contract and estimate writing. Course emphasis on a first pass round of branding & identity, and website creation to set a foundation going into Digital Portfolio. Digital Portfolio (MA427) - Prepared graduating students for their portfolio show and the post-graduate environment. Course emphasis on branding & identity, website creation and generating project estimates.

Fundamentals of technical direction pertaining specifically to lighting, texturing, rendering, compositing and VFX. Course emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving.

Fundamentals of compositing in NUKE. Course emphasis on tracking, keying, rotoscoping, critical thinking and problem solving.

Fundamentals of Maya’s fluid containers in conjunction with advanced shading networks, ocean systems and light MEL scripting in preparation for compositing final shots.

Fundamentals of modeling, lighting, texturing and animation in Maya as it pertains to the development of a short film.

An exploration of expanded software packages commonly used in the industry for lighting and texturing techniques.

A practical introduction to the functionality of Photoshop and its uses within media arts.

Students worked collaboratively to produce production materials for an original short film

This course prepared graduating students for their portfolio show and the post-graduate environment. The focus was on the fundamentals of building websites using Dreamweaver, Photoshop and HTML. Course emphasis on branding & identity, website creation and generating project estimates.

An overview of the visual effects industry with an emphasis on modern and traditional techniques in their historical context.

Varied projects with instructor oversight.