An Investigation into Cartoon Fur
When being set a project which aims to push you to test ideas you have or try and solve problems that you have come across, there is a decision to be made. Do I start by looking at this project as an entity of its own or do I look to link this to an already on going project. I decided to look at the latter of these two options, linking this project with a comical piece of work I am producing for my major project.
The Simulation of the Aging Process and Implementing Wrinkles in Computer Animation
This report discusses the physical process of aging, including the structure of the skin and wrinkle formation. Research into different approaches using the aging process in computer graphics is documented. The report proposes a tool designed for Maya using MEL scripting that allows a user to apply wrinkles or other textures, as layered bump maps, to selected faces. Further applications and future ideas are also discussed.
Innovations
This report discusses the role of animation in education. It looks at how the human mind learns, subdividing learning into two major components: ~ UNDERSTANDING and MEMORY. It addresses the issue as to whether animation can improve both components for individuals of all learning categories: visual, auditory and kinaesthetic.
Representing Breaking Waves in Computer Graphics
The animation and control over fluid simulation is an intricate and testing application of computer graphics. In this report we study the propagation and dynamics of water waves, and look at examples of how waves have been represented in computer graphics in the past. We take ideas outlined in recent papers and develop a tool of our own that generates a representation of a breaking wave surface in Maya.
The Development of a 2D Animation System Within Maya
The report focuses on the study of the techniques used to combine 2D and 3D elements in animated film. The report then goes onto describe how these methods can be applied in the research and development of a 2D animation system that can be implemented in the 3D environment of Maya.
Music-Driven Flocking-System
This report outlines the design and implementation of a Music driven Flocking System. Section 1 introduces the initial aims of the project including what is intended to be the final product of the project. It also looks at what challenges are foreseen. Section 2 documents research on Flocking and Music Analysis. It investigates why flocking occurs in nature and how it is simulated in computer graphics. The Music Analysis research also looks at a plugin for Maya created by Andrew Mitchell that performs music analysis. Section 3 presents solutions for the challenges that were foreseen, and also gives a comprehensive description of how they were implemented in Maya to make the MusicDriven Flocking System. Section 4 concludes the report, giving a summary and a critical analysis of the project. Future work is also outlined.
Test Project
This is a test
Innovations
Behavioural systems are amazing ways of representing flocks of animals or simply one animal’s behaviour. This project aims to create a different behavioural system to the ones existing by attempting to mimic the behaviour of dogs and bouncing balls. The report will explain briefly the research into the behaviour of dogs. It will also cover important aspects of a behavioural system such as the state engine, field of view, and collision detection. The system has been written in MEL for use in Maya and the report will also explain the use of expressions in the system.