Ticket Booth

assign new material>blinn>image

reflection
This exercise was not difficult to do, other than part where I had to change the texture. I left that step out since I could not do it. 

Week 5 Lab 1 - 2.7D MM_Track Materials

reflection

This exercise was easier to do compared to the washboard shading. The color of the track turned out to different from what it was supposed to have been, though.

Week 5 Lab 1 - 2.7E MM_Washboard Materials

reflection

Through this exercise, I learnt how to apply colors to objects. This exercise was difficult to do, with many instructions to follow. 

PART ONE: Weblog journal entries

1. Story

The rat was racing around a track in a mousetrap car when it almost lost control due to the warping of the track. Seeing this, the race organizers got a stapler and stapled down the uneven parts of the track. The mouse was then able to continue the race and completed it smoothly.

2. Shape

The object does not appear to be difficult to model. It has a straightforward lever system, and consists of key primitive parts such as the arm, base, anvil and carriage. The surface area of the object is generally smooth, while the edges of the base are bevelled. The other edges of the object are smoother.

The object must first be broken down into its simplest primitive forms to be able to be modelled. Polygon shapes such as the cube and cylinder will be used to model the object.

For the arm of the stapler, the scale tool, edge loop tool and edge tool and bevel tool can be used to adjust the size and create the curve from a polygon rectangle. The faces of the shape can be changed from hard edge to soft edge.

The base of the stapler consists of the anvil. Create the base using a polygon rectangle. For the anvil, use the edge loop tool to select the faces on the base which are needed to create the anvil and use the detach component. With the detached component, use the edge loop tool to select the faces that need to be extruded. This will require the extrude tool. Use bevel tool to bevel the extruded sides and split polygon tool. The extrude tool will also be needed for the bottom of the base.

To create the carriage, use the scale tool, edge loop tool, extrude tool, bevel tool and boolean difference feature. A rectangle polygon can be used to create the carriage. Use the scale tool to scale the shape to the size of the carriage before making use of other polygon shapes like the cylinder to boolean difference the minor details on the carriage.

A lot of attention needs to be given to the way the carriage slips under the arm, and the way the lever is styled to make the model appear nicer.

3. Design

photographic image: side view

photographic image: top view

photographic image: back view

photographic image: perspective view

wireframe image: side view

wireframe image: top view

wireframe image: bottom view


4. Research

Modeling a Stapler in Maya (part 1 of 3)

Modeling a Stapler in Maya (part 2 of 3)

Modeling a Stapler in Maya (part 3 of 3)

The video demonstrates how to model a basic stapler and provides a guide as to how I can model my object. 

The video uses the scale tool to adjust the size of the arm and the edge loop tool is used to select the faces of the shape to be curved. This similar to the way in which I will be modelling the arm. Tools such as the scale tool and extrude tool used in the video, will also be what I will use to model the object. The anvil of the stapler is also modeled very similarly as to how I plan to do it. I learnt from the video a way to model the top of the object. First by creating the shape that is needed for the top of the model, and then using the boolean difference feature. 

Three-dimensional space (3D)

Three-dimensional space (3D) refers to the geometric 3-parameters model which are widely known as length, width, and depth (or height). They are part of the physical universe, excluding time. Any three directions can be chosen, as long as they do not lie in the same plane.

3D gives an illusion that something has got depth or varying distances. A 2D image or picture can be enhanced through stereoscopic means to appear 3D.

3D

Week 4 Lab 2 - E-learning

Does multi-tasking give you a real or false sense of having accomplished something?

There are different scenarios for multi-tasking. In this situation, students are multi-tasking by going from text-messaging to the lecture, to Facebook, to note-taking, and back again. This will give me a false sense of having accomplished something. Multi-tasking, in this case, breaks a students' concentration. While messaging and using Facebook are discreet activities that can be completed in minutes, lectures are long running. This requires them to follow through the points made by the lecturer, and they get disrupted when they try to multi-task. The student will then 'walk away from the class feeling buzzed and alert, with a sense that he has absorbed much more of the lesson than he actually has.'

Is learning 3D and design different from learning programming, or is all learning the same?Why?

Learning 3D and design is different from learning programming. In the process of learning 3D and design, you come up with a design that some people might like, and some might not. There is an element of subjectivity. It also involves exploring, being innovative and creative. Learning programming, on the other hand, requires one to be systematic and meticulous. It involves thinking step by step. Also, in learning 3D and design, the boundaries are not as clear cut as compared to learning programming. 

The article states that “Learning is actually a very complex operation for an individual”. Do you agree with this? Do you feel that you approach your learning in the best way – if yes, how, and if no, how can you change your work style?

Learning is actually a very complex operation for an individual. My approach to learning, while being what i am most comfortable with, might not be what helps me to learn best. I learn by listening to the lecturer and taking down notes, then refer to these notes when doing my projects. This might not be the best approach to learning. This is because by doing projects, I realise that practice is different from theory, and i might not understand some of the notes that I have taken down. This work style could be improved by making sure that I understand what I have been taking down and ask when I do not. 

What are your thoughts about the last paragraph in the extract?

Communication is important. From presenting an idea to a client, to working with your team members, communication is needed everywhere. There are people with brilliant ideas who come up with great work. However, they often find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to presenting their ideas. This is because they have difficulties in articulating their thoughts. When it comes to working with your team members, communications is also vital in getting the work done. Team members must be able to interact with one another so as to ensure that the job is done efficiently. 

Should your lecturers also focus on your work attitude, or just leave you to sink or swim on your own? Why?

Lecturers should leave students to sink or swim on their own. Students who are keen in their schoolwork will take the initiative to approach their lecturers for help. As for those who are uninterested, little can be done to change their attitude towards their schoolwork at this stage. This way, lecturers can then focus their attention on those who want to learn.

Reflection

Reading this article has made me realize that by multi-tasking, I am wasting a lot of time. Whenever I multi-task, I do not learn as much as I feel like I have. I will prevent myself from doing several tasks at once, the next time I attend lecture or am having lessons.

Week 3 Lab 2- Washboard Modelling

create a polygonal cube and set it to the given parameters

hold the right-click menu and choose edge, select the interior on the top of the box

in the hotbox choose edit mesh>bevel and change the settings

hold the right-click menu and choose face, select the faces formed by the bevel on the top of the box, hotbox choose edit mesh>extrude and edit>reset settings, move the manipulator up a short distance on the Z axis

hold the right-click menu and choose edge, select the faces formed by the bevel on the top of the box, in the hotbox choose edit mesh>bevel, edit>reset settings, apply the given settings

object mode

create a polygonal cube (change it to the given parameters, subdivisions and translate X, Y, Z), create another polygonal cube (change it to the given parameters, subdivisions and translate X, Y, Z)  

choose modify>align tool, align the panel to selection

create a new polygonal cube, choose inputs>polycube5 and change the parameters and subdivisions,  align the glass along  the length and height of the top stringer, rename pCube1 to leg_left

object mode

align the left leg, duplicate it and align it to the other side of the washboard

duplicate the top stringer, move it to the other end of the glass  along the X axis, rename it bottom_stringer, set translate X to 18.7

select the top header, both stringers, both legs, go to the hotbox edit mesh>bevel, edit>reset settings, set width to 0.2

washboard


reflection
Interesting exercise. This exercise has taught me how to use the align tool correctly.

Track Modelling ( Exercise 1 - Lab 2 )

create  polygonal plane and insert the track outline photo onto it

choose mesh>create polygon tool and click on the corner on the lower left side where it begins to step inwards to form the slot, continue doing this for the track profile

after drawing the polygon

after the polygon is complete, hold the right-click option and choose vertex from the menu and adjust the placement of  any vertices as needed to match the profile closely 

polygon

select the polygon and in the hotbox, choose edit mesh>extrude then set the divisions to 20, extrude  the polygon  a small amount on the Z axis

hold the right-click option and choose edge mode then in the hotbox, choose edit mesh>insert edge loop tool and  change according to the instructions, scale the lines approximately 2.9 apart on the X axis

hold the right-click option and choose face mode, then choose the faces on the top of the slot next to the end of the track, use the shift key to select multiple faces

click on the new faces created at the end and extrude, choose edge mode and then select the two small edges  at the outer corner of the new polygon and bevel it

create deformers>nonlinear>bend, set curvature to 1, in bend1Handle channel box set rotate X to -90

track model

reflection
With this exercise, i learnt how to use the bend and edge loop tool. This exercise could be done easily by following the instructions given.

Week 2 Lab 2 - Cardboard Box Exercise 2

first, create a polygon and set it to the given parameters

region-select the vertices in the center of the box depth (length)-wise and set the absolute values display to relative transform with the drop-down menu, scale the vertices by entering 2.9 in the X axis window

Region-select the vertices in the center of the box width-wise

scale the vertices by entering 2.92 in the Z axis window

go back to the perspective panel

hold the right-click menu and choose face then choose the top face in the center of the box then extrude and move the manipulator down a short distance on the Z axis 

select the faces in the center of each top section, depth and width-wise,   press g to repeat the extrude command   and move the manipulator up a short distance on the Z axis

change local translate z in the channel box and select the center faces on the top of the end of the flap, scale the end flaps a short distance away from the side flaps

select vertices on the side flap and using the rotate tool insert key, rotate the flap, do the same for all 4 flaps

add sections to the box, bevel and follow the instructions given to create bends in the edge of the flap

reflection

This exercise was the toughest. There were many new techniques and functions, many of which i found difficult, involved in creating the cardboard box. Some of these these include using the manipulator to select the correct location to rotate the flap. I forgot to take screenshots of the steps midway through completing the exercise. Because of this, the steps that I took to create the sections, bevel and create bends in the edge of the flaps are missing.

Gear Exercise

create a pipe, RMB and select faces using shift

go to edit polygon>extrude face and extrude selected faces

vertically scale the selected faces

now scale the same faces horizontally

gear

reflection
I learnt how to extrude faces with this simple exercise.