Midterm Documentation

Abstract

I have created a portfolio of my projects that have been completed using the skills and knowledge I developed in class.

Production 

For the first project, we created a model by only using NURBS primitives. I decided to create a television remote by using cubes and cylinders. I used the Sony remote below as a loose reference for this project. Though the project itself isn't very complex, it required over 40 NURBS primitives to complete the model.

For the second project involved creating a model by manipulating CV points. At first, I tried to make a simple face. I thought it would be easy but it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. Instead, I decided to create a model of an hourglass. In order to get the hourglass shape, moved the CV points for two spheres. And then, I gave the hourglass a blinn material and reduced its transparency. This gave the spheres a glass-like texture and a slight reflection of light. 

For the third project, I created a pocket watch. I tried to incorporate CV's into the project but I realized it wasn't particularly deal for any part of the model. I based my model off of a picture I found of a pocket watch online. The hardest part of the project was creating the numbers on the clock for the model. It required the creation of polygonal text and moving each roman numeral to its correct position and angle. 

For the fourth project, I expanded on my second project after learning about how to work with curves. Instead of having two floating spheres, I re-created the glass part of my hourglass by using a curve. In addition, I added a wooden texture to the hourglass to make it more realistic. 

Self Evaluation

I think my weakness with these projects is that the objects I chose were not particularly the most complex. There weren't many difficult curves or CV's that I needed to manipulate. Part of the reason was because I would have ambitious projects that I would start on but never end up completing because of its difficulty. Now that I have more knowledge and tools compared to the start of the class, I may be able to complete some of my previous projects.
However, I still think I did a decent job for each model I created. Although there weren't many complex parts, I made sure to get all the important details for each project I created. I made sure to use proper references and do some self-research for certain tools in Maya to achieve the textures and shapes I wanted.

CV Curves

I applied my knowledge of CV curves to my first project when I created the hourglass. Instead of having two spheres that weren't connected, I created a curve that would resemble the glass part of an hourglass. I revolved the curve to create a surface, changed it's surface color and transparency, and added a texture to the rest of the hourglass to end up with the images below.

Third Project Model

I wanted to create a pocket watch for my 2nd model. I was trying to modify the CV curves on this project but it honestly would not shape into the way I wanted it to. Instead, I left the object alone and left my CV point experimentation with my first project. This 3D model was created using NURBS primitives and polygonal text.