3DTeachers.com - Resources for Teaching 3D Modeling and Animation: December 2013

My First iPad Painting - Wacom Creative Stylus

My wife gave me an iPad Air for Christmas and it is AWESOME!!! I also got a Wacom Creative Stylus which works with the iPad. I am still exploring the stylus’ potential, but this is my first tablet, so I am still just playing. The first App I downloaded was Sketchbook Pro which I use the regular version in my classroom and painted a simple apple . . . that kind of looks like a tomato.

So here is my review of the Wacom Creative Stylus in action with pressure-sensitivity! It didn’t seem to work right out of the box, or so I thought. Let me clarify, it functioned as a stylus, but I could not notice any pressure-sensitivity either in Bamboo Note or Sketchbook Pro. The manual states that pressure sensitivity works though Bluetooth, so I tried to connect it to Bluetooth. No Luck. I am very new to the iPad, in fact I hadn’t connected it to anything yet. I tried to connect my iPad to the sound system – no luck. I assumed that my Bluetooth was not working, since it would not connect to anything??? I did a bit more research and couldn’t find muc h that would help. Eventually, I got my iPad to connect, but it still wouldn’t connect to the Stylus.

OK, this is what I was doing wrong. First the stylus doesn’t show up on the Bluetooth device list, no matter what you do and this threw me off qui a bit. Second you have to tell each application what stylus you are using. For Sketchbook Pro, got to ‘I’ symbol for information on the top menu, then preferences, and change 3rd Party Pen Connection. Even after setting it up correctly, the pressure-sensitivity still didn’t seem to work. I was frustrated needless to say. Then I played with pen setting and voila, it worked. I was about to return the $99 stylus.

After I got it going . . I was sold, but I really wanted to test it and painted an apple. Hmm, so is it worth $100? At this point, I would say, “Hell Yea!” I have had almost every generation of Wacom’s Intous line, including the Cintiq. Honestly, the (iPad or other) tablet will replace the drawing, tablet there is no question; this is the future. It is not completely there yet, limited resolution, memory, high-end 3d capabilities, but this is the future. What I really want to see is a high-end 3d application like Mudbox or Zbrush, on the iPad. That will be an industry changer. Or even a wireless connection to your main workstation so that it works like a Cintiq. Now that would be awesome!

The Creative Stylus. I read a few blogs out there and a lot of people complaining about the tip . . . I don’t have a problem with it. The flow is smooth enough, not as smooth as the Intous line, but certainly not a deal breaker. The rubber is soft and they only give you a few, so I will predict that I will be buying a few more down the road; I will let you know how long they last. They also sell a harder tip for writing, but I think I will just buy a cheap stylus for that, as opposed to switching the tip and possibly loosing it. Keep the Creative just for drawing!!!

Another blogger was complaining about the fact that the pen was not rechargeable, well it lasts for over 150 hours and batteries are about $1.50 each??? Rechargeable devices that small never seem to last very long, so I bet it would be more frustrating to find that your battery is out again than just popping in a new one.

Comparing to the Intous line . . . The stylus’ feel is completely different and I have frequently pressed the buttons when not wanting to changing brushes. The Length is about two inches shorter then the Intous stylus, but a lot heavier feel which I like. It is not as thick either, which I feel gives it a bit less control. There are 2048 pressure levels with +/- 45 Degree tilt recognition, almost the same as the Intous which has 2048 pressure levels with +/- 60 Degree tilt recognition.

Here is my brush pressure-sensitivity testing. Very Cool!!!

Is it worth saving a few bucks for the Pogo Connect with all the extra tip options? They look really cool and I want to try them. I almost considered getting a second stylus, just to try it . . . But I have heard that it does not work with the iPad Air.

Conclusion: I am sold and will recommend the Wacom Creative Stylus to my students. If anything changes I will let you know. Also, if the Pogo Connect I am buying one and will report back.

~Cornell

Play, passion, purpose: Tony Wagner - TEDxNYED

When I first heard Tony Wagner speak, you could see me nodding as he spoke as if he were preaching. ‘Sing it brother!’ I can’t say I agree with everything he says, but we are definitely on the same team. This TEDx speech is a bit watered down version of his he previous speech to the International schools; The previous speech seemed a bit harsh and with a public school bashing tone. Either way, the video is worth a watch. I also purchased his book and am in the process of reading it; I will let you know when I am finished.
~Cornell

Tony Wagner recently accepted a position as the first Innovation Education Fellow at the Technology & Entrepreneurship Center at Harvard. Prior to this, he was the founder and co-director of the Change Leadership Group at the Harvard Graduate School of Education for more than a decade. Tony consults widely to schools, districts, and foundations around the country and internationally. His previous work experience includes twelve years as a high school teacher, K-8 principal, university professor in teacher education, and founding executive director of Educators for Social Responsibility.

Tony is also a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and a widely published author. His work includes numerous articles and five books. Tony's latest, Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change The World, has just been published by Simon & Schuster to rave reviews. His 2008 book, The Global Achievement Gap has been an international best seller and is being translated into Chinese. Tony has also recently collaborated with noted filmmaker Robert Compton to create a 60 minute documentary, "The Finland Phenomenon: Inside The World's Most Surprising School System."

Tony earned an M.A.T. and an Ed.D. at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

Paralyzed Graffiti Artist Draws With His Eyes

A group of artists and hackers have crafted a gadget that lets a paralyzed graffiti artist continue making art using only his eyes. And it costs about as much as an iPod shuffle.

Zach Lieberman of the Graffiti Research Lab started working on the EyeWriter with one man in mind: Los Angeles-based graffiti artist Tony Quan. In 2003, Quan was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, leaving virtually every muscle in his body paralyzed except for his eyes. Lieberman and developers from Free Art and Technology, OpenFrameworks and the Ebeling Group were inspired to create low-cost, open-source hardware and software for eye-tracking to help Quan draw again. << More >>

*You can also listen to the NPR story.

Also check out the Kickstarter video.

Creativity: Phineas and Ferb Get Busted!

“They are forced to think inside the box.”

Today in class we talked about “Creativity and Divert thinking”. I posed questions such as, “Can you learn to be more creative or is is something that you are born with?” and “How does ones environment influence creativity?” I introduced the talk by sharing a short music video from Phineas and Ferb Get Busted! It is an awesome Disney TV series about two inventors. When my daughter watches TV, which is not very often, it is one of her favorites; I love it too. The students wanted to watch the entire episode, because they all seemed to love the show as well.

In this episode Phineas and Ferb get caught by their parents making a flying car and get sent to reform school. The reform school tries to break them of all creative thought.

Sergeant: OK, listen up, maggots! You are here because your parents (mockingly) are worried about you. Now, the way I see it, the root of all children's problems is unacceptable levels of imagination, fun, creativity and unbridled enthusiasm! Don't you eyeball me! Our goal at this school is to crush the dangerous elements inside you and replace them with structure, order, discipline and conformity. (Part 1, 05:31)

The music video “Chains On Me” sung by Dan Povenmire, has a fun chorus ”Cause they say imagination is morally wrong.”

“Chains On Me” by Dan Povenmire

I woke up this morning, and the world was gray.
Haven't seen the sun since they hauled me away.
The boss man says there's no use in trying,
He won't let me color outside of the lines.
Got these chains on me,
And they're draggin' me down.
Got these chains on me,
Hear that clanking sound?
Got these chains on me,
Mister, hear my song
Don't say imagination is morally wrong
Mm-hmm
Drink of water, boss?
As long as I've been here I got nothing to show,
Try to make something but the boss says no
Wanna be creative but the man won't hear it That big boss man, he's trying to crush my spirit
Got these chains on me,
They won't let me fly
Got these chains on me,
Won't tell me why
Got these chains on me
Mister, hear my song
Don't say imangination is morally wrong
No, they won't let us dance or bang that gong,
”Cause they say imagination is morally wrong.”

Teaching Digital Painting

First of all, learning Photoshop is essential for almost any 3d application and is required for all advanced courses.

When I teach digital painting, I break it into four major steps.

Basics of Photoshop – General PS Skills
Introduction to Digital Painting – Sphere
Digital Painting with Color - Apple
Digital Painting for Realism - Student’s choice

Introduction to Digital Painting – Sphere

Students are expected to paint this reference image using Photoshop including the background, shadows, reflections, & specular highlight. This is a really simple project and I demonstrate it in a matter of minutes. Yet the students always complain because I make it look so easy, so I end up repeating again after their first attempt. I also introduce some technical vocabulary, which is not necessarily needed, but I feel that it helps them to know what to look for. This is an easy project for students to draw what they know and not what they see, basically fake it. Hence, pointing out the elements of light and shadow, helps them to try to draw what they “see”. Otherwise they almost always overlook the ground reflection and reflected light.

While they are painting, I mention that once they master this, which it is easy to do, the next project, painting the apple, will easier than they think.

NEW VOCAB

Umbra – (Latin for "shadow") The area completely obscured by object or the “Hard” shadows

Penumbra – The area partially obscured by object or the “Soft” shadows

Core Shadow -

Specular Highlight - This is a reflection from a light source and is the bright spot of light that appears on the surface of a 3d object. The smaller the highlight the shinier the surface, the larger the highlight the more the surface defuses the light.

Reflected Light – Is a faint light reflected or bounced back on the object from the surfaces surrounding it.

Mid-Tone – The tonal value mid-way between the highlight and shadow. Sometimes referred to as halftone.

Value – The gradation of tone from light to dark or of color luminosity

Digital Painting with Color - Apple

With this project students are expected to paint an apple from a reference image, which I usually provide, using Photoshop including the background, shadows, reflections, & specular highlight. Once they have completed the sphere, they will find painting the apple easier then they think. I generally brake this up into a number of steps because it is hard to really understand then steps if they have traditional painting experience.

So why do I have them paint an apple? Honestly, it is not that hard. If I told them to paint a self portrait, it may look too old, too young, nothing like themselves, and most likely not even human. But an apple, even beginning students will have success with painting one, even though it may look nothing like the original reference. My main goal is for them to understand the basic process for painting digitally.

The apple on the left was painted by a senior and it was his first painting ever, traditional or digital. The Apple on the right was painted by a 9th grader it was also her first painting.

Digital Painting for Realism - Student’s choice

This last project is a lot more open ended and many students don’t even get to this far and end the semester with the apple; I am OK with that. Everyone comes with different backgrounds, experiences, and drive and my curriculum is very student centric. I always have a handful of students who want to take it farther AND I WANT THEM TOO.

The self-portrait is a 10th graders final project.

The painting below is called “Looking for Answers” was the her final senior project and she won Scholastics Art & Writing National American Vision Award. The painting was showcased at the Smithsonian in Washington DC for a year.

MakerBot Wants You to Buy a Teacher a 3D Printer

Did you register your program to get a 3D Printer? I did . . . Here is the link: http://www.donorschoose.org/blog/2013/11/12/makerbot-announces-a-mission/
~Cornell

MakerBot is a on a mission to bring a 3D printer into every public school in America. Starting today, any public school teacher in the United States can request a MakerBot Academy Bundle and their project will qualify for Almost Home funding provided by MakerBot and its partners.

Each MakerBot Academy bundle contains a MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer, three spools of MakerBot PLA Filament, and a full year of the MakerBot MakerCare Service and Protection Plan. MakerBot will also support teachers with the development of ongoing 3D printing curriculum that teachers can participate in and utilize in the classroom.

- See more at: http://www.donorschoose.org/blog/2013/11/12/makerbot-announces-a-mission/#sthash.DFT5f9Wk.dpuf

Bre Pettis was the first kid on his block to get an Apple II computer. The device was intriguing, and all his neighborhood friends tinkered with it endlessly even though it served little practical purpose. Pettis went on to start 3D-printing company MakerBot Industries (SSYS), and he sees its products in the same light: They may seem silly at first, but the kids will figure them out.

To get kids playing with 3D printers, Pettis is emulating Apple (AAPL) in another way. On Tuesday the company announced an ambitious plan to . . . << More >>

RELATED LINKS:

Will 3D Printing Change the World?

Tomasz Strzałkowski – CG Artist

Tomasz Strzałkowski – CG Artist
Website: tomstrzal.com/
Galleries: http://tomstrzal.deviantart.com/ http://tomstrzal.cgsociety.org/

Interview with me on Evermotion

14th february 2013

Interview with me on Evermotion :-)))
read more...

3DArtist Magazine Issue 51

1st February 2013

This is great! I'm absolutely proud and happy because my work is in latest issue 3DArtist Magazine! Here is cover and page with my work.
read more...

3DWorld magazine March 2013

30th January 2013

Cover 3DWorld magazine March 2013 and page from this issue with my work
read more...

<< More Strzałkowski Interviews >>

CGArena: Dec - Jan 13, FREE Digital Magazine

CG Arena is a free downloadable CG Magazine with great articles and tutorials.

Interview with Tomasz Strzalkowski
Photoshop: Making of Maru Chui Wei
Maya: Making of Little Honey
3ds Max: Making of Old Man in the Dark
Maya: Making of The Green Redemption
Gallery - Showcase of latest Impressive art

Link to Magazine

Great 3D Animation Demo Reels

Here are some really great demo reels.

Ford SHELBY vs CAMARO vs JEEP vs VAZ 2107 vs HELICOPTER
by PANTURAL

This is a fun vehicle race showcasing all of the
*This is one of my favorites . . .

Michael Eves : 3d & Visual Effects Artist Demo Reel 2013

This is a beautiful well rendered 3d environment. Check out his site some very cool work. http://michaeleves.com/

The Third & The Seventh - Architecture Art Across a Photographic Point of View by Alex Roman

Software: 3dsmax, Vray, AfterEffects and Premiere

The Third & The Seventh - Making of by Alex Roman HD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqyQVxVuRnM

Above Everything Else - Mind Explodingly Realistic CGI by Alex Roman

Software: 3dsmax, Vray, AfterEffects and Premiere

Sebastian Sylwan - New Lenses to View Reality: Art, Science and Visual Effects

At the end of a semester of an intro class, I always have at least one student approach me and tell me that ‘I ruined going to the movies for them’. What they mean is that they can’t watch a film without thinking about the technology behind it. I always laugh because If I can, I will watch a film twice, once for the film itself and and another to really look at the FX and Animation.

The first time I watched Avatar, I wasn’t really even aware of FX and animation, I was able to just enjoyed the film. I can say that was the first time that had ever happened; there were a few times in Avatar, but generally I just got lost in the film. Well, thinking back, I guess I didn’t think about the waves in The Perfect Storm and I am sure there were others.

Sebastian Sylwan of Weta studios gives a TEDx talk exactly about this. And states that, “through out history we have searched for and constructed more and more sophisticated tools to produce better more convincing representations for our stories.” and that even though today we are using cutting edge technologies, the next generation will just “push the boundaries of story telling even further.” I can’t wait.

Check out Sebastian’s talk.
~Cornell

How Children Succeed

How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character
by Paul Tough

Book Description

Publisher: Mariner Books; Reprint edition (July 2, 2013) | ISBN-10: 0544104404 | ISBN-13: 978-0544104402

“Drop the flashcards—grit, character, and curiosity matter even more than cognitive skills. A persuasive wake-up call.”—People

Why do some children succeed while others fail? The story we usually tell about childhood and success is the one about intelligence: success comes to those who score highest on tests, from preschool admissions to SATs. But in How Children Succeed, Paul Tough argues that the qualities that matter more have to do with character: skills like perseverance, curiosity, optimism, and self-control.

How Children Succeed introduces us to a new generation of researchers and educators, who, for the first time, are using the tools of science to peel back the mysteries of character. Through their stories—and the stories of the children they are trying to help—Tough reveals how this new knowledge can transform young people’s lives. He uncovers the surprising ways in which parents do—and do not—prepare their children for adulthood. And he provides us with new insights into how to improve the lives of children growing up in poverty. This provocative and profoundly hopeful book will not only inspire and engage readers, it will also change our understanding of childhood itself.

“Illuminates the extremes of American childhood: for rich kids, a safety net drawn so tight it’s a harness; for poor kids, almost nothing to break their fall.”—New York Times
“I learned so much reading this book and I came away full of hope about how we can make life better for all kinds of kids.”—Slate

http://www.amazon.com/How-Children-Succeed-Curiosity-Character/dp/0544104404

Still reading it . . . But I am liking it. ~Cornell

The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation

The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation by Ollie Johnston, Frank Thomas

Book Description

Publisher: Disney Editions; Rev Sub edition (October 5, 1995) | ISBN-10: 0786860707 | ISBN-13: 978-0786860708

An out-of-print collector's item since 1986, the definitive account of the development of Disney animation explains what made Disney's style unique and features original sketches and drawings revealing the origins of Mickey and the rest. National ad/promo.

http://www.amazon.com/The-ILLUSION-OF-LIFE-ANIMATION/dp/0786860707

I love this book! It is another ‘Must Have’ for your classroom library, particularly if you have students who are focusing on 2d or 3d animation. It is probably the most competitive career path and in general I have only 3-4 students a semester who have this focus. Since it is such a small population, I want to make sure I have resources for independent study. I highly recommend it. ~Cornell

*I would also recommend, “The Animator's Survival Kit” by Richard Williams
*I would also recommend, “Cartoon Animation” by Preston Blair

The Animator's Survival Kit

The Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams

Book Description

Publisher: Faber & Faber (January 7, 2002) | ISBN-10: 0571202284 | ISBN-13: 978-0571202287 0

The definitive book on animation, from the Academy Award-winning animator behind Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Animation is one of the hottest areas of filmmaking today--and the master animator who bridges the old generation and the new is Richard Williams. During his more than forty years in the business, Williams has been one of the true innovators, winning three Academy Awards and serving as the link between Disney's golden age of animation by hand and the new computer animation exemplified by Toy Story.

Perhaps even more important, though, has been his dedication in passing along his knowledge to a new generation of animators so that they in turn could push the medium in new directions. In this book, based on his sold-out master classes in the United States and across Europe, Williams provides the underlying principles of animation that every animator--from beginner to expert, classic animator to computer animation whiz --needs. Urging his readers to "invent but be believable," he illustrates his points with hundreds of drawings, distilling the secrets of the masters into a working system in order to create a book that will become the standard work on all forms of animation for professionals, students, and fans.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Animators-Survival-Richard-Williams/dp/0571202284

This is an awesome book and a ‘Must Have’ for your classroom library, particularly if you have students who are focusing on 2d or 3d animation. It is probably the most competitive career path and in general I have only 3-4 students a semester who have this focus. Since it is such a small population, I want to make sure I have resources for independent study. I highly recommend it. ~Cornell

*I would also recommend, “The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation” by Ollie Johnston, Frank Thomas
*I would also recommend, “Cartoon Animation” by Preston Blair

STEM: Science in Colorado Classrooms: Big Bang or Black Hole?

Science in Colorado Classrooms: Big Bang or Black Hole?– Part 1 (Build An Atom)

by Jenny Brundin

Listen to Part 1

Science in Colorado Classrooms: Black Hole or Big Bang? – Part 2 (STEM Magnet Lab School)

Listen to Part 2

Future of Museums?

Link to Virtual Model: http://3d.si.edu/explorer?modelid=55

Will all Museums have virtual exhibits in the future? If students have access to these virtual exhibits with super detail, up close, and with virtual tool access, how will this change education? How will it change all fields from medicine to archeology? I have been telling my students for years that what ever your future career they end up in, 3D will be somehow be involved particularly in the STEM career paths. Check out these videos on the Smithsonian’s X3d Project. Super Cool! ~Cornell

Virtual Models

Videos

Smithsonian X 3D – Overview - Meet the team and learn more about the Smithsonian x 3D project.

Smithsonian X 3D - What is 3D Digitization?

Smithsonian X 3D - Digitizing Collections

3D Scanning at the Smithsonian

What can you do to bring some of the Smithsonian's 137 million objects to life? Put them in 3D!
This is a full-time job for two of the Smithsonian's very own "laser cowboys," Vince Rossi and Adam Metallo, who work in the Smithsonian's 3D Digitization Program Office. They work hard to document, in very high three-dimensional detail, many of our priceless and important collections so that the objects are available for research, education and general interest.

Smithsonian X 3D – Conservation

Smithsonian X 3D - Education

International Robotic Olympiad–IROC 2013 Denver

This week I volunteered at the IROC 2013 and spent majority of the time as a referee. It was a blast; here are some of the shots I was able to get in between events. I took hundreds of photos and will upload more when I can. Here is a link to some of my photos: http://www.3dteachers.com/2013/12/international-robotic-olympiadiroc-2013.html

So what does this have to do with 3D? My students have been doing some really cool experimenting . . . I will be sharing it soon. ~Cornell

International Robotic Olympiad–IROC 2013 Denver

Here are some of the highlights from my days at the International Robotic Olympiad–IROC 2013

This week I volunteered at the IROC 2013 and spent majority of the time as a referee. It was a blast; here are some of the shots I was able to get in between events. I have some more and will update when I can.