What if M.C. Escher was A Game Designer?

There once was a princess that fell in love with geometry.

My father was one of the head graphics designers for Kodak, hence I was surrounded by illustrators, designers, photographers, and artists, while I was growing up.  I was always drawn to a few books in our family library, the works of  M.C. Escher and Salvador Dali.  Check out this geometric based video game, Monument Valley, that has a Escher influence.  Very Cool!  One of my students yelled out and said, “I love that game! It really hard, confusing, but allot of fun!”  Check out the trailer and the behind the scenes video.   It was also made with Unity, which is a free game. ~Cornell

Behind the Scenes - Monument Valley Game

 The Trailer . . .

http://www.monumentvalleygame.com/

Nanoscience 3D Simulation Using Autodesk Maya

 

NanoScience Simulation?   What the heck is that?  And how are they using 3d animation?  I am always looking for cutting edge real-world uses of Autodesk Maya and I came across an article about 3D Visualization of Nanostructured Surfaces and Bacterial Attachment.  I spent a couple hours reading about it; nanoscience is wild and how Maya is being used for scientific simulation is very cool.  Check this out . . .  ~Cornell

 

3D Visualization of Nanostructured Surfaces and Bacterial Attachment Using Autodesk Maya

“We ( Boshkovikj, Fluke,  Crawford & Ivanova) present a novel approach for the 3D visualization of bacterial interactions with nano-structured surfaces using the software package Autodesk Maya. Our approach comprises a semi-automated stage, where actual surface topographic parameters, obtained using an atomic force microscope, are imported into Maya via a custom Python script, followed by a ‘creative stage’, where the bacterial cells and their interactions with the surfaces are visualized using available experimental data. The ‘Dynamics’ and ‘nDynamics’ capabilities of the Maya software allowed the construction and visualization of plausible interaction scenarios.”  ~ Scientific Reports

What is Nano-Science? Watch this . . .  http://vimeo.com/49364316 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70ba1DByUmM (long )

 

Nanomodelling with Maya

One of the main research tasks of the Visualization Lab is to use software similar to that used to create animated special effects in Hollywood productions, including Autodesk Maya. Data is pulled from various sources to create three-dimensional visualizations communicating complex nano-scale concepts. More importantly, we investigate how animation and graphic design principles in general can improve and further advance the research, inform discovery, and enhance communication processes. The research and productions are driven by the passion for visual storytelling that is combining accuracy in science and aesthetics in art. The animated work mainly covers modeling of cellular processes and material/surface analyses.

http://inano.au.dk/research/research-platforms/nanomodelling/

Virtual Archaeology

Can a 3D animation education lead you to a  career in archeology?  Indiana Jones and the Temple of doom came out in 1984, I was 14 years old.  I loved the movie, who didn’t.  Now I didn’t become an archeologist, but I wanted to for a few years.  The movie inspired a generation of archeologists.   "As a teacher, I would ask my students, 'How many of you were influenced by Indiana Jones films?'" said Fred Hiebert, an archaeology fellow with National Geographic. "Everyone in the class would raise their hands."   It was a Hollywood interpretation of what an archeologist was, but it still inspired a generation, particularly in the field of science.   I even went to a Indiana Jones themed wedding . . . my friend was a high school science teacher.  Hollywood is still inspiring, not only with its films, but with it technologies. 

Look how archeology has evolved.  Maurizio Forte of Duke University, is one of the leaders in this field, "Technology is a wonderful catalyzer, and there are people here from a lot of different backgrounds who together can share a lot of ideas and research," he said. "I want to make this field very different from the traditional view of it."  The techniques used in in Hollywood films and video games are taking the field of archeology to the next level.  "Any scientific approach uses inferences and hypothetical analyses," Maurizio said. "We cannot reconstruct the past, but we can simulate it because the past itself is fluid. Our job is to be open to multiple interpretations and perspectives."   These skills and software applications are just “tools” and will be infused with almost every future industry and career path, from Hollywood to archeology.  ~Cornell

https://today.duke.edu/2013/03/maurizioforte

Biome Concept Car

The other day I was a workshop presenter and was looking for some videos to share with the group.  I came across this concept car video from Autodesk and it is way to cool.  After  showing it in the workshop and to my students, I felt the need to post it.  I will quote one off my students, “The is mind blowing!” Check it out!  ~Cornell

Here is the Autodesk Video:

Here is a video showcasing the concept art behind the project:

Also check out this site: 
http://www.notcot.com/archives/2010/11/mercedes-benz-biome-11.php

The Illusion of Life . . . 12 Principles of Animation

 

SQUASH & STRETCH

I love the book The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation!  It is another ‘Must Have’ for your classroom library, particularly if you have students who are focusing on 2d or 3d animation.  One thing that it emphasizes are the 12 principles of animation, which are essential to be familiar with as an animator.   Cento Lodigiani  created some great examples of those principles.  I love the face that he demonstrated them with a simple cube.   Check them out!  And also check out the the video that he made using these animations below.   ~Cornell

Link to the book: The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation

The 12 basic principles of animation were developed by the 'old men' of Walt Disney Studios, amongst them Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, during the 1930s. Of course they weren't old men at the time, but young men who were at the forefront of exciting discoveries that were contributing to the development of a new art form. These principles came as a result of reflection about their practice and through Disney's desire to use animation to express character and personality.  This movie is my personal take on those principles, applied to simple shapes. Like a cube. http://www.centolodigiani.com/117722/3078861/work/the-illusion-of-life

 

The illusion of life from cento lodigiani on Vimeo.

 

STAGING

ANTICIPATION

3D Printed Stop-Motion Animation

 

Check out this 3d printed stop-motion animation.  If you have ever done a stop motion animation, think about how a 3d printer can change your workflow.  Not only just for props, but all kinds of elements.  I can’t imagine printing a whole animation like this, it is just not practical, let alone affordable.   But very cool! ~Cornell

 http://www.visualnews.com/2014/04/13/frame-stop-motion-animation-made-3d-printer/#ZC4V2p7A1Ag0UHxt.01

 

Bringing Coraline to life with Objet's 3D Models

Here is a short clip about how Laika uses 3d printing in there stop-motion workflow.

Post & VFX 2014 Autodesk Show Reel From NAB

Check out the latest Autodesk latest show reel from NAB . . . I just showed my class – Very Cool!

NAB Show® is the world's largest electronic media show  covering filmed entertainment and the development, management and delivery of content across all mediums. With more than 93,000 Attendees from 156 countries and 1,550+ Exhibitors, NAB Show is the ultimate marketplace for digital media and entertainment. From creation to consumption, across multiple platforms and countless nationalities, NAB Show is home to the solutions that transcend traditional broadcasting and embrace content delivery to new devices in new ways. http://www.nabshow.com/

 https://area.autodesk.com/nab2014#vod

Doctors Use 3-D Printing To Help A Baby Breathe

My wife called me after hearing an interview on NPR about 3d medical printing.  I searched for it and shared it with my advanced class – Very Interesting!  I played the NPR audio interview followed by the video and then a short discussion.  It went well, but for my intro class I chose to just share the video followed by a short discussion.  The audio interview was a bit on the long side, but it was more interesting for the higher level classes.  *Every time I talk about 3d, I start with saying something like ‘3d is not going away and it will be part of our everyday life like having a car or a cell phone; 3d printing will be huge!!!’ ~Cornell

Baby’s life saved after 3D printed devices were implanted at U-M to restore his breathing

March 17, 2014 - University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

Ann Arbor, Mich. – In his 18 months of life, Garrett Peterson has never gone home, spending his days in hospital beds tethered to ventilators that even at the highest settings couldn’t prevent his breathing from periodically stopping.

His condition was so tenuous that often his parents could not hold him for fear of compromising his breathing. But after surgeons at the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital implanted 3D printed devices to  <<  More  >>

 

Here is the NPR audio interview:

Ever since the day Garrett Peterson was born, his parents have had to watch him suddenly just stop breathing.

"He could go from being totally fine to turning blue sometimes — not even kidding — in 30 seconds," says Garrett's mother, Natalie Peterson, 25, of Layton, Utah. "It was so fast. It was really scary."

Garrett was born with a  <<  More  >>

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/03/17/289042381/doctors-use-3-d-printing-to-help-a-baby-breathe

Super Bowl Cleats Were Designed Using 3D Printing

The first day of class, I was showcasing our 3d printers and sharing all the cool things that can be done with it.  I even explained that you could print shoes with one.  They laughed and thought I was nuts, but it is normal.  Check these out . . . rainbow-colored crocs.    The crocs style shoes are actually functional, but fairly costly for consumers.  There might be a time when they are cheap enough for retail use, but great for prototyping.  With that said, check out the new Nike cleats designed and prototyped on a 3d Printer.    Check them out . . .  here is a interesting article from Sneaker News, and a CBS News video clip.  Very Cool!!!  ~Cornell

 

Over the last decade, 3D printing has made huge forward strides in development. This style of additive manufacturing has the potential to change the way manufacturing as a whole is done – and for Nike, a company that heavily relies on creating molds and primary structures that assist in the production process, the possibilities are endless. For designers, 3D Printing has sped up the process by months; molds that typically takes 2-3 months to take shape can now be accomplished in a few short hours. During today’s Nike Super Bowl Symposium, the Vapor Carbon Cleat was unveiled – a shoe that utilizes the next-generation manufacturing process on the actual shoe. The cleat will debut at the Super Bowl, undoubtedly the  . . .  <<  MORE  >> *Sneaker News

 

“When the Seahawks and Broncos take the field for Super Bowl XLVIII, players on both sides will be wearing a cleat designed with 3D printing.”  <<  MORE  >>

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/super-bowl-cleat-designed-using-3d-printing/

3D Printed Kidney?

Here is another cool 3d printing video to share.  It focuses more on non-traditional uses like medicine and weapons.  Great for initiating discussion.   ~Cornell

 

January 25, 2013: Imagine a world where you can make anything you want, just by pressing "print". 3D printers have arrived and they promise a fascinating future, depending on what we make. For more info, please go to http://www.globalnews.ca/3d+printing/...

Photoshop Ethics . . .

I teach a Photoshop course, which covers the basics for the most part, a little bit of painting, photo manipulation, matte painting, and skills that can be used for texturing in the 3D world.  My first assignment is to take a simple portrait and edit it so that it would be a close relative of that person.  Meaning a completely different person, but still look like it could be an actual photograph.  I show them that even first day of class that can use a very simple and easy tool with amazing results.  I start by showing them the Dove commercial and then going over the tool.  

I love Sunday Morning on CBS, I have been watching as long as I can remember.  Today, I came across this episode from 2010 and it is great for initiating the conversation about Photoshop and ethics.  Definitely worth watching with your 2D or 3D class.  

 

The Mask of Divine Proportion

Dr Stephen Marquartdt developed a facial mask as a measurement of classic beauty to help plastic surgeons align facial features for more symmetrical accuracy based on a series of rectangles, triangles and decagons.  [More] 

http://facethis.blogspot.com/2012/01/perfect-face-golden-ratio-beauty.html

 

Check out this program that will automatically change a person to make them more “beautiful” ???  Portrait Pro http://www.portraitprofessional.com/gallery/

OTHER RESOURCES:

Dove Commercial – Ethics

 Sean Armenta Covering the Liquify Tool

Photoshop Digital Cosmetic Surgery 101 by Sean Armenta

    
Here is an guide to help you with what ever you need to know about the liquify tool.  

A Comprehensive Guide to Photoshop’s Liquify Tool

All For the Love of Cheese . . .

Nolan’s Cheddar Commercial - director: John Nolan with a run time of a minute and half. 

I want to start by saying no animals were hurt during the production of the commercial.  A mouse was used, but the mouse in the trap was CG.    

OK, now I thought this was funny and cute, my wife thought it was a bit morbid.   

At first I, assumed it was CG, but after researching, I realized it was an animatronic mouse.  With that said . . . there are a lot of videos that I assumed were CG and were actually animatronic puppets.  Make sure you check out John Nolan’s demo reel.  ~Cornell

John Nolan - Animatronics Reel

The World's First 3D Sensor for Mobile Devices – COOL!

 

Now that I have an iPad and have become an addict, I am have come across a bunch a very cool apps and tools related to digital arts, particularly 3D.  I am seriously considering get one of these and seeing what we can do with it. My only concern is the scan quality, I have used a number of scanners and have found the scans to be sub par.  I have also used the Kinect as a 3d scanner and although thought it was very cool, was disappointed in the quality of the scan.  *The people who design the Kinect also also has designed the technology for this device.  Either Way . . . Very Cool and I still want one . . . ~Cornell

 Also Check this interview out – THIS IS SO COOL!!! 

Hollow Face Sculpture? An Amazing T-Rex Illusion

I do not remember when, but a while back at either the MET art Museum or the DAM (Denver) I saw what is called a ‘hollow faced’ sculpture of a head.  It was really cool .  As I walked around it,  a number of times,  it seemed to track my movement.  It is hard to explain, but the second video will give you an idea of how it works.   It was basically in a negative of a sculpture or the mold, but as you move around, it  gave the illusion that it was a ‘typical’ sculpture . 

I just came across this video and had to share it, it works on the same ‘hollow face’ principle.   It is the Amazing T-Rex Illusion!   Check it out.  ~Cornell

Amazing T-Rex Illusion!

 

How it Actually Works. . .  It will make you laugh.

Playing with Shadow

A to Z by Kumi Yamashita 2011

I love light & shadow AND I love sculpture.   I have experimented a bunch with creating sculptures where the subject was the actual shadow not the sculpture.   Man, I love Yamashita work, make sure you check out his gallery too. 

I also came across this software that plays with shadow in a similar way.   The design examples that are used are a bit on the simple side, but it has potential.  Imagine what you could do with 3d modeling software and a 3d printer; it could be a lot of fun.  ~Cornell

---

Kumi Yamashita

Niloy J. Mitra, Mark Pauly
ACM SIGGRAPH Asia 2009

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Shadow Art

Abstract:

To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images. - Plato, The Republic

Shadow art is a unique form of sculptural art where the 2D shadows cast by a 3D sculpture are essential for the artistic effect. We introduce computational tools for the creation of shadow art and propose a design process where the user can directly specify the desired shadows by providing a set of binary images and corresponding projection information. Since multiple shadow images often contradict each other, we present a geometric optimization that computes a 3D shadow volume whose shadows best approximate the provided input images. Our analysis shows that this optimization is essential for obtaining physically realizable 3D sculptures. The resulting shadow volume can then be modified with a set of interactive editing tools that automatically respect the often intricate shadow constraints. We demonstrate the potential of our system with a number of complex 3D shadow art sculptures that go beyond what is seen in contemporary art pieces. 

<<  More  >>

http://graphics.stanford.edu/~niloy/research/shadowArt/shadowArt_sigA_09.html

 

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Silhouettes Of Jazz

You also need to  check out this movie produced with the Shadow Art tool.

http://www.silhouettesofjazz.com/

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.”

 

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

We Won’t Even Have to Dig Anymore

Anyone who has watched Jurassic Park should remember the scene where we were introduced to Dr. Alan Grants dig site, which included that really annoying kid. Grant’s assistant introduces a ‘shotgun’ radar scanner, or something like that. “A few more years’ development, and we won’t even have to dig anymore.”  So do archeologists actually use digital techniques in the field today?  Jurassic Park was released in 1993 over 20 years ago. so is this even practical today? 

How Do You 3-D Scan a Dinosaur?

 

Here is and short BBC film showing one of the techniques used today . . .

BBC News Digital dig The Scanning Technology Revolutionizing Archaeology

 

Next-Gen Paleontology: 3D Printed Dinosaurs

Next-Gen Paleontology: 3D Printed Dinosaurs from Linda Hall Library on Vimeo.

About this lecture:

September 12, 2013, in the Linda Hal Library Main Reading Room.

Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, Associate Professor, Department of Biodiversity, Earth & Environmental Science, Drexel University

According to Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, “technology in paleontology hasn’t changed in about 150 years. We use shovels and pickaxes and burlap and plaster. It hasn't changed—until right now.” Dr. Lacovara will share his pioneering work in using laser scans and 3D printing technology to create and test scale models of fossil bones for educational use, museum display, and for testing hypotheses about how dinosaurs moved and behaved.