Procedural Animation

Course Number: Arts College 763

Days and Times: T,R 1:00-2:48 p.m.

Location: 1224 Kinnear Rd, Rm 205

Instructor: Matthew Lewis


________


Notes: misc links, files mentioned, and such...

________

......................................................................................................

Class [17]


-guide geometry: streams, vorticles - back to SOPs

-fluid simulation: voxel, particle

-viscosity, mixing, buoyancy, feedback

-fire

......................................................................................................

Class [16]


-Balance, Tube collision, cloth collision, chime attachment, wire hang discussions

-Voxels, volumes, smoke (emitter+objects), sinks, rbd interaction, temperature

......................................................................................................

Class [15]  

-DOP assignment results


{Homework 4 assignment}  "Open project" due in class Wednesday Aug 26 @ 130.

-discuss informal proposal this week

-Reference examples you used / combined

-extend or combine previous work, or try something new that didn't have enough time for

-document with a web page or PDF in your hw folder

 * text and images explaining your work

 * a flipbook movie (or movies) showing your motion

 * include a houdini file that's easy to understand (i.e. well org, commented, etc)

 * optional: include CamStudio recorded demo


......................................................................................................

Class [13+14] (SIGGRAPH)

-DOP research project labs

......................................................................................................

Class [12]


-other rbd: Stack, SimpleKeyActive, ShatterGlass, SimpleAffector, Chain

-wire resource examples: AnimatedSkin, BeadCurtain, BendingTree, CompressedSpring

-particle dynamics: popswithrbdcollision, DentingWithPops, MatchShape


......................................................................................................

Class [11]


-some RBD examples: SimpleCopy, StackedBricks, Pendulum, DampedHinge


{Homework 3 assignment}  "Moving Parts" due in class Tuesday August 11th.


-Work with partner to demonstrate+document breadth of DOP usage/experimentation

-Reference the examples you used / combined

-Goal: document combination of examples to make+learn something new

-Emphasize "what can this do?" over, "how can I make this do X"

-Build on previous knowledge: SOPs/CHOPs/POPs

-Focus/challenge-if-needed: "towards self-assembly"


-document with a web page or PDF in your hw folder

 * text and images explaining your work

 * a flipbook movie (or movies) showing your motion

 * include a houdini file that's easy to understand (i.e. well org, commented, etc)

 * optional: include CamStudio recorded demo


......................................................................................................

Class [10]


Resources:

* Copy Stamp with Particles - sidefx tutorial

* Blowing Away an Image with Particles - sidefx tutorial


......................................................................................................

Class [09]


{Lab} "Particle Choreography"


1) Start with the Particle SOP, note capabilities/limitations 

2) Use Location + Source emitters to create particles

3) Animate forces

4) Animate attraction

5) Set up reactions

6) Design a system


......................................................................................................

Class [07+08]


{Lab} "Example Presentations"


-select, understand, and present SOP and/or CHOP concepts

 using the example files (10 mins, each class)

 * the examples should demonstrate concepts we haven't covered

 * choose concepts that you find useful and interesting

 * if they are simple do 2 or 3 (10 mins total)

 * don't forget the comments on each OP (midmouse-button on OP)


-put a file in your homework folder for each example you present, containing:

 * a paragraph explaining the concepts illustrated in the example

 * a brief explanation of why these are useful+interesting

 * a representative image from the example

 * the name of the example file (so others can find it)

......................................................................................................

Class [06]


{Links+Resources}

* Intro to CHOPs


{Lab} "Reactive"

* modify geometry based on proximity, orientation, etc

* connect movement qualities (like my speed tied to shaking example)

* context: if (X+Y) then Z (e.g. count events; monitor accumulation)


{Homework 2 assignment}  "Procedural Motion" due in class Tuesday July 28th.

-Demonstrate+document breadth of CHOP + POP usage/experimentation

-Provide multiple parameters for modifying motion qualities

 * high level is better than low level (e.g. "nervousness" > "speed")

-Drive multiple SOP parameters with CHOPs

-document with a web page in your hw folder

 * text and images explaining your work

 * a flipbook movie (or movies) showing your motion

 * include a houdini file that's easy to understand (i.e. well org, commented, etc)

 * optional: include CamStudio recorded demo

......................................................................................................

Class [05]


{Links+Resources}

* Neither-Field 

......................................................................................................

Class [04]


{Links+Resources}

* City Engine

* Algorithmic Beauty of Plants

* Creep with Copy Stamp

* Forest Asset


{Lab} "Parametric Assignment"

......................................................................................................

Class [03]


{Links+Resources}


* Geometry, Surfaces, Curves, Polyhedra : isosurface formulae

* Elevator tutorial

* Bridge tutorial


{Lab} "Procedural City"

-Copy stamp and use the new SOPs to make parametric buildings

-what can/can't you do with instancing?

......................................................................................................

Class [02]


{Links+Resources}


* Architecture: dynamic facade

* Ecosystem simulation

* Expressions and expression cookbook


{Lab} "Procedural City"

-Copy stamp and use the new SOPs to make parametric buildings

-stamp a city block?

..........................................................................

Class [01]


{Links+Resources}


* Procedural City

* Game engine

* Side Effects Software

* Learning Roadmap

* Quick Ref Card

* Intro to Houdini's User Interface

* Sweep SOP example

* Turbine Blades example


{Lab}

-Try out a few basic geometry SOPs

 * stick to: Primitive, Polygon, and Manipulate sub-menus

    (i.e. no characters/animation/dynamics/materials/rendering/hair/fire/fluid...)

-Try building with multiple Copy SOPs, Transform, Merge, Cookie...

-Goals:

 * get an initial feel for acceptable complexity

 * see what SOPs can do (rather than try to make X)

 * skim: breadth rather than depth



{Homework 1 assignment}  "Parametric Model" due in class Tuesday July 7th.

-Multiple low-level parameters: make small/local changes

-Multiple high-level parameters: make big/global changes

-Demonstrate breadth of SOP usage

-document with a web page in your hw folder which explains your model's parameters

 * text descriptions

 * images

 * movie (can be just CamStudio or other screen recording)

 * hand in a houdini file that's easy to understand