8/10/2019 Evaluation Animation

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Evaluation

For the second part of my assignment, the brief was to create a 30 second animation while

incorporating my three star wars models from assignment 1. Throughout the process of creating my

30 second animation, I had come across a number of issues. The main issue was Maya does not

allow multiple input connections on one object. I had made attempts on creating a motion path byattaching the Bezier curve to the camera object. Because the camera object also had the point

constraint attached to the Venator spaceship model, Maya did not perform both inputs. This was

frustrating for me as I had to manually make the vanator spaceship follow the cameras set motion

path using set keys. It would have been less time consuming if Maya allowed both input

connections.

Since I had very little time left to manipulate the sphere polygon into an explosion, it was left at its

original form. If I had enough time I would have created an explosion by first adding an blinn

material as texture using a image of fire as the file. Then deselecting keep faces together within

object mode. Then selecting Extract option under Mesh Options. While having the whole object

selected combine option under mesh options again. Then selecting transform component within editmesh options. There after another window should open with face options. Increasing the random

option to max will result of higher space between the faces upon separation.

I had discovered, upon creating handles using curve panel for my other imported spaceships models

did not work as I expected. When the handle of the imported models is moved or transformed to

different size, the individual objects will move out of position. Strangely this did not happen when

the models handle is removed. I had realised moving imported spaceship models scenes to the same

scenes folder reduced the time elapsed when modifying the scale value and move axis.

A few attempts were made to create a motion path by attaching the Bezier curve to the camera

object. Unfortunately I had discovered Maya does not allow multiple input connections on oneobject. If Maya did allow the constraint tool to be applied to the model to follow the camera. In

addition to the other input of the camera following the motion path using the Bezier curve, the

movement would have performed with more realism. Moving both the camera and spaceship

models manually using the mouse with set keys was more time consuming and not as effective.

Although under render settings, the common and Maya settings was set to settings set to the rest

of the scene, Batch render was not successful. Every time I attempted to render a scene using batch

render, the following error appeared on screen within the script editor.

"// Error: line 1: socket error creating command port user-PC: //".

This error prevented batch renderer from performing which was a big issue. Since I was facing tight

time constraints, I had lack of time to render all my scenes using a different machine. As a result I

was unable to batch render the remaining scenes which was unfortunate for me since I had

completed my animation for every scene. I had no screenshot to support this issue since at the time

I was facing allot of time pressure with lack of time to left to complete my project before the

deadline.

Although not completing my animation due to render and file format issues, I still feel I have gained

quality knowledge in using Maya for both modelling and animation. Learning the uses of types of

lights, cameras in addition to effective tools such as Constraint, Motion Paths made me very

confident in animating using Maya. Now I know the main tools and functions in animation within

Maya, I would more than happy to expand my knowledge further to the highest level I can achieve.

8/10/2019 Evaluation Animation

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