MA Animation: Interim Crit

As part of the 703 unit, I had to complete an interim presentation, to show how the project was developing, I presented this to my tutor and the full-time students

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Notes - Completed backward planning looking at what I want at the end of the masters, to now and then used this to break down the work I need to do for this unit. I realised I overplanned as usual, so I needed to break it down further, it came to light that it was unlikely I was going to be able to learn the software and then use it to make my own in the next unit, so I change it to refining my methodologies and conducting some tests, these will be further developed in the next unit where I will try to create a finished test piece but using sourced materials, instead of my own designs and puppets.

I started to update my professional presence, I started with updating some of my LinkedIn profiles and talking to contacts that I already have.

I started to work on organising and whittling down the software list, I went for software that I thought would be easier to learn and gave me the least amount possible to learn. I then spoke to a friend Ian, he helped me whittle down the software that would be best and the ones he thought would do what I needed.

I started planning tests as well as researching methods and looking, at how they would work together, and how the methods would complement the practical tests to achieve an outcome.

Started looking at research papers, PhD proposals, and conference papers to look at their layout and structure of them.

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Notes - Refined software - because I know how to use some and only have to upskill, others I once learnt and forgot (hoping it comes back to me) the software can be used for multiple pieces of work (like Maya for 3D modelling as well as rigging and animation) As well as some new software that was selected for the way I learn (like Unreal engine, as a game engine is more for designers whereas unity is more for coders and programmers) (touchdesigner is visual coding rather than proper coding) (Quixel is a plug-in for unreal)

ZBrush - I know the basics, I own it. I need to upskill and get used to the interface and tools, I need to learn zremesher and zrepose on it.

Dragonframe - I know well, I own it, just have to see if it can be used for the project.

After Effects - I know well, I own it - need to learn/ refine green screening in it as well as how to create VR footage and compositing in it.

Maya - I own it, Once I learnt, I forgot it all, and can use it for 3D modelling, rigging and animation, compared to others that only do one thing like 3DS max.

Substance - I own it, but not used it before need to learn from scratch.

Agisoft matashape - Need to buy, need to learn from scratch - educational licence - Standard licence.

Unreal engine - free, need to learn from scratch

Quixel megascans - Free as part of unreal, learn from scratch

Touchdesigner - Free to test, would need commercial if used for the project after.

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Notes - Using a 360 camera capture footage of items and materials, with Michaela, learn to composite in after effects and then transfer the footage into a VR environment

Capture a 360 turn of dice tower example and then learn the software to have a photogrammetry shot of it, see if all textures, colours and details translate over, see how easy or hard the footage was to capture, does it get all the details or would objects need to be individually scanned and then composited in the scene so that when an audience looks around they don't see any gaps or missing detail.
Materials board, collection of materials to test how they register in photogrammetry. Use to capture different materials and textures, and then create a 3D scene, something like a table of objects, then get people to test the VR to see if visual tactility comes into play and if they can know what it feels like.
3D scantest 3D scan camera on Wacom, test dice tower and a doll, put these scans into 3D see how they translate, look at the triangulated mesh, and also the rigging in Maya, humanIK (auto rigger)

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