3D - 3

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Computer animation

process used for digitally generating animated images

computer-generated imagery (CGI)

encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images

computer animation

refers to moving images

modeling, layout and animation, and rendering

The procedure of generating 3D animation is sequentially categorized into three main sections

Modeling

describes the procedure of generating 3D objects within a certain scene

Layout and animation

describes the process followed for positioning and animating the objects within a certain scene.

Rendering

takes the finished scene and computes the final frames as 2D images or video

point

most basic visual entity, it has no size but has a location

X, Y, and Z

In computer graphics, we don't say "left/right", "up/down", or "higher/lower" we call the three dimensions

Concept & Storyboards

Ideation and visual planning before modeling begins

3D Modeling

Building digital geometry: characters, props, and environments

Texturing

Applying surface textures, colors, maps to the models

Rigging

Creating skeletons and control systems to deform models

Animation

Bringing movement via techniques like keyframe, driven-key, motion path, mocap, dynamic simulation, and expressions

Lighting

Placing digital lights for mood, realism, and visual clarity

Camera Setting

Framing and animating virtual camera movement

Rendering

Converting 3D scenes into final frames using shading, materials, sampling

Compositing & Special VFX

Combining rendered passes, adding effects, color correction

Review & Iteration

Feedback loops with direction revisions

Export & Delivery

Producing final video formats for distribution

Keyframe Animation

Define object poses at specific frames and let the software interpolate motion

Driven-Key Animation

Link attributes of one object to another, eg door opening when a character approaches

Motion Path Animation

Attach objects to curves or paths to guide movement

Motion Capture

Using real-world recorded motions and applying to digital skeletons.

Layered Animation

Combining animations via multiple layers for non-destructive modifications

Dynamic Simulation

Physics-based motion like cloth, particles, or rigid bodies

Expressions

Use mathematical formulas or scripted instructions to drive animation behaviors

Sets a keyframe on all keyable attributes for the selected object

What does pressing "S" do in Maya

The Graph Editor

What tool allows you to fine-tune animation curves

Provides a real-time preview of your animation without rendering

What is the function of Playblast in Maya

Right-click on the attribute in Channel Box > Key Selecte

How can you keyframe only one attributeHow can you keyframe only one attribute

As red tick marks on the slider

How are keyframes shown in the Time Slider

An in-between keyframe that guides motion (set using Shift+E)

What is a Breakdown Keyframe

To play, pause, and scrub through your animation timeline

What are Playback Controls used for

By dragging the Time Slider

How can you scrub through your animation

Constrain > Motion Paths > Set Motion Path Key

What menu path sets motion path keys by moving the object

Constrain > Motion Paths > Attach to Motion Path

How do you attach an object to a curve as a motion path

U Value under the motionPath node

What attribute in the Channel Box controls position along the motion path

Aligns object's orientation to the tangent of the motion path

What does enabling "Follow" do

Bank Scale and Bank Limit

What parameter controls tilting on curved sections of the path

Parametric Space and Parametric Length

Name the two parameterization modes for motion path movement

Arnold, Maya Software, Maya Hardware 2.0

What are the three main render engines in Maya

Key Twist or Side Twist attributes on the motionPath node

How can you refine orientation mid-path

A deformer that allows smooth interpolation between different mesh shapes, commonly used for facial expressions

What is a blendshape in Maya

Select targets first, base mesh last, then go to Deform > Blend Shape and configure

How do you apply a Blendshape Deformer

settings. Shape Editor

What tool is used to manage blendshapes in Maya

No, topology must remain unchanged.

Can you modify mesh topology after creating blendshapes

Bend, Twist

Name two deformers that can work with blendshapes

The process of creating a digital skeleton (rig)

What is rigging in 3D animation

They control how one object influences another, e.g., position, rotation, or scale

What are constraints used for in rigging

To change the shape of geometry, either temporarily or permanently

What are deformers used for

Lattice, Cluster, and Soft Modification

Name 3 common deformers in Maya

Simulating physical effects like cloth, hair, fluids, and particles.

What are Maya Dynamics used for

Temporarily locking or hiding certain attributes to focus on specific ones during troubleshooting

What is channel isolation in animation

To fine-tune animation curves and edit keyframes in a timeline-based graph interface

What is the Graph Editor used for

Contact Position

What is the first key pose in a walk cycle

24 frames

How many frames typically make up a walk cycle at 24fps

Graph Editor

What tool is used to adjust animation curves in Maya

Structured actions like walk cycles

What is pose-to-pose animation good for

12 frames

What is the typical stride length (in frames) for a run cycle

To prepare a 3D model for animation by adding joints, controls, and constraints

What is the purpose of rigging

To control a limb by manipulating the end joint; Maya tool: Create IK Handle

What is an IK Handle used for

parenting

creates a hierarchy

constraints

offer more control over translation and rotation

Smooth Bind and Rigid Bind

Name two types of skin binding in Maya

Facial expressions and morph targets

What is a blend shape used fo

Controls an object’s position based on another

What does a point constraint do

Modify geometry to simulate muscle movement or expressions

How do deformers help in rigging

Ensures proper IK/FK behavior and clean animation

Why is joint orientation important

Risk of accidental deletion; controls are easier to recreate and safer to use

Why shouldn’t animators directly animate joints

Curves (e.g., NURBS Circle or custom CV Curve)

What is the most common object used for controls

Offset Group, Auto Group, Control Curve

What are the three parts of a control hierarchy

Parent offset to joint, zero out transform, unparent

How do you align a control to a joint manually

Load skeleton, then Control > Create Control Rig

How do you create a Control Rig in HumanIK

Allows retargeting animations and easier setup for humanoid characters

What is the benefit of using HumanIK Control Rig

Connects mesh to skeleton for deformation during animation

What is the purpose of skinning

FK spine, duplicate FK/IK joints, and end joints

What joints should you exclude from skin binding

Easily selecting a group of joints needed for binding

What is a Quick Select Set used for

Classic Linear (Linear Blend Skinning)

What is the most common skinning method used

Candy wrapper effect

What issue does Classic Linear skinning cause during twisting

Paint Skin Weights Tool

What tool is used to paint skin weights

Ensures weights total 100% per vertex

What does Interactive Normalize Weights do

Helps identify deformation issues during animation

Why should you animate poses before refining weights

Natural movement coordination between scapula and humerus during arm elevation

What is scapulohumeral rhythm

Animation

process of taking a 3D object and getting it to move

Layout and Animation phase

describes the process followed for positioning and animating the objects within a certain scene.

SKINNING

the process of attaching the 3D model (skin) to the rigged skeleton so that the 3D model can be manipulated by the controls of the rig

click drag

To change the slider's position, simply BLANK anywhere on the timeline

keyframe Animation

You repeat this process with different values at different times to animate the object

Forward Kinematics

movement: rotational movement that works from the root down to the tip.

Joints

The nuts and bolts of rigging in Maya

Skeleton

In order to create joints go to BLANK > Joint Tool

Rigging

It's the process of taking a static mesh, creating an internal digital skeleton

Constrain

allow you to build relationships without changing the hierarchical structure of the objects

Puppet

In layman's terms, rigging is the process of adding the digital strings to the

Skinning

It what makes deforming a character possible.

Outliner

To see the hierarchy of the joint chain and the parent-child relationship go to

Child

Each parent joint will be orientated to aim at its _____ joint

Parenting

you are taking an object or a node and directly popping it under another