Triboro News

Research for anything can feel like a chore, but it doesn't have to be. One thing to remember about research is that it is iterative. In other words, it is a repeating task that builds off previous steps. Every thing you find when you are researching can lead to new discoveries, even when you don't find what you are looking for at the moment! Sometimes the best discoveries are serendipitous. To make research a little easier, use this check list approach:

• think of a broad topic
• start a mind map of what you already know (try https://coggle.it/)
• do an internet search to give yourself some background (this is a good time to use Wikipedia)
• develop your mind map based on the internet search
• take a first dive into databases (Ebscohost is a great starting point)
• step back -- do you have any questions?
• narrow your topic based on what you have done so far
• go back to the databases
  • use controlled vocabulary to get a more relevant search result
  • check out the subject headings for the books/articles you find most relevant
• write a topic sentence
  • while you are at it, write down a few major themes you discover along the way
• write an outline
  • think about what you are missing
• back to the databases - ask the librarian (that's me!) if there is anything you missed
• fill out the outline and write the paper
• make an appointment with the SLC to work through your paper with a writing specialist
• turn in your draft - use Turnitin if your instructor requests it
• read your instructor's comments and edit your paper accordingly
• turn in your final version

It seems like a lot, but once you get into the habit, it really isn't. Just one step at a time. While I describe research in terms of a writing project, the same tasks can help you develop a creative task as well. Databases and mind maps are used in design all the time. All these steps are not wasted time, but building blocks to developing your own internal knowledge base. 

This week, SLC Peer Tutor Hope gives us an overview of modular game asset creation workflow.

Ever play a game and wonder to yourself, “How many hours did it take to create this world? Everything is unique everywhere I look!” You aren’t the only one who’s questioned this, so today I will give some insight into how the wondrous worlds are created. The most important thing when creating a game is the artist's workflow and the pipeline they use to create assets. This process includes modeling, texturing, rigging, animating, VFX, lighting, world placement, and functionality programming. Each of these processes is done by a team of people and are done parallel to each other. It’s important that each artist does their part of the work as modularly as possible. 

Modular asset creation is, in essence, creating something that can be reused multiple times. An example of this would be a wall mesh. Each building you see in a game consists of multiple meshes placed side by side to create the building (Figure 1). If the 3D modeler did their job correctly, the environment artist should be able to stack wall meshes on top of each other to create a unique building facade. Different arrangements of these meshes is what creates the variations of buildings in a game and gives it visual uniqueness. This method of modular modeling is not limited to just building structures, but is a theory that is expected to be applied in every aspect possible during the asset creation process.

Figure 1

Textures are different maps that are combined into a material that gives the look of a mesh, examples being a water material or maybe some wood planks. Most of the textures you see in a game are tiling, which means that it can be applied to multiple wall meshes and seamlessly flow into the next, creating a flawless looking wall. Another example of modular material creation is the use of material instances (Figure 2). This is essentially creating a master material that has editable properties. The artist makes a copy, or “instance” of the master material and is able to modify the properties without affecting the master. This is commonly used in creating color variations for foliage but is applied in almost every assets material in the game.

Figure 2

So now that we have a basic understanding of what modular asset creation is, we have to start applying that to our workflow. An artist’s workflow is unique to the individual; however, here are some tips to get you started:

• Have as solid of a concept as possible BEFORE starting to create the asset.
• Unreal uses base units of 300, so when modeling modular pieces scale them to 300x300 cm.
• Create meshes that can be reused as many times as possible by just changing the material. 
• UV the model and assign the materials to each shell based on the finished concept. Each of these materials will be modified individually in the game engine, so if you want every color map to be modified the same, you should create a single material for the model.
• Position the model's pivot point so that each mesh will perfectly snap into place in Unreal.
• Be sure to have all geometry 100% finished before starting to rig.
• Make sure to completely skin the rig before creating any animations. 
• Create individual animations. The walk should be its own, a run, whatever number of attacks, etc. These will be imported into the game engine and blended together using programming. There is no need to animate transitions when animating for games. 

This is a very short list of some things to keep in mind when working. It will take you a lot of trial and error in your pipeline to get your own workflow down, but that’s what school is for (experiment, experiment, experiment!). If you run into trouble, ask a fellow student, teacher, or the SLC for insight into their workflow.

Want to meet with Hope or another SLC tutor one-on-one? Email learning@rmcad.edu or self-schedule here. 
 

This week, SLC Peer Tutor Andrea gives us some advice on creating interior design moodboards for presentations.

Designers use graphic elements to create successful presentations. A moodboard is a powerful tool that will help you organize your ideas, evaluate your concept, and identify the overall aesthetic and feeling. They are also a great way to start a project.

What are moodboards?
A moodboard is an effective visual communication tool that helps explain your vision in a clear and simple way.

Why do we use them? 
•    To create a design story following the principles of storyboarding.
•    To express and communicate our vision.
•    To collect ideas and help define the overall aesthetic and feeling of the project.

How do you create a moodboard?
•    Gather the best images and lay them out (look for common themes and trends).
•    Evaluate which ones clearly express the feeling/mood that you want to evoke in the space and that are in line with your concept.
•    Create multiple boards around the same central idea but with different perspectives.

What makes a moodboard successful? 
•    Those that create a connection and evoke an emotion.
•    Those that tell a story.
•    Those that use a single and cohesive layout.
•    Those that use a unified style, theme, and color palette.

What makes a moodboard unsuccessful?
•    Those that rely purely on digital inspiration.
•    Those that limit the images or FF&E to show items connected to a theme.
•    Those that don't use similar images.

Quick tips
•    Choose a color scheme and stick to it. 
•    Get inspiration from everywhere and anywhere. 
•    Use Pinterest to create a board and find your vision.
•    Think outside the box: try different shapes, colors, forms, etc.
•    Use software such as:  

• Pinterest 
• Moodboard 
• Adobe Spark
• Sampleboard
• Evernote
• PowerPoint
• Photoshop
• InDesign

What should you include in terms of FF&E? 
Material samples for major elements as well as inspirational images, floor plan or furniture plan. Major elements include:
•    Floors
•    Ceilings and walls
•    Furniture
•    Fabrics
•    Hardware

Layout & grid development 
•    Be aware of your negative space and use it to increase the importance of your drawings, images, or text.
•    Do not use a complicated layout. If your images do not fit on a single page, you can create a second board.
•    Use a clear and legible font for labeling and annotations.
•    Develop a template. 

Examples 

Grimley, C., & Love, M. (2007). Color, space, and style: All the details interior designers need to know but can never find. Beverly, MA: Page Rockport Publishers.

Layout examples

Inspirational board vs. project specific moodboard 
Inspirational boards are used by designers to review the finishes selection as well as other details. Moodboards are related to the concept, the general idea, and the look/feeling of the space. 

Inspirational board examples 

Image source: https://rootsarchitecture.design/

Image source: https://www.creativewilderness.co.uk/create-a-brand-moodboard/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=918319188_40155664_588352

Image source: https://www.pinterest.es/pin/488710997060810430/

Moodboard examples 

Image source: https://dribbble.com/shots/6734526-Interior-design-moodboard/attachments/6734526-Interior-design-moodboard?mode=media

Image source: https://studio-mcgee.com/studioblog/2016/2/22/a-real-life-e-design

With #petsofRMCAD trending on the RMCAD app, we thought it'd be fun to feature some of our beloved pets, too. Learn more about the SLC and Library staff's animals below! 

CW: This post contains an image of a spider. 

Martha 

Name: Alien because she was from Roswell 
Nickname(s): Kitteh, Allie
Favorite activity: Playing with her toy mice and crinkle balls
Annoying habit: Putting her toy mice and crinkle balls under the stove so we have to fish them out 

Tya

Name: Ms. Notorious PUP Biggie Smalls
Nickname(s): Biggie, lil Stink, BraveBark, Smalls
Favorite activity: Chewing and cuddling 
Annoying habit: Barking at everything

Name: Tical Meow
Nickname(s): Bodega Bae, Fluffyhiney, aka she's a panther, BlackBombay
Favorite activity: Sleeping
Annoying habit: Taking over the entire bed at night

Chloe 

Name: Chihiro
Nickname(s): Muppet, Princess
Favorite activity: Searching the kitchen floor for parmesan shavings
Annoying habit: Crashing Zoom meetings

Katherine

Name: Kyo
Nickname(s): Spoon, Little Man
Favorite activity: Cuddling
Annoying habit: Will grab you as you walk by because you aren't petting him at all times. This can escalate to biting ankles and legs.

Name: Raz
Nickname(s): Kitten, Stinkerman, Doofus
Favorite activity: Asking for pets.
Annoying habit: Running away from pets but still wants pets. Meow. MEOW. Where are my pets?

Lea

Name: Blue
Nickname(s): Beans, Chicharrone, beeps, keekins, Bluecifer, crunchy boy
Favorite activity: Sunbathing
Annoying habit: Waking us up at 5 am for food, and then again at 5:10 because he wants the bed for himself
Astrology sign: Cancer

Name: Belinda the Black Widow
Nickname(s): Spidress
Favorite activity: Hanging upside down while drinking an insect smoothie
Annoying habit: None! She really keeps to herself.
Astrology sign: Virgo

Sophia

Name: Neville
Nickname(s): Beeb, Dweeb, Shweeb, Beeble, Beezlebub, Bizboo, Nevbev, Lamb
Favorite activity: Eating sticks
Annoying habit: Eating sticks...

We'd love to see more of your pets! Comment and share below. 

Hey everyone, the Library is open again for in-person appointments. You can make the appointment through the app, or through the portal. Contact the library at library@rmcad.edu for more information. 

I recommend coming in and using the library if you are a recently enrolled ground student who has never been here. We have books and DVDs and magazines. We have helpful people who work here and answer questions. We keep the space clean and nice. 

After a year of working almost entirely from home, I am overjoyed to be in my space near the library and SLC for a couple of days a week. Being near all those books gives me a certain energy. I do have quite a home library, but it's not the same as being in a public space. How many of you feel that way about libraries?  I hope to see you all soon.

For all the online students, we still have Zoom and I am happy to meet you that way. 

Have a great Spring B term!

Martha