First Quarter Project Planning

As a junior in e-Comm, the time has come for me to begin my first project.  As my first post regarding it, this will include my outline that I will follow.

My idea for the project is to model and rig a character in Maya, in addition to some basic lighting and rendering in mental ray. I do not plan on texturing the character, as I am afraid time constraints would limit my ability to do so.  At this point, I believe the character will be an Easter Island head with a normally proportioned human body wearing a suit.  Provided below are some images that inspired that idea, as well as my outline and schedule for the project.

(Images from learningthenow.com)

Character Reference Drawing (Due Friday, August 29th)
Create a reference image of the body and head of character (2 hrs)
Include top, side, and front view (2~3 hrs)
Blog: All of the reference images

Character Modeling (Due Friday, September 5th)
Watch Lynda Playlist: "Modeling a Character in Maya" (Done)
Create head (~1.5 hrs)
Create body/clothing (2 hrs)
Create hands (1 hr)
Blog: Simple renders of the individual parts


Character Rigging (Due Friday, September 12th)
Watch Lynda Playlist: "Character Rigging in Maya" (~5 hrs)
Create body skeleton (1.5 hrs)
Create facial skeleton (1.5 hrs)
Blog: Images of the skeleton system

Character Shading (Due Friday, September 19th)
Watch Lynda Playlist: "Creating Textures and Shaders in Maya" (~4 hrs)
Create shader for skin
Create shader for clothing
Blog: Images of model with shaders

Lighting (Due Friday, September 26th)
Watch Lynda Playlist: "Lighting and Rendering in mental ray" (5 hrs)
Set up lights (3~4 hrs)
Blog: Various renders of lighting

Mental ray Render (Due Wednesday, October 1st)
Create a few test renders (~2 hrs)
Final render (~1 hr)
Blog: Test setting renders, final render