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Design Course
Basics of 3D Animation
Fundamentals of Computer Animation
by
Prof. Phani Tetali and Sachin Meshram
IDC, IIT Bombay

Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/basics-3d-animation

1. Introduction
2. History
3. Basics of 3D Animation
4. Objects of 3D Animation
5. Video
6. Contact Details
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Design Course
Introduction
Basics of 3D Animation
Fundamentals of Computer Animation Animation is nothing more but an illusion of motion from imagery that visually interprets and conveys the
by message it is basically created for. In literal terms, to animate is to give life to. Animation adds the dimension of
Prof. Phani Tetali and Sachin Meshram time to graphics which increases the amount of information which can be transmitted. To create animation, the
IDC, IIT Bombay animator has to be able to tell how a certain thing needs to move through time and space.

An eye for detail is one of the most important skills that an animator should posses. Along with this the animator
should be keen on the knowledge of motion, movement and acting. One should observe the life around and how
things move. Taking notes, making sketches and trying to give meaning to what is observed can be more helpful.

The key difficulty is to choose the best communicative tools that will be sufficient for the animator to design. The
Source: tools should be automatic enough as per animator’s designing requirements. Each and every animation requires
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different tools and skills to create the real world; hence just one single tool cannot be sufficient for the animator.
introduction
Animation is of two types:
• Computer- aided and
1. Introduction • Computer generated
2. History
The process of digitizing the 2d traditional animation is called computer-aided animation. Whereas the 3d anima-
3. Basics of 3D Animation tion, flash and other software’s using computer is computer generated animation.
4. Objects of 3D Animation
5. Video
6. Contact Details
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Design Course
History
Basics of 3D Animation
Fundamentals of Computer Animation Most of the initial and well known computer graphics was created by University of UTAH, funded by DARPA.
by ‘Computer Animation’ ages back from the time of computer graphics were into existence. 3D animation is often
Prof. Phani Tetali and Sachin Meshram accredited to William Fetter who invented the phrase “Computer graphics”. In 1960, as an employee of ‘Boeing’ he
IDC, IIT Bombay used computers to generate animation for specific models. While in one of the project he created a 3D depiction
of a human body which is famously called as ‘The Boeing Man’.

In 1976, the innovative use of computer generated animation was used was used by Ed Catmull and Fred Parke in
a movie “Futureworld” in the form of a human hand and face to give a high-tech, science fiction look to the film. It
was the first commercial use of such techniques.
Source: The technique has been used in various movies, has became a standard in film, television and video games. This
http://www.dsource.in/course/basics-3d-animation/
started with a film “Star Wars Episode IV: A New hope” written and directed by George Lucas. The animated
history
movie “Toy Story” premiered in 1995 was the first feature - length 3D animated movie which broke the box office
records ensuring that the 3D animation would be a staple in the cinematic community for decades to come.

1. Introduction References:
2. History http://www.ehow.com/facts_5070359_history-computer-animation.html
3. Basics of 3D Animation
4. Objects of 3D Animation
5. Video
6. Contact Details
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Design Course
Basics of 3D Animation
Basics of 3D Animation
Fundamentals of Computer Animation Introduction:
by
Prof. Phani Tetali and Sachin Meshram Third Dimension (3D) computer graphics is ‘2 dimensional portrayal of the simulated 3D world’. It is the virtual
IDC, IIT Bombay world we see around us.

Use of 3D animation software can be termed as video capturing of the real world which is full of 3D objects and
then generating the series of 2D images rapidly to simulate motion in the form of output.

While transferring 2D image in third dimension; a z-coordinate axis has to be added along with the default ones
i.e. x-axis and y-axis. In addition to this, we just don’t create objects in 3D; but we have to generate the 2D images
Source: of the 3D scene which will resemble the 3D objects.
http://www.dsource.in/course/basics-3d-animation/
basics-3d-animation-0
Example: An arrangement of a 3D Coordinate axis.

1. Introduction
2. History
3. Basics of 3D Animation
4. Objects of 3D Animation
5. Video
6. Contact Details

Image axes

It is not difficult to recognize the above image of three arrows in different directions in space. They are just three
lines on a 2d surface formed using a thin cylinder and a cone.
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Design Course Co-Ordinate System:

Basics of 3D Animation Our first job is to get familiarize with 3D coordinate system. In 3D the x and y axis are arranged in alpine called
the xy - plane with z-axis perpendicular to it. But, here the z-axis is divided into two sections by the origin (0, 0, 0).
Fundamentals of Computer Animation One of the divisions displays the positive z-axis which we have to decide.
by
Prof. Phani Tetali and Sachin Meshram The traditional coordinate system recognize xy plane with the screen. The x-axis points towards right in positive
IDC, IIT Bombay direction and the y-axis towards positive upwards. The z-axis is perpendicular to the screen which is the positive
direction and the negative into the screen. This is a right-handed coordinate system.

Source:
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basics-3d-animation-0

1. Introduction
2. History
3. Basics of 3D Animation
4. Objects of 3D Animation
5. Video
6. Contact Details
Image right hand rule

If you curl the fingers of your right hand in the direction from the positive x-axis to the positive y-axis, then your
thumb points in the direction of the positive y-axis. This is only the traditional coordinate system. For drawing
you use a different coordinate system.

There are quite a few co-ordinating systems and these are associated with chain of transforms to one another.
The co-ordinates which we use to create an object in 3D world are called the Object coordinates.
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Design Course In a particular scene; the scale, rotation and position of an object can be altered. The object coordinate system
Basics of 3D Animation is suitable for the object that is being created. The coordinates which is used to create the complete scene with
objects is called the World coordinates. After creating the scene the output can be taken in the form of an image.
Fundamentals of Computer Animation
by
Prof. Phani Tetali and Sachin Meshram
IDC, IIT Bombay

Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/basics-3d-animation/
basics-3d-animation-0

1. Introduction
2. History
3. Basics of 3D Animation
4. Objects of 3D Animation
5. Video
6. Contact Details
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Design Course
Objects of 3D Animation
Basics of 3D Animation
Fundamentals of Computer Animation Objects are made up of the following components:
by
Prof. Phani Tetali and Sachin Meshram • Vertices
IDC, IIT Bombay • Edge (Line, Spline or Segment)
• Polygon

Vertices: Edge (Line, Spline or Segment):

These are the point locations in space with no dimen- An Edge is the set of two points connected by a 2
sions, but make the complex objects when grouped dimensional line.
with other points.
Source:
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objects-3d-animation

1. Introduction
2. History
3. Basics of 3D Animation
4. Objects of 3D Animation
5. Video
6. Contact Details

Vertex Edges
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Design Course Polygon:

Basics of 3D Animation Three or more edges that define a surface is called Polygon.
Fundamentals of Computer Animation
by
Prof. Phani Tetali and Sachin Meshram
IDC, IIT Bombay

Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/basics-3d-animation/
objects-3d-animation

1. Introduction Polygon
2. History
3. Basics of 3D Animation
4. Objects of 3D Animation
5. Video
6. Contact Details
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Design Course
Video
Basics of 3D Animation
Fundamentals of Computer Animation
by
Prof. Phani Tetali and Sachin Meshram
IDC, IIT Bombay

Source:
http://www.dsource.in/course/basics-3d-animation/ Introduction Co-ordinate System
video

1. Introduction
2. History
3. Basics of 3D Animation
4. Objects of 3D Animation
5. Video
6. Contact Details

Objects in 3D Animation
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Design Course
Contact Details
Basics of 3D Animation
Fundamentals of Computer Animation This documentation for the course was done by
by Sachin Meshram at IDC, IIT Bombay.
Prof. Phani Tetali and Sachin Meshram
IDC, IIT Bombay You can get in touch with him at
m.sachin83[at]gmail.com

You could write to the following address regarding

suggestions and clarifications:

Helpdesk Details:
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http://www.dsource.in/course/basics-3d-animation/ Project e-kalpa
contact-details Industrial Design Centre
IIT Bombay
Powai
1. Introduction Mumbai 400076
2. History India
3. Basics of 3D Animation Phone: 091-22-25767820/ 7801/ 7802
4. Objects of 3D Animation Fax: 091-22-25767803
5. Video Email: dsource.in[at]gmail.com
6. Contact Details