Lighting for Film or Video (Lighting & Rendering) Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Course

FLMC-1304-VFX01 Lighting for Film or Video (Lighting & Rendering)

Prerequisites

Course Description

Fundamentals of lighting techniques for film or video production with respect to lighting tools, composition, and camera motion to support dynamic storytelling.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 2 lec, 3 lab)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Recommended, not Required:
Digital Lighting & Rendering (Voices That Matter) 3rd Edition
 

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ New Riders Pub; 3rd edition (November 21, 2013)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 453 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0321928989
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0321928986

Supplies

Installed Autodesk Maya with your free Autodesk Edcational account

Autodesk® Maya® 2022 software is supported on the following 64-bit operating systems and at a minimum, requires a system with the following 64-bit hardware:

Student Performance

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

You are expected to watch the weekly class videos during the week they are assigned and complete the assigned homework. Often this involves finishing the course demonstrations. However, if you are not able to keep up with the work, contact the instructor before the week. Missing class for unexpected emergencies will be taken into account. Please discuss it with the instructor.

Grading Criteria

In total, there are 17 opportunities for student evaluation.
There are 9 major assignments the student is required to submit, each worth 100 possible points.
There are also 8 online, multiple-choice quizzes, each worth 100 possible points.

Week 01
Reading Recommendation - Pages 01 - 17
Complete Quiz 01: Cinematic Lighting

Week 02
Reading Recommendation - Pages 19 - 53
Complete and upload the Inside Room Light Portal.ma file
Complete Quiz 02: Lighting in Maya & Arnold

Week 03
Reading Recommendation - Pages 55 - 109
Render out using light gobos in the Inside Room Light Portal.ma file.
Render out your finished volumetric lighting in the Woods.ma file.
Complete Quiz 03: Shadowing

Week 04
Light and render the Alien Hunter in the 3-Point Lighting Scheme.
Light/render and upload the pirate with Rembrandt, Paramount and Badger Lighting techniques.
Complete Quiz 04: Lighting for Effect

Week 05
Reading Recommendation - Pages 111 - 155
Light the Audi using your own, downloaded HDRI and a direct light.
Complete Quiz 05: Image-Based Lighting

Week 06
Reading Recommendation - Pages 311 - 357
Complete Quiz 06: The Basics of Rendering
No other homework! Keep practicing!

Week 07
Reading Recommendation - Pages 361 - 409
Final Lighting Project Begins! Work towards 50% work-in-progress and upload a screenshot or draft render for a grade check-in.
Complete Quiz 07: Advanced Rendering Tips

Week 08
Reading Recommendation - Pages 411 - 442
Composite and upload the Alien Hunter AOVs in Photoshop or After Effects.
Submit all deliverables of your Final Lighting Project!
Complete Quiz 08: Basic Light Compositing

Attendance

Please watch the online videos in the week they are assigned.

Calendar

Week 01 - Cinematic Lighting
Week 02 - Lighting in Maya
Week 03 - Welcome to Arnold
Week 04 - Shadowing
Week 05 - Lighting for Effect
Week 06 - Image-Based Lighting
Week 07 - The Basics of Rendering
Week 08 - Advanced Rendering Tips

 

Additional Information

All that incredible animation and cool 3D models are in dark without the skills of the valuable VFX lighter. Ready to paint with light and shadow, and bring mood and energy to every scene? We break down all the light types, and how and where to use them. We explore rendering tricks to get those images back fast, and looking great. Let's get lighting!