COMPUTER AIDED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
ARCH 2710: November 28, 2023

Exercise 6: FINAL SUBMISSION  (DRAFT)
Friday, December 15, 2023, due at noon (+ 3 hour grace period = 3 pm) *

Overview

The final submission of your work for the semester is due on December 15th  at noon. There is a 3 hour grace period to 3 pm. We have covered a range of geometrical modeling, global illumination, animation and visualization methods. You are at liberty to use discretion as to which are most relevant to your case study. Your submission should include three parts in priority of:

1. A CAD model file and related still image renderings created with V-Ray.
2. A Grasshopper file related abstractly to or integral to your final project.
3. An animation through the use of the V-Ray plugin to Grasshopper.

Place the three parts in a folder titled Final in your exercise 6 submit folder on classes.

* Grading of the final project needs to begin immediately after the project is due. Therefore, this is a hard deadline and no extensions of time will be possible.

1. Part 1: Primary Requirement
   Your final project submission should include from 5 to 10 renderings of your model, typically jpg images, and the associated Rhino 3dm file. These files need to placed in your submit directory. Your model itself can either be focused on some part of your subject or its full extents. The scope of what you submit is at your discretion, but also based upon feedback that you've received throughout the term and according to what you find of significance in your case study itself rather than according to a common general format. The resolution of the images should be at the 16:9 ratio at 1920 x 1080 (HD_1080) pixels (preferred) or, in the case of longer V-Ray rendering times.
2. Part 2: Grasshopper File 
   Your final submission should include an exploration of an aspect your project's geometry through the use of Grasshopper.  Include both the Grasshopper file and the associated Rhino file. Part 2 may be combined with Part 3 (an animation made with the V-Ray Plugin to Grasshopper) if and only if you animate a geometry object or camera related to your case study. Otherwise, please submit an animation file as a separate part of your submission (see Part 3 below).
3. Part 3: Animation  
   Create an animation directly in Rhino with Sun and Clouds, or by using with the V-Ray plugin to Grasshopper fpr a time length of approximately 30 seconds (eg. 900 frames @ 30 frames per second, 720 frames @ 24 frames per second, 450 frames@15 frames per second, or 300 frames @ 10 frames per second, 30 frames @ 1 frame per second, or even 10 frames @ 1 frame per 3 seconds if you are out of time). The animation can be longer than 30 seconds, but no longer than 1 minute. Note that it is important with respect to Rhino that you pre-name your animation frames to the jpg format and use a prefix without a number (e.g. myMovie.jpg). Rhino will then automatically add number to the output file names, such as "myMovie0000.jpg" , "myMovie0001.jpg", "myMovie0002.jpg", etc.. Compile the frames into the mp4 format per the techniques of workshop 12 *. It may be rendered at the resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels (HD_720), 960 by 540 pixels (HD_540), or, if necessary due to rendering times, 480 by 320 pixels.

* For compiling the frames into a movie file, OpenShot is the free open source video editing program that we covered in the discussion session workshop. Right-mouse-button click on the "File Properties" of imported media in the "Project Files" area. To control the elapsed time in the movie for each frame, go to the "Video Details" panel, and then reset the value to 10 frames per second in the "Video Details" panel if you wish the playback speed to be 10 frames per second. Do this before placing the video on the Video Track editor timeline. It will appear to playback at 10 frames per second (or whatever frame rate you wish). The default playback speed is 30 frames pers second.

Caution: Playback speed typically defaults to 30 frames per second, but the speed and resolution can seemingly (but somewhat misleadingly) be also set in the export option dialog box (https://www.openshot.org/blog/2009/07/16/slow-it-down-no-wait-speed-it-up/). For OpenShot, use the Advanced Options tab in the export dialog sequence. In the example below the resolution is set to 960 x 540 pixels. The frame rate is set to 10 frames per second. However, this frame rate is slightly deceptive. In this example it means that it will just render 10 out of every 30 frames, and so the other 20 ot those 30 frames will be missing from the final compiled movie. It will not render each frame at 10 frames per second.  

It would be best highest priority toPart 1 a( 3D modleing and V-Ray rendering) in Rhino. Parts 2 and 3 should be viewed as secondary and, and may be approached on a more abstract and limited basis as time allows.

How to hand in this assignment

December 15th is the last date possible to submit the work in time for a review of your work by the SIAs (TAs) and Earl Mark that will be held the next day. Your rendered image submissions, Grasshopper file, Rhino 3dm file and animation file should be placed within a folder titled Final in your submit directory.

In addition, submit in writing a one to three paragraph description that describes the focus of your work. The written text should be sent via eMail to ejmark@virginia.edu and copied to your SIA. You are welcome to submit this work earlier than the final due date. You are requested to verify with the assistance of a course instructor or student instructor assistant that your files are properly copied into the submit folder. Verification of eMail and submitted work will be given within 24 hours of the final due date. If you do not receive verification, or will not have internet access, then you should check with your SIA for confirmation of any special arrangment that may be needed (or the course instructor if the SIA isn't avaiable).

Caveats

1. The submission should highlight those aspects of your work which are relevant to the more important thematic parts of your study. Inclusion of all the different techniques we have examined this semester is less important than is the relevance of the techniques used to establishing your personal focus. Look upon these case studies as experiments in modeling, simulation and rendering. Due to the class size, we will not hold a formal review; however, individuals are welcome to meet with Earl Mark or any of SIAs to discuss their work at the end of the term. We welcome the opportunity to talk with you and what direction it may give you for future uses of geometrical modleing and visualization media.
2. Save backup files at frequent intervals and in multiple locations (not just on your personal computer) at least every few hours just in case of unexpected bugs or computer system issues.
3. Office hours for the SIAs and Earl Mark may change during the final exam period. Please check the Canvas Calendar for office hour times and location details.

Good luck!