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Film & TV · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Lighting & Rigging

This dual-discipline technical course covers the backbone of the 3D pipeline. “Rigging” teaches the construction of the digital skeleton and control systems that allow a model to move. “Lighting” explores the artistic and technical application of light to create mood, depth, and realism. Students will learn to build production-ready rigs and render cinematic shots using engines like Arnold or Redshift.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Construct robust character rigs with IK/FK switching and stretchy limbs
  2. Paint skin weights to ensure smooth deformation of geometry
  3. Build expressive facial rigs using blend shapes or joint-based systems
  4. Master "Three-Point Lighting" and Image Based Lighting (HDRI) in 3D
  5. Optimize render settings and manage AOVs (Arbitrary Output Variables) for compositing
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01Introduction to Rigging: Joints & Hierarchies
  2. 02Constraints & Controllers (FK vs. IK)
  3. 03Skinning: Painting Weights & Deformers
  4. 04Advanced Deformers: Clusters & Lattices
  5. 05Facial Rigging: Blend Shapes vs. Joints
  6. 06Scripting for Rigging (Python/MEL Basics)
  7. 07Creating the Master Control Rig
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Introduction to Lighting: Color & Temp
  10. 10The Three-Point Lighting Setup
  11. 11Image Based Lighting (HDRI) & Global Illumination
  12. 12Material Properties in Light (PBR)
  13. 13Interior vs. Exterior Lighting Strategies
  14. 14Render Engines: Arnold/Redshift Optimization
  15. 15Render Passes (AOVs) for Compositing
  16. 16Final Project: The Rigged & Lit Character

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Rigged & Lit Character

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Rig it Right! Maya Animation Rigging Concepts by Tina O'Hailey
  2. Digital Lighting and Rendering by Jeremy Birn
  3. The Art of Rigging by Kiaran Ritchie
  4. Light for Visual Artists by Richard Yot
  5. Stop Staring: Facial Modeling and Animation Done Right by Jason Osipa
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