Quarter 1

Why I took 3D Modeling

I took 3D Modeling and Animation because I wanted to learn a new skill because I thought I might enjoy it because my older sister took the class and really enjoyed it. The skills I want to learn include knowing how to make models and how to animate them. I expect to learn how to use 3Ds Max which could help me grow in video game development and movies. I also expect to learn how to create a good resume to help me get a job in the real world. I hope the skills I learn can be useful in video game development and open up new opportunities in jobs for video game companies. 

Module 1 Refection

Module 2 Refection

Module 3 Reflection

October 10th, 2025

In this module I learned to how to use many thing, like ProBoolean and loft. I also learned how to use edit poly. ProBoolean is used to do many things between objects, like merging them or subtracting them. Loft is using splines to create a 3d Object like in our screwdriver project, and it was very useful in creating a chess pawn from drawing a side. Finally, edit poly is a modifier where you can edit faces, vertexes, edges, or the whole object to get details and shapes you couldn't do otherwise. I used edit poly a lot like in my video game prop assignment or in my Lego minifigure. I also learned a few other modifies to make objects look more natural like noise and bend in my field scene. In conclusion, module 3 taught me how to use many modifiers like edit poly and noise, but it also taught me how to make splines into 3d objects and how to subtract and merge objects with on another.

Module 3 I learned many interesting tools that can help me in the future. I could use some of these tools in the future if I decide to take a job that involves these skills such as game creating, movie maker, or simply as a hobby. These skills can help me grow and become skilled in these paths. In my video game prop assignment I made a video game sword, and a building by using edit poly. It helped me understand how to be better at making object have more detail, which can help me become better and more qualified for certain jobs. In conclusion, the information I gained from module 3 can help me in the future and give me opportunities in professions.

Module 4 Reflection

October 24, 2025

In this module I learned how to use light's  and camera's.  Lights are used to illuminate the scene that you are creating and camera's are used to have a specific angle or perspective that you want be able to see. There are three different types of lights, photometric, standard, and Arnold. I didn't use Arnold and rarely touched photometric but I did use standard a lot.  There are only two camera type, standard, and Arnolds. Similarly, I didn't use Arnold but only standard. I used lights a lot in my 3 point lighting, lamp, and Citizen Kane scenes.

Module 4 taught me many things that can be useful in the future. I can use these tool in the future if I decide to become a game creator, movie maker, or as a hobby. These skills can help me grow and become skilled in these paths. In my Citizen Kane project, I created light's to make it as similar to the scene as possible. It helped me understand how to be better at making object have more detail, which can help me become better and more qualified for certain jobs. In conclusion, the information I gained from module 4 can help me in the future and give me opportunities in professions.

Quarter 1 Reflection

October 31, 2025

This quarter I learned a lot, like how to use 3ds max, how to place basic objects, and much more. In this refection I will be talking about all the things I have learned this quarter and be giving example at the end.  All the things I've learned how to use in 3ds Max this quarter were primitives, scaling, rotating, using exact measurements, splines, lathe, edit poly, tools in edit poly, proboolean, cameras, lights, rendering, and materials. All of these things have helped me create realistic, creative, or aesthetically pleasing artwork. My scenes have grown more and more complicated and realistic throughout the quarter.

In quarter one, I learned a lot, and I am going to talk about what I learned in some detail, talking about what I think were the most important in my growth. Edit poly: it is a modifier used to add more detail to primitives and can really change a scene and how someone creates things when the begin using 3ds Max. The spaceship project really helped me learn and understand edit poly because I had never used it before and the video I followed along did a good job of explaining how to use it and what each things does. Cameras and lights: pretty explanatory but they can be used to try and replicate the real word and they can increase the realism in any scene. The Citizen Kane project was really helpful but the light was difficult for me because of the properties. The light would be too bright or not bright enough and I found it hard to be able to get the image that I was looking for . Eventually I found the perfect brightness and was really happy in the end when I rendered the image. Finally, rendering: Rendering types are meant to get different looks, I only used scanline and Arnold. Scanline is meant to be quick and easy while Arnold is meant for more photorealistic looks and projects but takes more computer power and time. I really learned how to render in Module 5 when I learned rendering and materials. The project that helped me the most was Brain Buffet. It helped me because it taught me how to use rendering and what different types of renders and what each tab did on each render. All in all, I learned a lot this quarter and I have improved overall.

In summary, I learned a lot of different tools in quarter 1 but some were more important to me than others. Edit poly, Camera and Lights, and Rendering were all challenging at first but were all really helpful to me in improving my skill level. I will continue to learn and grow in 3ds max and I will continue to update my journey. I will also continue to create better pieces and hopefully be a better 3ds max user overall. All if these tools will help me be a better artist and this quarter has really helped gain information that I didn't have at the very beginning of the year.

Module 5 Reflection

November 4, 2025

In this module, I learned how to render and add materials to create photorealistic textures. Rendering is used to get a image that can look better than what you are seeing on your screen. It is also good when you have materials on objects and want to be able to see them. There are different types of rendering but the main one I used was scanline. Scanline is a versatile renderer that renders the scene as a series of scanlines that are generated from top to bottom. I also worked with materials. Materials are used to create textures and have thing look more detailed, like in my Still Life project. I used multiple materials to create a ring, a necklace, a bowling ball, and a falcon.  I learned how to create new materials and how to use presets to get photorealistic results.

Module 5 taught me many things that I will be able to use in future jobs and hobbies. I will be able to use these tools in the future for hobbies, jobs like a movie creation, game creation, or for other jobs. I continue growing by gaining the information and skills that this module taught me. In my Still Life project, I learned important skills like applying textures and materials to objects. It is important that I learn this so I can become a more qualified person for a job. In conclusion, all of the things I earned will help me have a better resume and hep me get a job that I am qualified for.

Still Life Project

Module 6 Reflection

November 13, 2025

In this module, I learned how to use a very useful tool called UVW Mapping. UVW Maps are used to apply different textures and materials to different part of an object, like my Tank project. You can also use Unwrap UV as a different way of adding texture, like in my Indiana Jones Lego Minifigure project. Unwrap UV is when you take an object, create seams, and unwrap it by the seams. It is very similar to seams on a shirt and how you would turn that shirt into a 2d flat object. I used both of these to create a more realistic object with different textures.

Module 6 taught me many things that I can use in the future if I need to. I will be able to use these tools for jobs, hobbies or for fun. My knowledge grows after every module and I will continue to grow. In my projects, I learned useful tools and it will help me become a better 3d artist. It is important I become better so I can be more qualified for a job. In conclusion I have learned many important things that can help me in my life.

Module 7 Refection

November 20, 2025

In this module I learned how to set-up and use rigging. Rigging is used for animation by allowing a figure to be able to move similarly to a human or animal. There are multiple different types of rigging but all include using bones. Bones are used to be able to move an object around and move them into different position that are natural . I used rigging in my "It's Alive" project where I created 3 different scenes using two modes and rigged them to have different and creative looking positions.

Module 7 was very interesting and can help me in the future. I can use these newfound abilities for jobs, hobbies, or for fun. I have increased my knowledge about 3ds Max in this module and I will continue to gain more information. In my projects, I used tools that I recently learned and it will benefit me because I become a better 3d artist. It is of the utmost importance that I increase my skill so I am able to be seasoned in 3d modeling and even more qualified for a job. And thus through further inspection I would desire to conclude that I have learned many indispensable skills that I can use in my foreseeable future.

December 9-12, 2025

Organizing my project folders helped me access my work fir the 4 Corners Animation because it allowed me to be able to find my folders and a backup helped me keep my progress in case my computer crashed. Adding a path constraint allowed my car to follow the road when it was being animated so I wouldn't accidently animate it off the road. After extending the animation to 24 seconds it allowed the car to move slower and at a more leisurely pace. Changing the fps to 30 instead of 29.97 did not impact my animation in a big way besides allowing for a smoothing looping transition. Impacting the frame rate affects animation timing from being a little off to being exactly or precise. It can allow for a more natural or different feeing and can be smoother depending on what you are animating.

Module 8

In module 8 I learned how to animate. Animation is used to make movies or videos with a finished look. Animation can take hours of rendering or can be really short, it all depends on how much detail is in the scenes. I used animation for my 4 Corners animation and in my Indiana Jones in the Temple of the Primitives. This newfound knowledge will help me in my final project.

In Module 8 I learned many useful tools that will help me in the future. I will use some of these tools in the future if I decide to take a job that involves these skills such as game creating, movie maker, or simply as a hobby. In Indiana Jones and Four Corners Animation I was taught how to animate and use key frames. This lesson helped me create and finish these videos and helped me get a better understanding of 3ds Max. In conclusion, the knowledge I learned from Module 8 will help me in the future and give me opportunities in certain professions.

Quarter 2 Reflection

January 15, 2026

In this quarter I learned many things about 3ds Max and its animation capabilities. In this reflection I will be talking about textures, rigging, and key frames/frames. All of these new things I have learned will help me create more realistic feeling objects and hep me make better animations. My creations have become more complicated than the previous quarter. I will also show you my 3 favorite projects I have done this quarter.

I will now start taking about my new knowledge about these techniques and what they are. Textures: Pretty self explanatory, textures are used to texture objects. Some examples would be a metallic texture, glass, or wood. Rigging: Rigging is used for animation by allowing a figure to be able to move without having to adjust or make new objects for different positions. There are multiple different types of rigging but all include using bones. Bones are used to be able to move an object around and move them into different position that are natural. Frames: Frames are used for animation to show a different moment in time within the animation. Key frames are frames of a key moment, like an object starting to move, change color, or lights turning on/off. A few challenges I experienced during this quarter was with textures. Sometimes, especially with organic objects can have a messed up look. To fix this I had to either choose a different texture or bitmap (Picture or image that turns into a texture) or go into UVW Map and try and use a different method that 3ds Max uses to apply textures. I applied my knowledge of edit poly, which I learned from last quarter, to help me in improve my current projects by allowing for more detail within an object's shape.

In summary, I learned many new tools in 3ds Max that will help me animate. Some of them were harder to earn than the others, like textures. All of them took time for me to earn them and a of them will hep me in my final project. I hope that I will continue to become better at animating and continue to learn new things in 3ds Max. Now I wil show you some of my favorite projects.