3D Modeling & Animation Reflections

2025-2026

Quarter 1

Why I chose to take 3D modeling class

9/3/25

I decided to take 3D modeling as a class because I wanted to be able to be comfortable with it later in life if jobs may require it. 3D modeling is and was a very in demand hard skill with most architectural jobs needing it, this is another i decided to join 3D modeling as i am interested in architectural occupations; 3D modeling is also a very good skill to have in general as it can help me better visualize things, whether that's to see the dimensions or to see if something is even possible to do. My final reason for joining 3D modeling is it is the prerequisite class to game design which is a cool thing i want to get into even if its just for fun. There are many reasons for me joining 3D modeling but most are to prepare me for when i grow up.
My expectations for 3D modeling as a class are very mixed, my reasoning for this is i joined the beginner class as I've never done 3D modeling for more than maybe a day which makes me think i may only learn the fundamentals this semester, while that may be the reality i am hoping to learn how to make detailed environments, characters, and assets. While my expectations are mixed, I'm hoping to at least learn the fundamentals but if there's more then I'm ready for it.

Module 1 Reflection

9/9/25

I have learned many important things related to 3D modeling in this module, many of which i will absolutely need to know if i want to 3D model in future careers. The skills I learned were most of the fundamentals such as learning how to change a shapes parameters, learning how to render images, learning what most of the tools do, and how to use the view ports correctly. These are most of what I've learned in this module and they are what helped me to make the few 3D models I made during the time of this module. With everything I've learned in this module i hope to learn more and make more models.
There are many things i can apply 3D modeling to such as architecture, engineering, animation,and game design,All of which i'd be interested working in as an occupation. most of these occupations are important as we use them in everyday life and 3D modeling would help me improve these fields of work or be efficient in these fields, and that's how I could use these skills.

Module 2 reflection

9/20/25

Module two went very in depth with everything you can use in 3ds Max which is what helped me learn how to make my models more detailed, these things include, snap lock/angle snap which helps me make precise but quick edits with my model. I also worked with the snaps to be more comfortable with them and I did this by making a model using pre-made parts as part of the module. I learned how to navigate the scene explorer and files to help me be more organized with my models and scenes in 3ds Max.
I can use the things I learned in module 2 to organize my files to better my efficiency when making models as i will know where everything is and not have to look for it which would take more time; another thing is the snap's which i can use to also increase my efficiency when making models as i can just move my mouse instead of inputting exact units which takes longer than just using snap's. I can used what I learned in this unit to overall increase my efficiency when making models which will help me reach deadlines in occupations later in life.

Module 3 reflection

10/13/25

I have learned many things in module three, many of which helped greatly in making and editing 3D models. Most of the things I learned were how to use the 3D modeling tools and use them efficiently some of which are, lofting, lathing, pro boolean or boolean, more tools on edit poly, taper, noise, and many more. I can use the things I learned in module three to help me make more detailed 3D models and even edit other 3D models and by knowing how make detailed 3D models, I am more likely to get accepted into a career that requires 3D modeling skills. In conclusion, I now know how to make detailed 3D models efficiently and i am confident on my skills to make 3D models.

Module 4 reflection

10/29/25

Module 4 when in depth with lighting and cameras which makes itself look difficult on the outside but after i learned it, I had realized it wasn't as hard as i thought. In lighting i learned what most of the lights are and what they do like how a target light is good for focusing on one object where as a omni light is good for a bigger area like a room.The biggest problem i had with lighting is the constant back and forth with each light to get a good result which just made it tedious for me. In module i also learned how to use and edit cameras along side the lighting .A big part of the cameras i noticed was how the lighting affects the camera's output, this along side how to position the camera helped me capture the light well and i got to see this in the Citizen Kane assignment where i was walked through how capture an image of a scene from the film citizen kane which is one of the listed examples to the right. I think module four was a overall useful and important module as i now have the most important parts to make a scene.
The things i learned about lighting and cameras in module 4 are very important as they the building blocks to making any scene even if its a still image, lighting can also be used for making your 3D models look better as they can capture the faces really well if positioned right but also capture the shape better that if you used the default lighting 3dsMAX provides.Cameras are also very useful because you need them to make any scene making them your eyes for any scene and without you cant see anything going on in the scene.I can use the lighting and camera options in 3dsMAX to make scenes make animations when the time comes, I can also use just lighting to capture the detail on my models better. In conclusion, Lighting and cameras are very important for any scene or animation while also being able to be used for other things like better detailing 3D models but overall module four is essential to learn if you want to make any animation.

Quarter 1 reflection

11/1/25

I have learned many things in quarter one of 3D modeling and animation, from module one to module four i have learned how to make models, use lighting, and even the required reflections have increased my ability to write but there is still much more things i have learned in quarter one.In module one i learned how to navigate most of menu which was the prerequisite to making my first model, although very simple it let me get a feel for how the class was going to be.In module two I learned how to be more efficient overall;I did this by learning how to use snaps which let me make quick but precise inputs without having to type them in, I also learned how to better organize my files which lets me access my files faster. In module two i also learned how to use most of the tools 3dsMAX provides and how to navigate the scene explorer.In module three i learned how to use more modifiers but i mostly used what i learned in the two previous modules to get used to making models as i made many models in module three which is also how i made my best model so far. overall module three had made me confident in modeling.In module four I learned how to use and edit lights and cameras which is very important as both are needed for animations or scenes .Module four was my most challenging module in quarter one as i though it was very tedious and just time consuming as i had to make constant changes to parameters for rendering to make the scene look how i intended it to.I have learned many skills in quarter one some of which are not even related to 3D modeling, from learning how edit a box to learning how to make a portfolio, quarter one has taught me a lot and i can use these skills for future models or animations or even use them for making a resume. My understanding for 3D modeling has increased over quarter one as i have learned more as quarter one progress through modules for example i didn't know how to even change my view for a 3D object in 3dsMax but as the quarter went on i found more efficient ways to do so, another example would be the fact that i didnt know how to make a model without using a shape for every detail but as the quarter went on i found other ways to add detail wihtout adding so much objects. In conclusion, I have learned many things in quarter one of 3D modeling and there many ways i can use what i have learned weather that be me just finding faster way to do something or making a whole with one shape, quarter one has taught me at least half of what i need to know.

Quarter 2

Module 5 Reflection

11/7/25

Module 5 was very in depth with materials and it seemed complicated at first but as the module went on i realized there is just a lot to do with the materials which is what i think made it seem so hard. The materials list was very overwhelming but i soon learned what most of them did, this helped me make the still life as a guided assignment; the still life assignment is what made me learn what most of the parameters for each material do and its what made learn most of what i know about materials in 3dsMAX. I found the input and output system in 3dsMAX for the materials to be very user friendly and i quickly learned how to use it which gave me some relief for the rest of the module as i thought it would be more difficult. I think module 5 was an overall simple but fun module and i hope to have more like it.
I have learned a lot about materials in 3dsMAX while in module 5 and i can use these things for many things, one of these things could be better detailing my models or making my scenes have more complexion and be more realistic for example, I made a field scene in quarter one and i can go back a give the simple textures of the leaves more texture and make the light go through them like in real life or i can make the rocks look more rough and i can even make the mushrooms multi colored without having to use other shapes. In conclusion, i think materials have many uses weather that is making something more rough or just making something multicolored and i can use materials in the future to give my scenes more life.

Module 6 Reflection

11/19/25

Module 6 mainly focused on UVW maps and it gave me many chances to use UVW maps as i had made a lego figure with UVW maps assigned to it; I thought this assignment was very tedious and annoying as i had to perfectly align the image with the surface i was trying to apply it to and i had to change the layouts of each surface to get the perfect placement for each material it needed. Although it was annoying the module taught me a skill i would need to know for future projects.
Module 6 how to use UVW maps and apply multiple materials to an object i can use these skills to better design the surfaces of my models or bring more life to my scenes. I can use UVW maps to save more time as its a quick way to add detail to almost any object as it can make even a cube look as if it had more depth. UVW maps can also be used as a way to add clothing or accessories to a character without having to add another object. In summary there are many useful ways to use UVW maps and all of which are quick.

Module 7 Reflection

12/2/25

Module 7 went very in depth with rigging and to help me learn this it the ¨its alive!¨ project, where i was able to fully rig a golem named Frankinstone and pose him with fun poses. I thought the project was very fun as it wasn't to repetitive and I was always making progress with everything i did, The final product was also very rewarding as it was my first model that i have fully rigged which i thought was a big accomplishment. With the experience i have gained from the Frankinstone assignment, I think i am able to fully rig all of my future characters.
I can use the things i have learned in module 7 to rig and pose my characters. I can pose my characters without rigging them but there would be a drastic difference in the time taken from if i would just rig the character which goes to show how useful rigging is, as it would make posing my characters way faster because of how it keeps the characters body together. Rigging is an overall good skill to learn and i can apply it to all of my characters and even though i dont need it, it helps very much when posing.

4 Corners Reflection

12/11/25

Path constraints

The 4 corners project was an overall fun project with it being very simple and easy to do while also making me comfortable with animation. The project was interesting as it made me use a tool called path constraints which were very useful as it made animating very easy because it locks the car to a set path instead of me having to move the car each frame. I thought the path constraints were very easy to apply and correctly use but i think it would of been harder if it weren't for me organizing my files. With my files being organized, it was very easy to find them and even organize other files as there was already designated locations. By following the instruction i set the animation time to 24 seconds which made the car move much slower and caused a more relaxed feeling with the car. The framing also changed the speed at moveing the fps from 29.97 to 30 fps had put the speed of the car just slightly faster.

4Corners car animation cam 2.avi

Lights and Cameras

The lights and camera part of the 4 corners project was very easy as the placements for the lights were all listed along with the modifications and frames. The addition of lights added a lot of life to scene as they made it feel like there was a day/night cycle as the car was driving but, there was some challenges with the light as they were not working as intended and i had to keep trying different things. The headlights for the car were very easy to set at it was just 2 spotlights on the front of the car but it still added a lot of life and it enabled you to see the car in the dark. The addition of shadows in the scene added more realism with the day/night cycle as the sun looked as if it was actually moving around the scene which is better capture as the trees make the shadows which looked amazing on the cameras. The cameras really captured the movement of the car as they showed it moving through the environment and even gave a close up perspective on car as it navigated through some of the taller terrain. The project was an overall fun way to get me used to animation and realistic lighting and i am proud of the final product of which you can view to the right.

4Corners car animation.avi

Module 8 Reflection

12/12/25

Module 8 went very in depth with animation and rigging. I thought the module was very fun as it was a new thing and it wasn't too repetitive as each motion is something new in each of the frames and all of the poses are new too. The assignments are what made it fun as they allowed for some freedom when doing them, for example, the ¨Its Alive!¨ assignment allowed me to create the poses for the stone golem. Module 8 was an overall enjoyable module.
I can use the thing i learned in module 8 to do a lot of things as i learned a lot. For example I can use rigging to make a door or to make a chain or just rig a body to better animate a scene. I can also use what i learned in the animation part to see how a character moves to see if i rigged it right or i can of course make an animation or even test what a model looks like in different lighting as it moves. I think i can use what i learned in module 8 to do many things as the year goes on and i hope to get more experience with it.

Quarter 2 Reflection

1/14/26

I have learned a lot in quarter 2, I've learned how to rig a model, animate a scene, and use uvw maps throughout 3 modules that were very helpful. In module 6 i learned how to use uvw maps and unwrap my models to apply textures and maps. I thought this module was very annoying but i know i need to learn it and it was very helpful as textures are use in many models. My biggest complaint is how we weren't taught how make textures or maps as i think it would've been very fun if we were taught and it would save a lot of time Ive spent looking for textures. The module was a overall annoying one but i know i needed to learn it.In module 7 i learned how to make bones and rig models. Module 7 wasn't much fun but it wasn't annoying and i always got a lot of satisfaction with the final result.The biggest challenge was trying to get the heat maps right and placing the bones exactly where the joints were. It was a overall satisfactory module and its very useful to know for my characters.one notable project is the big premier assignment where i had to animate a scene of a Lego figure encountering a running away from a golem. I say its notable because it was my first animation project and i had a lot of fun doing it but its also what i set my expectation for every animation i would do and i hope i don't end up disappointing myself. Everything i have learned in 3D modeling can be applied to animation with 3D models and i think that's why its the last module but it seems easier than i would've thought.In module 8 i learned about animation which is just moving things with a bunch of frames to show that movement. Animation as i previously said is pretty easy and i feel i can get really good at it in the future although i have one big problem with animation and that's just how long it takes to move every individual moving things and still make it look good, but other than that, i think i have animation down. quarter 2 has taught me all of these things and its continuing to teach me from my mistakes as it progresses, and i am very grateful for it and i think it is a great end to my first year of 3D modeling and animation.

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