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The Course, Diploma in Digital Arts, is a comprehensive Career Course in Animation and Computer Graphics, jointly offered by ZedCA (Zed career Academy) & Zee Institute of Creative Arts (ZICA) . The Course is of 15 months duration, which involves 12 months of training and 3 months of Paid, Certified Internship at ZICA.

The Curriculum is designed to develop Creative/aesthetic abilities and Visualization skills of the students with adequate conceptual and software exposure. The course is delivered using a Unique Training Methodology by the Professional having an industry experience in the relevant field to provide the critical advantage for success in the Animation industry, globally.

The students will become extremely familiar with the Animation Studio infrastructure as well as the Film Production process (Pre-production, Production & Post-production). The 3 months internship (On-the job training) at ZICA Animation Studios will give a Live Experience of working in the Animation studio environment.

Diploma in Digital Arts Course Curriculum is designed to foster Creative skills in the areas of Editing, 2D Animation, 3D Animation and Special effects.

The Course covers various aspects of animation, from Film analysis to Flash animations and from 3D animation to Special Effects. The modules such as Production team management are integrated in the course to provide a unique advantage for Digital Arts students to enter the exciting and creative animation industry. The course will transform the students from a Dreamer to a Creator.

Overview

This module provides students with Skills to develop Visual Designs that transform Text and Images into effective communication pieces. In addition to the Designing and Technical aspects, students will acquire knowledge of Pre-Press and Print Media technology, Print Graphics, Image Compositions and Advertising.

Career Options:

• Image Editors
• Graphic Designers

Contents:

Working with images

• Image: Aesthetics & Technology
• Digital Representation of Image
• Image Modifications and Enhancement Technique
• Compression and File Formats

Illustrations

• Drawing and Design for Illustrators
• Advertising Illustration
• 3-D Illustration
• Poster Design and Illustration
• Humorous Illustration
• Creating Graphics with special effects.

Image Editing

• Image Editing
• Scanning and retouching
• Creating professional image compositions
• Digital Photography
• Abstractions and Computer Graphics
• Image Effects

• Principles of Advertisement
• Research Methodology
• Effective Communication Process
• Creative Approaches
• The Art Of Copyrighting

Overview

This module covers integration of a number of technical disciplines, including interface design, planning & production, sound and video. Once the basic skills of creating digital video and Compositing image sequences have been acquired, the issues of refining a directing style, an approach to editing and the choice of content become relevant. Students will produce short video projects and/or Webcast programs that will be presented for group critique. Lecture topics will include directing styles, editing philosophies, preparing video for CD and the Internet, developing Webcast programming.

Career Options

• Flash Animators
• Graphic Designers
• Interface Designers
• Sound / Video Editors

Contents

• Introduction to Broadcast Media
• Mass Communication & Broadcasting
• History of Broadcsting in India
• Types of Broadcasting
• Broadcasting Technology
• Braoadcasting Standards

• Developing a concept
• Shaping the Idea
• Constructing a Theme
• Creative Writing
• Copyright Issues
• Scripting & Storyboarding
• Camera Principles
• Shooting Script & Storyboarding
• Shooting tips

Sound Engineering

• Introduction to Sound Design
• MIDI Technologies for Sound Design
• Modular Synthesis and Audio Programming
• Audiovisual Synthesis
• Advanced Sound Effects Design
• Working with sound editing software

• Introduction to Video & Film Production
• Lighting and Field Production Techniques
• Editing & Postproduction Techniques
• Compositing for Film and Television Majors
• Working with sound editing software

• Acting fundamentals
• Body language
• Facial expressions
• Script interpretation
• Voice modulation
• Monologue & Scene study
• Film/TV aesthetics

2D Animation with Flash

• Reviewing the Animation Basics
• Human and animal anatomy
• Preparing Characters For Animation
• Using Symbols For Character Hierarchy
• Frame By Frame Animation
• Acton Scripting overview

CD Authoring

Overview

Students define a personal vision creating visual effects for film. Concentrating on the design of visual effects sequences, specific attention is directed toward the development of scripts, storyboards, shot breakdowns, animatics, technical direction documents, estimates and schedules in the planning process. Students explore traditional materials and processes for figurative sculpture using a live model and animate it using stop motion techniques. Emphasis is placed on traditional additive and casting methods of working. Students learn various methods and skills of creating models with clay

.The module exposes students to the methodologies by which high-quality effects can be digitally achieved. Through discussions and lectures, the tools will be taught in context of how they are actually used within a production environment. Various aspects such as building a scene with visual effects, using chroma & matting etc. are covered to build the power of composting and editing with movies.

Career Options

• Video Compositors
• Scene Renderers
• Special Effects Designers

ContentsIntroduction to Visual Effects

• Introduction to Visual Effects Programming
• Digital 3-D Visual Effects
• Procedural Modeling and Animation
• Compositing + Concept Development for Visual Effects
• Digital Visual Effects
• The Capturing Process
• Capturing With Capture Card

Claymation

• Introduction to Sculpture
• Sculptural Processes
• Figure Modeling in Clay and Plaster
• Types of clay & Armatures
• Creating faces and figures using clay

Applying special effects to animated creations

• Projects Planning
• Composition Basics
• Animation and Controls
• Working with Plugins and effects
• Creating Titles
• Adding Expressions
• Masking
• Color Correction
• Animating Layers In 3D Space
• Multiple Layer 3D Scene

Overview

A technical director monitors the relationship between software options and computational processes in animation to achieve optimal visual results using the most economic means. Approaches to rendering, geometry versus mapping and Compositing, model rigging and constraints, illumination algorithms and other animation techniques will be studied, in order to support the informed use of high-end packages and platforms required for animation.

The coverage also includes animation production process and various roles in the studio. Working with a script, storyboard to animations, the students will be taught the entire process with different stages. The objective is to impart the knowledge that is required to be engaged as a part of an animation production team and to work effectively as a member of multi-disciplinary teams. Students will also learn budgetary controls for a production. Key issues in the areas of copyright law, sources of financing, distribution agreements, insurance and union consideration will be discussed.

Contents

• The Physiology of Perception
• Print and Electronic Media
• Radio, Television and Video
• 2D Cel & Computer Animation
• 3D CGI & Motion Capture Animation
• Television Commercials/Ad Films
• The Production Process
• Various Roles In Production
• Outsourcing
• Pre-Production, Production & Post-Production Stages
• Scheduling and Resource Allocation
• Rough Sketches, Line Testing To Digital Department.
• Editing And SFX
• Developing a Presentation integrating above information.

Overview

The focus of this module is on bringing the "Sketched Characters" Live using a 2D Animation software. As a part of self-study, through out the course the students will be working towards improving their sketching/drawing skills. Before entering this module the students would be ready with a Story idea, script, storyboard, character design and background etc.

In this module the students will learn to digitize the sketched characters, backgrounds etc. using a 2D animation software. They would also complete their assignments/projects on 2D animation in this module.

Career Options

• Visualisers
• 2D Animators (Digital Ink & Paint).

Contents

• Scan level
• Image processor
• Ink & Paint
• Scan Background
• Colour Corrector
• Director & Pencil Tester
• Scene 3 D
• Sound Track Editor Replayer / Batch Monitor

Overview

In this module, the students will learn to create computer graphics using Allias Wavefront's Maya. They will be introduced to 3D modeling, texturing, lighting and rendering. In Character Animation, students will study model rigging, animation techniques, camera angles, texture mapping and other topics central to the practice of character animation. Advanced animation techniques such as inverse kinematics, model deformation (morphing), lip synch and facial expressions will also be covered. The module covers a variety of modeling styles, from quick mock-ups to refined production-quality surfaces.

The module also deals with human and animal movement. Students explore issues of anatomical motion relevant to the animation industry, such as skeletal pivot points, figure weight, balance and momentum, through gesture, automatic and other drawing-in-motion techniques. The topics such as 3-D space, surface modeling, rendering, lighting and procedures for texture mapping are also a part of this module.

Career Options

• 3D Animator
• 3d Modeling Artis
• Maya Specialist
• Video Compositors
• Scene Renderers
• Texture Artists.

Contents

Principals of 3D Animation

• Concept of Modeling
• Concept of Lights and Camera
• Concept of Materials and Textures
• Concept of Rendering
• Concept of Kinematics

Maya Essentials

• Viewports in Maya
• Dimensions and Metric systems
• Toolbars and Channel boxes
• Transforming objects
• Using Attribute Editors and Time slide
• Overview of Modeling, Material, Visual Effects & MEL Scripting

• Various modeling types
• Trimming, Stitching and Editing meshes
• NURBS
• Character Modeling
• Cloth Modeling, Skin, Muscles & bones
• Human Anatomy
• Body proportions
• Character Development

Maya-Lights

• Camera and Texturing
• Basic 3-point lighting
• Shadows and Raytracing
• Cameras Styles
• Paint Effects
• Renderings
• Advanced mesh Painting tools
• Crating Environment using MAYA
• Maya Live

Maya Visual Effects

• Using Dynamics & Fluids
• Explosions & Particles
• Collisions Rigid & Soft Bodies
• Fur, Cloth, hair dynamics
• Mel scripting
• Post production visual fx in Maya

Maya Animations

• Keyframe, Path and Motion Capture Animation
• Character Animation
• Forward & Inverse Kinematics
• Character Rigging
• Creating a Walk cycle
• Blending Shapes, Wire Deformers, Facial Expressions
• Advanced Rigging
• Lip syncing

Overview

This project class builds on the technical and aesthetic skill set of the advanced animation major. Through the exploration of projects, students continue to develop content delivery, story and technical mastery. Emphasis is placed on the identification and utilization of individual strengths in the context of a production environment

.The project prepares students for professional situations through the creation of individual demo reels, resumes, Web sites and portfolios and by emphasizing business structure. Through topics such as studio hierarchy, production bidding, media distribution, employee evaluation and professional growth, the course highlights many important aspects of business in order for students to attain and sustain a professional career.

After the successful completion of the course the students will be given three months Internship. This is incorporated to give real-life experience to the students on live projects in the animation studio environment. This will also develop a sense of responsibility, teamwork, and professionalism that would be very crucial for a successful career in animation.

ZedCA's Unique Training Methodology (UTM) training model entails extensive training on Concepts, Software and their Application. This aims at grooming the student to be Industry ready.

Be it any tool, the first step is to Plan, create a Storyboard, develop the Content and Compile for final production. Then the Project enters the Evaluation phase where it is evaluated on the basis of pre-determined norms. If the project does not adhere to the norms it goes back to the Production phase.

The final outcome of the Course will be the Industry Standard Portfolio which the student develops. This Portfolio will give the student, a Creative and Professional edge in the exciting world of design.

Course Enquiry Form