Deborah R. Fowler | Rules

Deborah R. Fowler

General Information and Submission Guidelines

Updated on Sept 14 2014
Updated on Jan 22 2022

Academic Integrity

Students are responsible for knowing and adhering to SCAD academic policy. Students are allowed to discuss exercises and/or projects with each other or help each other find errors in their code. However, you are not to do anyone else's work for them. Every assignment in this course is to be done as an individual. You must turn in your own work for all exercises, projects, exams and quizzes! In particular you may:

not copy another person's work in part or whole and submit it as your own work, this includes online tutorials;
not allow someone else to copy your work and submit it as their own;
not allow someone else to do all or part of the work for you;
not submit the work of a group as your own;
not share any of your work (assignments, code, etc.) with any other student, including through posting it on the Internet or sending it in email

Acts of cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course.

Dropbox

The drop box is not for personal storage and is not to be used as a working directory. Only copies of the files that you hand in for exercises and projects should go into the dropbox. Please follow proper naming conventions as specified in the submission guidelines. Warning: Files and directories in the drop box which have not specifically been requested may be deleted without notice.

The Materials folder will be used to share class materials as well as other students work this quarter. So if you have something cool that would benefit others understanding of Houdini, let me know, drop it in your dropbox and I'll copy it to the Materials folder.

Submission Guidelines - always check your class handouts

In the example below, Kermit Frog is in VSFX 350 and has files neatly labeled - Kermit submitted a final render for the building project and is at week 7 so we'll see if he has a Final render for the Complex Scene. I will be able to see whether or not he has submitted a final version by glancing at the top level of the dropbox. Naming conventions save time having to search for someones files.

Exercise submissions: Create a directory in the dropbox, Quarter_Class_EN_LastnameFirstname_Title/, containing:

.hip file, Quarter_Class_EN_LastnameFirstname_Title.hipnc
.jpg file Quarter_Class_EN_LastnameFirstname_Title.jpg. (NO tif images please, png is acceptable)
.mov or mp4 file, Quarter_Class_EN_LastnameFirstname_Title.mov containing the animation (if required), using high-quality H.264x compression (NO file over 1GB will be accepted unless approved), 1280x720 pixels (if not during high renderfarm use) (720x405 if you are rendering during the last two weeks of quarter). Typically a minimum of 10 seconds (guideline only) of animation is required. Additional animation is allowed at your discretion but keep in mind the added render time.
.pdf file, Quarter_Class_EN_LastnameFirstname_Title.pdf. This is a breakdown of your project as you would describe it to a fellow houdini user. These will be particularly important for projects.

Project submissions: Similar to the exercise submissions, using directory Quarter_Class_PN_LastnameFirstname_Title/ This should include the hip/jpg/mov/pdf. (Leave off the number if the class has only one project). In addition Quarter_Class_PN_LastnameFirstname_Compare.jpg will show your reference and result side by side.

Final Render submissions: These are optional as explained below and should include the hip/jpg/mov/pdf as specified above but in a folder with _Final appended to the end Quarter_Class_PN_LastnameFirstname_Title_Final/
***DO NOT DELETE THE PREVIOUS DIRECTORY, DO NOT PUT THE NEW CONTENTS IN THE OLD DIRECTORY, USE THIS NAMING CONVENTION SO THAT I CAN FIND YOUR WORK

Grading

Please follow the naming conventions as specified. It is your duty to check to ensure your work is in the dropbox and properly labeled. Failure to comply will affect your grade on the assignment and participation grade. Rubrics are posted on the class website, blackboard utilized for grades, feedback via email.

Late Policy

Students will be expected to hand in exercises and projects on time (start of class). I have little tolerance for late assignments - it is not fair to the students who worked hard to get their work in on time.
Any late assignments accepted in extenuating circumstances may incur a late penalty anywhere up to 50 percent if accepted at all.

Projects and Exercises have strict deadlines. Due means due at the start of class!

Reviews and Dailies

As with any studio, you will be expected to present your work in progress during dailies (when time permits). Projects will requires a presentation. The purpose of critiquing is to give you feedback on your work so that your work can be improved. For this reason, on projects you will be given the opportunity of submitting an improved version the next class period. I reserve the right to have your final grade be the average of the grade given at the DUE date and the grade given for the improved version. This is not an opportunity for an extension but an opportunity to improve your work.

Note that you are always welcome to seek input on your progress at any stage in a project or exercise.

This policy gives you an opportunity to integrate changes based on constructive critiques in class. This is an extremely important step in studio production and you must have your work ready to present on the due date AND in dailies.

Participation

The grading breakdown is detailed on the syllabus. Note that part of your grade is for participation. This includes being prepared for dailies, handing things in on time, being part of classroom discussions, communicating, working on in-class exercises, asking questions when appropriate, showing respect for others in the class and participating in critiques when required - executive summary - acting professionally.

For all student presentations, please refrain from working during presentations, be courteous and pay attention. This is expected and counts toward your professionalism grade.

Student Information