CSCI 140 Desk Gallery

3-D Computer Modeling 
CSCI 140 Fall 2002

Bailey, Pat

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Desk
Pat BaileyDesk Scene
The Cubicle - Getting outside the Box
 
Introduction
I am a software engineer learning about 3D computer modeling and animation. During my seventeen year career I have worked for several different companies, always in similar environments  sitting in front of a computer monitor, at a desk in a cubicle, like Dilbert.

Inspiration
The scene is an abstraction of the cubical work environment. Although that environment may be the best balance between company economics and employee comfort, I have problems with it in terms of privacy, noise control and a mild claustrophobic reaction causing the desire to escape the confinement of the cube. Like being inside a box.

The scene reflects the simplicity and starkness of a cubicle on a worker's first day at work. I tried to think outside the box by making the cube scene attractive with colored lights casting multiple shadows and forming interesting patterns. But the obvious remains  it is an impersonal cubicle, a box to sit in for 8 to 10 hours a day, 5 days a week.
 
  
 
Objects
DeskPat
LampPat
GlassPat
PencilPat
CubiclePat
Textures
All TexturesLightwave
 
Problems encountered

This was my first experience with 3D computer modeling so I had many problems mainly due to lack of experience with Lightwave. Probably the most persistent problem was with surface normals  some surfaces were totally or partially inside out and sometimes this seemed to be caused by Lightwave, i.e., it occurred to surfaces that I had been using for awhile and that were not previously inside out. I could easily solve the problem for surfaces totally inside out, I just selected them in Modeler and flipped them. But, for some surfaces that were partially inside out, I found it easier to recreate the surface rather than select the offending points and flip them.

The other main problem I had was in setting object properties that would produce the desired effects when the scene was rendered  e.g., light intensity, reflectivity, diffuseness, etc. (things set in the surface editor and in object properties). I was able to solve this by persistence, patience and with the help of the instructor and lab assistant. It was like trying to solve a set of n equations with m > n unknowns, or like adjusting a carburetor (fuel injection is great). So, I changed only one or two settings at a time.