3D Modelling and Animation: Unit Exam B
Primitives and modelling tools, counting the parts of a shape, lights, materials and textures, frames and render times, and the principles of animation.
Instructions
- Time allowed
- 25 minutes
- Total marks
- 25
- Calculator
- No calculator is permitted.
- Answer all the questions.
- The number of marks for each question is shown in brackets. Use it as a guide to how much to write.
- The clock at the top counts down from the real time allowed. When it reaches zero the paper is locked and marked, as it would be collected in the exam hall.
- Read every question to the end before answering. Where a question says tick two boxes, tick exactly two: ticking more than asked scores nothing. Type one word and number answers carefully, because they are marked exactly.
Questions
Answer every question, then finish the paper to have it marked. Marking as you go teaches you far less.
Tick one box.
- LB A simple starting shape such as a cube, sphere or cylinder
Models usually start from a primitive.
- L5
- L5
- L8
A square base plus four triangles is 5 faces. 4 base corners plus the tip is 5 vertices. 4 base edges plus 4 sloping edges is 8.
Tick one box.
- LC Splits faces into smaller faces so that smoother shapes can be made
More, smaller faces allow smoother curves.
Tick one box.
- LA A new ring of edges added around a model
A loop cut adds edges all the way round, ready for shaping.
Tick one box.
- LD An operation applied to a model that changes it without permanently editing the mesh, such as mirror
Modifiers can be adjusted or removed at any time.
| Point light | Spot light | Area light | Sun light | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shines in every direction from one point, like a bare bulb | ||||
| A cone of light, like a torch | ||||
| Soft light from a rectangle, like a window | ||||
| Parallel rays across the whole scene |
Tick one box in each row.
- LShines in every direction from one point, like a bare bulb: Point light
- LA cone of light, like a torch: Spot light
- LSoft light from a rectangle, like a window: Area light
- LParallel rays across the whole scene: Sun light
Point, spot, area and sun lights each imitate a different real light source.
- LA material sets how a surface reacts to light: its colour, shininess, roughness or transparency
- LA texture is an image or pattern mapped onto the surface to add detail
A material decides how the surface reacts to light: its colour, how shiny or rough it is and whether light passes through it. A texture is an image, such as wood grain or brick, mapped onto the surface to add detail, and it is usually used inside a material.
- L300
30 x 10 = 300 frames.
- LCorrect answer, full marks: 10 hours
- LMethod: Multiplies the number of frames by the minutes per frame
300 x 2 = 600 minutes, and 600 / 60 = 10 hours.
Tick one box.
- LD Many computers render different frames at the same time
The frames are shared out between many machines.
| Anticipation | Follow through | Squash and stretch | Easing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A character's hair keeps moving after they stop running | ||||
| A car slows down gently before stopping | ||||
| A character crouches before jumping | ||||
| A bouncing ball flattens as it lands |
Tick one box in each row.
- LA character's hair keeps moving after they stop running: Follow through
- LA car slows down gently before stopping: Easing
- LA character crouches before jumping: Anticipation
- LA bouncing ball flattens as it lands: Squash and stretch
Movement that carries on is follow through, gradual speed change is easing, preparation is anticipation and flattening is squash and stretch.
- LA key light, the main and brightest light, to one side of the subject
- LA softer fill light on the other side to reduce shadows
- LA back light behind the subject to separate it from the background
A key light, the brightest, is placed in front of the subject and to one side. A softer fill light on the other side lightens the shadows the key light creates. A back light behind the subject picks out its edges and separates it from the background.
Tick one box.
- LA So each frame can be drawn quickly enough for the game to run smoothly
A game must render many frames every second, so it limits the polygon count.
This is an original Key Stage 3 assessment. Most questions are closed, so the marking is exact, and the written answers are marked against a mark scheme in the same style as a GCSE paper, so the format is familiar long before it counts.