Overview
This unit of study provides an introduction to three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics. You will learn how to use a variety of tools and techniques to create 3D assets for use in real-time rendering platforms. You will develop the necessary skills to produce 3D assets for animation, visual effects and games using industry-standard software.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: Minimum of 12 credit points
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE unit comment report
One student noted that while they found the unit enjoyable and rewarding, they experienced some difficulty navigating the combined task sheet for the two assessments. They suggested that separating the task sheets into distinct documents for Assessment 1 and Assessment 2 might improve clarity.
The unit coordinator acknowledges the importance of ensuring that assessment instructions are clear and accessible. He will review the current task sheet format and explore the option of separating the documents in future iterations of the unit. This adjustment aims to reduce potential confusion and support students in better understanding the requirements for each task.
- Apply the principles of design to 3D asset creation
- Produce 3D models suitable for real-time rendering using industry-standard software
- Produce asset texture maps suitable for real-time rendering using industry-standard software
- Produce simple materials suitable for real-time rendering using industry-standard software
Not applicable
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Practical and Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 60% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Adobe Photoshop CC
- Adobe Premiere CC
- Google Chrome
- Graphics Tablet (Recommended)
- Microsoft Word
- Maya 2023 above
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
q.huang@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Unit Overview, Asset Creation Workflows, Principles of Design, Painting in Photoshop
Chapter
Asset Design (Perspective and Orthographic) in Photoshop (with Graphics Tablet)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Modelling - Workflows, Terminology, Tools and Techniques (Part 1)
Chapter
Maya User Interface, Modelling Assets (Basic Forms)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Modelling - Workflows, Terminology, Tools and Techniques (Part 2)
Chapter
Modelling Assets (Details)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026Module/Topic
UVs - What They Are, Workflows, Terminology, Tools and Techniques
Chapter
Unwrapping Assets UVs
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Textures - What They Are, Workflows, Terminology, Tools and Techniques
Chapter
Creating Assets Textures (Colour, Specular, Height/Bump/Normals) in Photoshop and Using Materials (and Lights) in Maya
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Rendering - Real time vs. Traditional (Differences, Pros and Cons, Post-processing, PBR, AR, VR)
Chapter
Publishing to Sketchfab - Models, Textures, Materials, Lights and Post-processing
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Modular Assets - What They Are, Workflows, Terminology, Tools and Techniques
Chapter
Sets and Modular Asset Design (Perspective and Orthographic) in Photoshop (with Graphics Tablet)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 04 May 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Modelling Sets and Modular Assets (Basic Forms)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 11 May 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Modelling Sets and Modular Assets (Basic Forms)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 18 May 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Unwrapping Sets and Modular Assets UVs
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 25 May 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Creating Sets and Modular Assets, Textures (Colour, Ambience Occlusion, Bump, Normal) both in Photoshop and Maya.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Animation (Basic) and Publishing to Sketchfab - Models, Textures, Materials, Lights and Post-processing
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Practical and Written Assessment
This assessment requires you to publish six (6) 3D assets to a real-time rendering platform, and complete a written review of your work. The assets and document must adhere to the technical specifications and submission requirements specified in the assessment criteria.
Week 6 Friday (17 Apr 2026) 11:00 pm AEST
Week 8 Friday (8 May 2026)
Adherence to technical specifications and submission requirements
Application of principles of design
Suitability of models for real-time rendering
Suitability of textures for real-time rendering
Use of real-time rendering materials and post-processing tools
Effort and engagement
Creativity and innovation
Communication (written)
- Apply the principles of design to 3D asset creation
- Produce 3D models suitable for real-time rendering using industry-standard software
- Produce asset texture maps suitable for real-time rendering using industry-standard software
- Produce simple materials suitable for real-time rendering using industry-standard software
2 Practical and Written Assessment
This assessment requires you to publish a 3D diorama to a real time rendering platform, and complete a written review of your work. The diorama and document must adhere to the technical specifications and submission requirements specified in the assessment criteria.
Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 11:00 pm AEST
Vacation/Exam Week Friday (19 June 2026)
Adherence to technical specifications and submission requirements
Application of principles of design
Suitability of models for real-time rendering
Suitability of textures for real-time rendering
Use of real-time rendering materials and post-processing tools
Effort and engagement
Creativity and innovation
Communication (written)
- Apply the principles of design to 3D asset creation
- Produce 3D models suitable for real-time rendering using industry-standard software
- Produce asset texture maps suitable for real-time rendering using industry-standard software
- Produce simple materials suitable for real-time rendering using industry-standard software
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
