Professional Automotive Modeling Diploma

Recommended pre-requisite:
AVIS 362 Alias Studio Tools 2008

PPAM 256 X: Clay Modeling I
Students will be introduced to, and taught proper use of clay modeling materials and
tools. Students will work from sketches they create as templates for forms they will
reproduce in clay. Proper studio etiquette will also be discussed.

PPAM 257 X: 3D Modeling and Rendering I
Students will enter this course with some prior knowledge of Alias software. Students
will be required to continue to master the various software tools. Students will re-create
their clay wheel digitally, and will be introduced to working with raw data for an existing
transport vehicle. Assignments relating to their clay wheel will provide students insight to
a Digital Modeler’s role when they are working from a clay source, i.e. being required to
make modifications to their existing wheel design digitally. Changes made in the digital
format will help students understand how those modifications affect the clay model, as
would be required in an industry setting. Students will not make modifications to clay
wheels in the classroom. Students should be required/encouraged to make modifications
to the model outside of class, at home, and to document modifications through photos,
drawings and printouts for use in their final portfolio outside of class.

PPAM 366 X: Clay Modeling II
Using techniques already learned in semester one, and with additional training in
methods and techniques, students will create one-half of a 1/5 scale automobile against a
mirror. Students will select from one of two armatures and car forms that are
predetermined by the instructor and technician. The uniformity of the assignments will allow
for instructors to better identify student progress, while also removing a potential source
of distraction, i.e. the students’ impulse to create a unique design. Students will better
understand the real-world role of the 3D modeler. Students will work from sketches and
will be required to create their own orthographic drawings based on the two designs
provided by the instructor. A designer will be invited in to view the work and assign
modifications to each student which they will then be required to apply to their model.
The designer will work along side the Clay modeling instructors for several of the sixteen
weeks to oversee execution of the design changes.

PPAM 367 X: 3D Modeling and Rendering II
The first several weeks of the sixteen week semester, students will learn and employ
professional finishing techniques for their printed Alias wheel designs (created in the 2nd
term) using the woodshop and paint areas. For the remaining weeks, students will refine
their Alias skills by re-creating the design of their 1/5 scale automobile model in digital
format. Emphasis will be on refining curves and surface modeling. Rendering techniques
will be taught. The possibility of incorporating a white light scanner will be considered
for this term to allow students to work with actual data. Students much each create a
presentation board for their Alias design work for final presentation with clay models,
finished wheels and resume.

PPAM 370 X: 3D Modeling and Rendering III
Students will strive to master Alias design tools and will learn and apply Alias rendering
techniques to their car and wheel designs. A Designer will co-teach several weeks of the
course to dictate design changes that the students will then have to incorporate into their
final work. Students will be asked to work from sketches as well as from verbal and
written descriptions.