Application
This unit applies to concept artists, game designers, games programmers, animators and other personnel working in the game development industry.
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Analyse rendering requirements | 1.1 Identify equipment and media required for project 1.2 Identify the features of rendering software packages used in the film and games industries 1.3 Analyse design brief or other reference sources to plan and determine rendering requirements |
2. Select a suitable rendering application to achieve desired appearance | 2.1 Select rendering software with capability to achieve desired effects within timeframe and budget 2.2 Confirm selection is according to the brief, system limitations and requirements |
3. Prepare rendering application for desired outcome | 3.1 Select and apply appropriate image resolutions, image aspect ratio and pixel ratio 3.2 Adjust renderer attributes to obtain desired anti-aliasing 3.3 Adjust renderer attributes to obtain other desired visual effects |
4. Check render integrity and quality | 4.1 Refine render integrity 4.2 Re-link any missing images and textures 4.3 Test render times for optimising process 4.4 Test alpha channels and opacity matts 4.5 Test render layers and passes |
5. Optimise images for render processes | 5.1 Complete pre-rendering optimisation tasks 5.2 Adjust and refine renderer attributes to optimise render times 5.3 Select appropriate file format for output according to the brief 5.4 Select appropriate filenames and output destinations |
6. Render images and save files appropriately | 6.1 Undertake final rendering processes 6.2 Store or archive files 6.3 Review completed render to ensure compliance with system and brief 6.4 Confirm rendering with relevant personnel |
Required Skills
Required skills
analytical skills to evaluate technical requirements of rendering against resources and timeframes
communication skills to liaise with project team and clients
initiative and enterprise skills to:
devise efficient and innovative approaches to optimise rendering capacity
provide practical support and give feedback to colleagues and management
literacy skills to read technical documents
planning and organisational skills to manage time and resources
technical skills to administer render farm and use related computer graphics applications.
Required knowledge
features of software used for:
3-D animation
3-D modelling
appropriate file sizes and file formats
lighting
rendering
scheduling of production components
shading
texturing
interpreting rendering briefs
rendering optimisation techniques
rendering requirements for games
using computer networks for rendering.
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the ability to: adhere to rendering brief requirements design and comprehend rendering tasks use and optimise render components for best performance adhere to system requirements related to file sizes and formats store rendered components in an organised manner for any further use. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure access to: computer hardware and software input device, e.g. stylist tablet, keyboard and mouse output device, such as monitor, TV, printer and speakers models and scenes to be rendered style shots rendering briefs or specifications and schedules appropriate learning and assessment support when required modified equipment for people with special needs. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: discussion and written report of the nominated techniques applied to rendering discussion with learner and observation of development of a rendering pipeline verbal questioning regarding reasons for use of hardware and software to produce optimum render process and product direct observation of the learner using rendering software project or work activities that show research and reference sourcing to gain best rendered effects written and verbal reports or documentation showing research and production plan review of portfolios of evidence review of completed and rendered image or sequence. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate. Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed. Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support. In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Equipment and media may include: | 3-D animation software computer workstation ergonomic furniture hubs input device, e.g. stylist tablet, keyboard and mouse output device, such as monitor, TV, printer and speakers render farm render network distribution software rendering software switch. |
Software may include: | 3-D Studio Max Animator Pro AutoCAD AutoCAD Revit 9 Blender Cinema 4D Combustion CorelDraw Electric Image Form Z Houdini Illustrator Lightwave Maya Photoshop Pixie POV-Ray Renderman Rhino Shake Soft Image or XSI Z Brush. |
Plan may include: | lighting networking production management production planning research shading team discussions texturing. |
Pre-rendering optimisations tasks may include: | assessing options with key personnel deleting unnecessary geometry and components optimising and refining for best render performance organisation of output preparing layer or pass control preparing opacity mattes and alpha channels preparing renderer attributes rendering selection of most appropriate renderer for specific outcome testing and diagnosing rendering issues. |
Relevant personnel may include: | animator designer modeller programmer shading and texture artist systems support officer technical director. |
Sectors
Game development
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.