Ricardo Figueroa Headshot

Ricardo Figueroa

Director, School of Film and Animation; John Traver Endowed Professor

Dean’s Office
College of Art and Design
Undergraduate Program Director, Motion Picture Science

585-475-2745
Office Location

Ricardo Figueroa

Director, School of Film and Animation; John Traver Endowed Professor

Dean’s Office
College of Art and Design
Undergraduate Program Director, Motion Picture Science

Education

BS Electrical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez; MS Electrical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez; Ph.D. Computing and Information Sciences, RIT

585-475-2745

Areas of Expertise

Select Scholarship

Journal Paper
Figueroa, Ricardo R. "What Electronic Image Noise Signatures Can Tell Us About Image Linearity and Camera Encoding." SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal 133. 5 (2024): 71-78. Print.
Figueroa, Ricardo and Rui Li. "Bayesian Methods for Radiometric Calibration in Motion Picture Encoding Workflows." SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal 128. 7 (2019): 25-30. Print.
Published Conference Proceedings
Figueroa, Ricardo. "What Electronic Image Noise Signatures Can Tell Us About Image Linearity and Camera Encoding." Proceedings of the SMPTE Media Technology Summit 2023. Ed. John Ferder, SMPTE. Los Angeles, CA: Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), 2023. Web.
Figueroa, Ricardo and Rui Li. "Bayesian Methods for Radiometric Calibration in Motion Picture Encoding Workflows." Proceedings of the 2018 SMPTE Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition. Ed. Ricardo Figueroa. New York, NY: Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Web.
Figueroa, Ricardo and Jinwei Gu. "Camera Radiometric Calibration from Motion Images." Proceedings of the SMPTE 2013 Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition. Ed. Ricardo Figueroa. Hollywood, CA: Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, 2015. Web.
National/International Competition Award Winner
Figueroa, Ricardo. Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. SMPTE Fellow. Los Angeles (Virtual for 2020), CA, 2020.

Currently Teaching

IMGS-181
3 Credits
Freshman Imaging Project I is the first of a two-course sequence. Through the exploration of concepts in physics, mathematics, and computer science, students will experience the creation of a system to address a contemporary technological need through the application of the principles of the scientific method. With the help of faculty and staff from different departments across campus, as well as external experts, students will plan and organize the effort, review current literature applicable to the posed technical challenge, apply hypotheses to address presented scientific questions, conduct experiments to assess technology options, integrate components to create a prototype, and confirm that the prototype and methods meet desired levels of performance. The students will develop a working knowledge of the scientific method and an appreciation for the value of teamwork in technical disciplines, develop the skills required to execute a large project, and increase proficiency in oral and written technical communication.
IMGS-182
3 Credits
Freshman Imaging Project II is the second of a two-course sequence aimed at designing, developing, and building a functional imaging system that will be useful to a “real world” external constituency to achieve its technical goals. With help from faculty and staff from imaging science and other departments across campus, the unified team of students will plan and organize the effort, assess technology options, integrate components, and confirm that the system meets desired levels of performance. Students will develop a general understanding of the foundational concepts of imaging science, a working knowledge of the principles of systems engineering, an appreciation for the value of teamwork in technical disciplines, and practice oral and written technical communication. In this second course of the sequence, students proceed with construction and testing of their system that was designed in COS-IMGS-181.
SOFA-399
0 Credits
Cooperative Education will provide School of Film and Animation students with hands-on experience in their field, directly related to a student’s major with an established studio or related business. Students will need to apply for co-ops, and interview as part of the selection process, based on available positions posted by the Co-op and Career Services Office, or found through the students’ own research. In programs where co-op is a degree requirement, students must obtain permission of their program or graduate director prior to enrollment. Co-ops are typically paid work experience, and can be part-time (150-479 total hours within the term), or full-time (480+ hours within the term). Co-ops may be one or two consecutive terms - fall, spring, or summer – with department permission.
SOFA-401
3 Credits
In this course student's in their final year begin work on a major student project. Students may work on projects including motion picture engineering, image science research or relevant craft. Students are in charge of their own work, but they work directly with an adviser to track their progress on the project. The class meets one hour each week to provide discussion on project progress and learning.
SOFA-402
3 Credits
A continuation of Senior Project I, in this course students in their final year continue work on a major student project. Students may work on projects including motion picture engineering, image science research or relevant craft. Students are in charge of their own work, but they work directly with an adviser to track their progress on the project. The class meets one-hour each week to provide discussion on project progress and learning.
SOFA-498
1-12 Credits
Film and Animation Internship is available to film and animation third year students with a minimum of a 2.5 GPA. Internships must be within the film and animation industry. Students must submit a completed approval form identifying the firm and listing their internship responsibilities. Internships are approved by the Undergraduate Program Director or School Director. Students are required to obtain a letter of review from their job site supervisor. To earn 1 credit, a total of 41.25 hours a semester is required (an average of 2.75 hours of work per week for 15 weeks).
SOFA-499
0 Credits
Cooperative Education will provide Film and Animation students with hands-on experience in their field, directly related to a student’s major with an established studio or related business. Students will need to apply for co-ops, and interview as part of the selection process, based on available positions posted by the Co-op and Career Services Office, or found through the students’ own research. In programs where co-op is a degree requirement, students must obtain permission of their program or graduate director prior to enrollment. Co-ops are typically paid work experience, and can be part-time (150-479 total hours within the term), or full-time (480+ hours within the term). Co-ops may be one or two consecutive terms - fall, spring, or summer – with department permission.
SOFA-599
1-6 Credits
SOFA Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, should propose a course of study or project with clearly defined deliverables. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll. Student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to apply.
SOFA-790
4 Credits
This is the first of two courses designed to advance a student towards completion of their thesis. Students will work independently on their approved plan of work for their thesis while meeting on a regular basis with their committee chair. They are required to meet at least twice with their full committee during the semester.
SOFA-799
1-4 Credits
Film and Animation Graduate Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, should propose a course of study or project with clearly defined deliverables. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll. Student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to apply.
SOFA-890
4 Credits
This is the second of two courses designed to advance a student towards completion of their thesis. Students will work independently on their approved plan of work for their thesis while meeting on a regular basis with their committee chair. They are required to meet at least twice with their full committee during the semester as well as present a final screening of their thesis.

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