Atia Newman Headshot

Atia Newman

Associate Professor

School of Film and Animation
College of Art and Design
atia.newman@rit.edu
585-475-2785
Office Location
GAN-2264

Atia Newman

Associate Professor

School of Film and Animation
College of Art and Design

Education

BFA, National College of the Arts (Pakistan); MFA, Pratt Institute

Bio

Atia Newman (Quadri) is an award-winning international 3D animator with roots in Pakistan. She is one of the first women to ever work in the Pakistani animation industry. Hired as a 2D animator straight out of school, she made the shift into 3D animation when she discovered the added challenge of combining technology with the aesthetic value of animation art.

atia.newman@rit.edu
585-475-2785
Personal Links
Personal Website
Facebook
LinkedIn
Areas of Expertise
3D Modeling and Motion
Animation
3D Animation

Select Scholarship

Published Conference Proceedings
Newman, Atia. "Cultural Preservation Using Game Technology." Proceedings of the Game Developer's Conference. Ed. GDC Reviewers. San Francisco, CA: n.p., 2022. Web.
Shows/Exhibits/Installations
Multiple, . The Character Mosaic Project. By Atia Newman and Mark Reisch. n.d. online, Rochester. Installation.

Currently Teaching

DDDD-203
Scripting
3 Credits
This course covers the use of scripts to control various aspects of three-dimensional environments, models, textures, motion, production workflow and more. Students develop scripts to control particles, models, textures, motion, and interaction with the environment. Additionally students gain experience downloading scripts to micro controllers.
SOFA-209
Introduction to 3D Modeling
3 Credits
Students create models for animation in three-dimensional software. Students learn various modeling, texturing, and lighting techniques that apply to animation and digital cinematography. Students' model, texture and light three-dimensional environments.
SOFA-217
Animation Production Workshop I
4 Credits
This course will provide the first practical experience of building a complete animated film from conception to finish. Students will apply their knowledge within the greater context of an animation production pipeline. Weekly workshops are focused on helping students plan, develop, and execute their work with regular milestones and deadlines. Students will practice time-management and build skills to adhere to deadlines, and will present their completed films to the RIT community.
SOFA-221
After Effects for Animators
3 Credits
This course will teach students the basics of Adobe After Effects. Students will learn production theory as well as gain practical experience in 2.5 D animation production.
SOFA-307
SOFA: Contemporary Issues
1 - 3 Credits
The fields of film and animation are in constant flux; responding to politics, global conflicts, economy, new technologies, and reflecting the story-telling from the cultures, communities, and histories of the makers. Through selected topics, this course will expand the scope and understanding of contemporary issues within film and animation. Course content will cover various forms of books, articles, essays, screening, and the makers’ role from the perspective of contemporary issues.
SOFA-407
Senior Capstone II
4 Credits
Students work independently with their advisor towards completion of their capstone experience for their BFA degree. Students have a predetermined timeline and must complete all deadlines of that timeline to pass this thesis course including completion and public screening of finished work or final presentation of craft experience.
SOFA-411
Animation Capstone I
4 Credits
The first of two classes designed to advance students toward the completion of a capstone. It will advance students from capstone proposal toward the completion of a project. Students will also take part in weekly critiques to present their work and discuss the work of their classmates. At the completion of this course, students should be at the halfway point of their set project.
SOFA-575
3D Lighting and Rendering
3 Credits
This course is an intensive look at lighting for three-dimensional animation pipelines. Students will learn to observe, plan and replicate real-world environments and expand those into artistic interpretations of style and design. There will be a strong focus on surfacing, set-dressing, production design, as well as economical rendering techniques. Students will learn to identify the balance between artistic needs and technical limitations and how to adequately prepare a scene for post-production practices.
SOFA-583
Building the 3D Character
3 Credits
This course is an intensive exploration of the process of character creation, specifically character rigging for digital animation. Students will learn to build a working rig by applying their research into body mechanics, character deformation, and dynamic restructuring. By combining their understanding of aesthetic character creation with the study of three-dimensional technology, the course is designed to teach automation through code-building and expressions.
SOFA-599
SOFA Independent Study
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-638
Complete 3D Character Creation
3 Credits
This course will explore the process of character creation, specifically character rigging for digital animation. Students will learn to build a working rig by applying their research into body mechanics, character deformation, and dynamic restructuring. Students will combine their understanding of aesthetic character creation with the study of 3D technology. Students will be exposed to automation through code-building and expressions. This course has an additional research component.
SOFA-675
3D Lighting and Texturing
3 Credits
This course will offer an intensive look at lighting for three-dimensional animation pipelines. The focus of the course will be: surfacing, set-dressing, production design, and economical rendering techniques. Students will learn to observe, plan, replicate real-world environments, and apply to artistic interpretations of style and design. The course will also provide a balance between artistic needs and technical limitations in order to prepare a scene for post-production practices. This course has an additional research component.
SOFA-717
Animation Workshop
4 Credits
This course is the student’s second experience producing a complete animated film individually or in collaboration with a classmate. In this workshop-style course, students will design and implement all phases of an animated film production and produce a short film with sound. Students will rely only on techniques learned in previous classes. The final film must be screened for the school community at the end of the course.
SOFA-799
Film and Animation Graduate Independent Study
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
Research and Thesis II
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.

In the News

  • August 19, 2022

    RIT President Munson speaking at podium with a power point projection in the background.

    President Munson calls on RIT community to reinvigorate the campus this academic year

    RIT President David Munson welcomed the community for the start of a new academic year with a call to re-energize the campus’s atmosphere to its pre-pandemic level. During his annual President’s Address in Ingle Auditorium this morning, Munson encouraged all RIT faculty, staff, and students to make a new academic year resolution to spend more time face-to-face with one another.

  • January 2, 2018

    Students and faculty involved in the Character Mosaic project.

    RIT project addresses dearth of minority characters in 3D animations

    Discouraged by an underrepresentation of minority characters in 3D-animated works, two School of Film and Animation faculty launched the Character Mosaic Project. The initiative aims to build a library of ethnically diverse, well-built characters that are free of charge to independent animators/filmmakers and students around the globe.

     

More News

Featured Work

Iroquois Creation Story

Atia Newman

A huge collaborative project combining 3D animation, 2D animation and live action shoots into a short film chronicling the origin story of the Iroquois nation.

View More about Iroquois Creation Story