Topic outline

  • Welcome to the course!

    Would you like to learn how to create striking 3D images to visualize your science projects, design journal/thesis cover pictures or eye-popping posters? Come and join our new workshop on computer aided visualization!

    This course/workshop teaches how to make 3D rendered images of different science related topics. The course provides basic software tools for visualization, 3D modelling and rendering. The aim is to promote creativeness and artistic way of presenting science. Special focus is placed on the visualization of organic compounds, biomolecules and their animations. The course uses three open-source software products: UCSF Chimera (protein and volume structures), PovRay (text-based scene description) and Blender (3D modelling with GUI).

    Course Teachers:

    Prof. Mauri Kostiainen: course teacher (mauri.Kostiainen@aalto.fi)
    Dr. Juuso Korhonen: Blender teacher (juuso.korhonen@aalto.fi)
    Ahmed Shaukat: course assistant (ahmed.1.ahmed@aalto.fi)

    Learning outcomes:

    1)         Knows the basic functions of the given softwares.
    2)         Can identify creative and artistic ways of presenting science.
    3)         Is able to produce 3D rendered images.
    4)         Can produce simple animations.
    5)         Can start working on a visualization topic from own study / research field.
    6)         Is able to present scientific topics in visually appealing manner.

    Students are eligible to three or five credit points. This is an introductory level course and no prior experience with these software is needed. UCSF Chimera, PovRay and Blender are all freeware and be downloaded from online sources. Windows 7+ operating system is recommended.


    To get credits (3 cr):


    Join all lectures, complete the project work and present your work.

    Lecture 1: UCSF Chimera and PovRay. (8 h)

    Lecture 2: Blender basics. (8 h)

    Lecture 3: Software integration: from Chimera to PovRay and Blender. (8 h)

    Task 4: Project work producing an image, animation etc. (Any scientific topic, must use at least two programs from Chimera/PovRay/Blender.) (50 h)

    Task 5: Project presentation and feedback. Please make your final work available online (public Youtube video, website, journal/thesis cover etc.) and share the link to MyCourses General Discussion. Here you can also provide feedback for other course members. (8 h)


    Total: 82 h (3 credits)

    To get additional credits (2 cr):
    Complete exercises 1-3. (55 h)

    Deadline for tasks, projects works and exercises is 13.6. Please return your materials to MyCourses. Submit both the original Blender/PovRay/Chimera files and the final rendered images/videos etc. 

    Flyer