
STEM Students at Choffin Career & Technical Center employ cutting cutting-edge technologies with iClone and Character Creator
Choffin Career & Technical Center offers Youngstown City School District scholars career and technical education opportunities combined with hands-on learning experience to prepare them for their futures.
ABOUT CHOFFIN
Originally opened in 1912 from a generous gift from the C.C Choffin estate, Choffin Career and Technical Center has provided specialized training for various skilled trades and occupations beyond traditional high school and college curricula for decades. From automotive repair to game design, Choffin has been preparing students for careers in various industries.

In September of 1973, a new building was built to house Choffin Career and Technical Center to accommodate 1,100 juniors and seniors from Youngstown’s high schools.The opening of the new center introduced several new courses, including account clerk, auto body, advanced secretarial, and many more, supplementing existing courses such as appliance repair, drafting, and cosmetology.
Today, fifty years later, the Choffin Career and Technical Center continues to serve both Youngstown students and adults, offering updated versions of existing courses and introducing new ones aligned with technological advancements. The programs are organized into five academies: Skilled Trades, The Arts, YouMed, Business, and Public Safety. Additionally, the center provides adult training in practical nursing, dental assisting, and surgical technology.

While career tech training was once considered an alternative to college, it now serves as a pathway to higher education, particularly for those pursuing STEM fields. The Choffin Center remains committed to accomplishing three primary goals for Youngstown students: graduating on time, earning industry credentials, and being prepared for both career and college pursuits.
TEACHING TOMORROW TODAY
In 2019 Interactive App and Game Design was added to the program available at Choffin. In this program, high school juniors learned how to do computer programming as well as design games using Unreal Engine.

In their senior year, they learned 3D modeling and animation using software such as Blender, Character Creator, and iClone. In 2023 the program evolved and became the Real-time 3D Technology program. The Real-time 3D Technology program is designed for the world of entertainment, arts, and technology. In this program, our students learn how to develop video games, create 3D worlds, animate 3D characters, and develop AR and VR experiences.

This knowledge prepares students who wish to enter the Mobile App and Video Game industry with vast knowledge in Design, Programming, 3D Art, and Animation. The skills learned throughout this program will open the doors to endless possibilities in industries such as Game Design, App Design, Film, Architectural Visualization, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality.

WORKING WITH REALLUSION SOFTWARE
In the real-time 3D technology program at Choffin, our students are no longer confined to traditional textbooks and lectures. With the advent of cutting-edge technologies like iClone and Character Creator, the classroom has become a vibrant hub of creativity and innovation. From crafting digital worlds and games to producing virtual production sets, movies, and VR experiences, our students are embracing the limitless possibilities of these powerful tools to redefine the way they learn and express themselves.

This year we purchased iClone 8 and Character Creator 4. These programs allow our students to create lifelike characters, animate them with fluid movements, and design immersive environments with ease. Whether they’re crafting a fantasy adventure, building a futuristic city, or reimagining historical events, iClone provides students with the tools they need to turn their ideas into reality.

Complementing iClone is Character Creator, a versatile tool that enables students to customize and personalize their characters with unprecedented precision. From facial features and body proportions to clothing and accessories, Character Creator gives our students the freedom to express their creativity and bring their characters to life in ways never before possible. With a vast library of assets and a seamless integration with iClone, Character Creator empowers our students to create unique and compelling characters that drive their narratives forward.

But the impact of iClone and Character Creator extends far beyond the realm of storytelling. In our classroom, students are using these tools to explore a wide range of disciplines and subjects, from art and design to computer science and engineering. With iClone and Character Creator, students can collaborate on projects, experiment with different ideas, and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a dynamic and engaging environment.
One area where our students are using iClone and Character Creator is in the creation of digital worlds, games, and virtual production sets. Students are leveraging these tools to design interactive experiences that transport players to new and exciting worlds, challenge them with puzzles and obstacles, and immerse them in rich and immersive narratives. Whether they’re exploring ancient civilizations, traversing distant galaxies, or embarking on epic quests, our students are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with iClone and Character Creator.

One of the things that set iClone apart for us is its seamless integration with our Perception Neuron suit. By pairing iClone with our motion capture suit, our students learn how to capture human movement for editing inside of iClone. This allows them to create characters that move and behave in a way that feels natural and lifelike, enhancing the overall quality and realism of their animations.


In our classroom, iClone and Character Creator are invaluable tools for students interested in filmmaking and virtual production. With their intuitive animation tools and powerful rendering capabilities, students learn how to produce high-quality movies, animations, and virtual reality experiences. From previsualization and storyboarding to final production and editing, iClone and Character Creator provide students with everything they need to bring their cinematic visions to life on the screen.

iClone and Character Creator have revolutionized the way our students learn, create, and collaborate in the classroom. By empowering them to explore their creativity, express themselves, and push the boundaries of what’s possible, these tools are transforming education at Choffin and shaping the next generation of innovators, storytellers, and digital artists.
Choffin Career and Technical Center Hosts Market Day
At the bustling Choffin Career and Technical Center, Friday April 26th marked a day of innovation and creativity as the annual Market Day unfolded. Among the many exhibits, one particularly caught the eye of the press – the Real-time 3D Technology class, where students showcased their mastery in digital artistry. Utilizing cutting-edge tools like Character Creator and its Headshot 2.0 plugin, they demonstrated to attendees their skills by crafting lifelike digital humans from photographs.

Throughout the day, the students explained their process, explaining how the digital humans created can be used in projects such as games, movies, VR experiences, and training simulation apps. From the initial creation in Character Creator 4 to the seamless animation in iClone, powered by Perception Neuron motion capture suits and animations from Mixamo, the students at Choffin Career and Technical Center showcase their dedication and expertise.
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