Unreal Engine Essentials
Create interactive content in real-time with the help of gaming technology!
The Unreal Essential Essentials course introduces students to the basics of Unreal Engine by presenting the practical use of tools in realistic production frameworks. While working on creative projects, participants will learn about the specifics of the Unreal Engine related to environmental design and real-time interaction design. Upon the course completion, candidates will have the opportunity to create a final project and combine knowledge through a topic of their choice. The course is led by Milan Ličina, creative technologist and authorized Unreal Engine instructor.
The course is intended for all those who already have the basic knowledge in 3D modeling* and want to adapt their skills to work in real-time, which is soon to become an industry standard.
Unreal Engine is used in the development of linear and interactive film content, video games, or other interactive VR/ AR applications. UE is becoming more and more prevalent in architecture, advertising, medicine, and especially in studios for film and TV virtual production. You can read more about UE and where it’s being used here.
* In case you don’t have any experience in 3D modeling, but do want to learn the Unreal Engine, we recommend taking a look at the accredited modular program plan Technical Art in Unreal Engine that, aside from this course, also involves beginners courses.
Week 1: Introduction to Unreal Engine 5
• Unreal Engine 5 UI overview and the use of basic tools.
• Creating levels using geometric primitives and block-out basic scene settings.
Week 2: Working with models and texturing
• Importing models into Unreal Engine 5 and using Static Mesh Editor.
• Adding new materials and working in the Material Editor.
• Overview of different shader models in UE5.
• Bitmap optimization and working with textures.
Week 3: Master Materials and Lighting in Unreal Engine 5
• Creating Master Materials and working with material instances.
• Animating textures on material and Function of material.
• Implementing various lighting tools and creating the atmosphere.
Week 4: Level Design / Landscape
• Using Landscape tools and Landscape materials.
• Landscape layers editing.
• Creating trees and grass using Speedtree software.
• Using Foliage tools and Height folders.
• Installation of water surfaces.
Week 5: VFX / SFX in UE5
• Niagara editors review and work with the particle system.
• Creating the effects of fire, smoke, rain, and snow.
• Adding sound effects to the scene.
Week 6: Blueprint
• Blueprint basics, Blueprint Level, and data types.
• Blueprint communication and animation, working with the Actor Class.
• Managing the Niagara system through Blueprint.
Week 7: Camera and Render
• Setting up and animating the camera, framing and posting effects on the Camera Actor.
• Rigging, recording sequences, and exporting video files.
Week 8: Creating UI in Unreal Engine 5
• Create widgets and work with basic UI elements in the UMG editor.
• Programming interactive functionalities of UI elements.
At the start of 2021, the leader in the field of interactive and 3D engine technology, Epic Games awarded Crater Training Center with the Epic MegaGrant for the project dedicated to educating professors from numerous schools in Serbia. From this stemmed the Train the Trainers initiative during which we trained 45 university professors to work in the Unreal Engine.
Later that same year, we participated in the European education project in this engine called Summer of Unreal, shoulder to shoulder with the leading European schools for animation and digital graphics. These are Escape Studios, ArtFX, The Animation Workshop, Screen Skills Ireland, La Salle Barcelona, and Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart.
Our educational program Technical Art in Unreal Engine, which is completed with this exact course, has been accredited by Agency for qualification by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia.
Upon the submission of the final task, candidates receive the Crater Training Center certificate of successful course completion. In case you enroll in this course through the accredited modular program Technical Art in Unreal Engine, you will receive an acknowledgment of comprehension appointed by the Agency for qualification by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia.
Milan Ličina
Visual Artist
Milan Ličina is a visual artist born in 1990 in Belgrade. He began his professional career as a CGI generalist while studying at the Belgrade Polytechnic College and, later on, the Faculty of Digital Arts. Upon graduation, he became interested in interactive and generative art, as well as procedural and real-time graphics.
He operates through the fields of emerging technologies and experiential design, using the intersection of art, design, and technology as a platform for creating immersive narratives, with extensive experience in new media, computer graphics, creative industry, event, and exhibition design. Since 2014, he has been working on several domestic and international projects that include TV production, VR content creation, usage of the game engines to develop interactive art installations, and virtual stage design. In addition to international commercial and artistic design, he is also engaged in academic work through the promotion of the STEAM model of education.
He is currently an assistant professor at Metropolitan University, where he teaches Interactive Media Design, Computer Games, and Visual Communication. In 2022, Epic Games named him an authorized Unreal Engine instructor.
Uroš Jovanović
Artist @ Crater Studio
Embarking on his journey into the world of digital art during his studies at the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade, Uroš strives for continuous evolution of his creativity within this realm. Today, as a 3D generalist with years of experience in architectural visualization, conceptual art, and the film industry, he focuses on crafting atmospheres, solving technical challenges, and creating and implementing diverse 3D models.
Uroš’s passion lies in the creation of exceptional digital environments, be they interactive in nature or conceptual solutions.
Nikola Silić
Nikola Silić is a standup comedian who works as a 2D/3D generalist with over 20 years of experience in film and TV production. Completed TTP (Train The Professionals) course for Unreal Engine at Crater Training Center. One of the Fellows of the first generation of the Epic Unreal Fellowship: Storytelling in Novi Sad. He is interested in animations, movies and whatever technology makes his life easier. In his free time, he works on 4,534 personal projects that he has started and is about to finish.
COURSE INFORMATION
TUITION
790 EUR price category 1*
1185 EUR price category 2*
VAT included.
* View pricing & payment options
Start date
May 6th, 2024
Check out the course calendar
COURSE DURATION
6 weeks (60 classes)
REQUIREMENTS
basic computer skills
Photoshop*
3D Essentials*
* or equivalent computer skills
ENROLLMENT
In the classroom / Online
Students works
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Organic Modeling #2: Character Modeling and Texturing
The launchpad for a successful career in AAA gaming.
As a natural extension to our elementary course, Organic Modeling and Texturing is intended for rookies ready to take their organic modeling skills on an even higher level, whether that be of a human or an extraterrestrial being (as long as they come in peace).
The course’s curriculum is designed to equip students with advanced techniques and tools to develop their unique modeling styles and character designs. After completing the course, students will have the skills required for junior positions in game dev companies, i.e., they will know how to prepare their characters for production (texturing, retopology, UV mapping).
Click here to read more about organic modeling and why this profession became so popular in the film and video game business.
Introduction to the concept of topology
• Retopology and its process, with the focus on how and why it is done in the video game industry (the terms Loop and Patch).
UV Mapping
• Cutting LP models to obtain a UV map.
• Stacking a UV map in a UV space.
• UV size adjustment.
• Space optimization for UV parts.
• Optimization based on model characteristics and the importance of optimization.
• Retopology exercises (no mercy).
Texture Baking
• Processes by which main types of maps are baked, Normal map, Ambient Occlusion map, Curvature map (harder approach, without Adobe Substance 3D Painter).
• Exercise: Baking main types of maps and getting acquainted with the Cage and potential problems.
• Exercise: Baking main types of maps (again and again).
Adobe Substance 3D Painter
• Introduction to the interface and its demystification.
• Importance and use value of the software.
• Basic texturing.
• Introduction to functions for elementary workable texturing.
• Introduction to PBR (Physically-Based Rendering) textures, various types, effects they produce, how to get Normal maps, Displacement maps, Specular maps, Curvature maps, World Space maps, AO (Ambient Occlusion) maps.
• Student exercises directly on their personal models (homework).
• Posing the LP character of the student, arranging previously baked textures.
• Finishing work, texture stacking and review in the Marmoset Toolbag to get Beauty Shots.
• Finishing works, posed and fully textured in Marmoset Viewer, Turntable, animations with Mixamo, Idle, Run, etc.
Upon completion of the course, students will receive the Crater Training Center Certificate.
Milan Krstić
Milan Krstić is a 3D Artist from Belgrade with vast experience in the video games and film industry. He graduated at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Belgrade, and during his career he found himself in positions such as 3D Character Artist, 3D Environment Artist and 3D Concept Artist.
His portfolio consists of various interesting projects, including video games Scorn and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, films Extinction and Knives Out 2 (Netflix), as well as TV shows The Arc and Krypton (extended DC universe).
Milan currently works at the Belgrade Polytechnic where he teaches Digital Modeling and Character Design.
COURSE INFORMATION
TUITION
970 EUR price category 1*
1455 EUR price category 2*
VAT included.
* View pricing & payment options
Start date
April 25th, 2024
Check out the course calendar
COURSE DURATION
7 weeks (80 classes)
REQUIREMENTS
basic computer skills
Photoshop*
Organic Modeling I*
* or equivalent computer skills
ENROLLMENT
In the classroom / Online
Students works
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Matte Painting and Environment Design
One-of-a-kind course on creating stunning environments for film and video games.
The course is a combination of matte painting basics mixed with elements of concept art and environment design.
In addition to historical overview and theoretical support, the course focuses on practical and effective digital imaging and photo-editing techniques, both in preparation (design), and in the realization of the matte painting project (tasks) themselves.
Also, a key and more extensive part of the course is based on themed project tasks, which through appropriate procedures and techniques, teach the students how to overcome the various challenges and requirements of matte painting. The techniques learned in this course are the same as the ones learned in an advanced Photoshop course, making the knowledge and skills acquired during the lessons, universally applicable in any field of digital art.
INTRODUCTION
• History of Matte Painting; analog vs digital
• Matte painting today – recent technology in use
• Matte painting as a part of VFX industry
• Types of Matte painting shots; production workflow, pipeline, demands (creative and technical)
• Intro to environment design/ concept art; Correlation between matte painting and concept art/ design, pre and post production.
PREPARATION
• Projects organization, conventions and rules
• Using a pen tablet in Photoshop
• Basic drawing and painting techniques for environment design processing
INTRO TO PERSPECTIVE
• Types of perspective
• Using one point perspective system in natural environment creation process
• Aerial perspective and value; Using values in establishing space and volumes (value blocking)
THUMBNAILS SKETCHING
• Tools and techniques of digital sketching
• Adjusting, management and brush customizations
• Using linear and aerial perspective elements in creating sketches
• Basic design rules
• Brush economy, stylization and simplification
• Speed paint techniques and tools
• Photo study techniques
COMPOSITION
• Basic rules and elements of visual composition
• Composition as an instrument of visual narrative and environment design
• Practical use of composition techniques in creating sketches
INTRO TO MATTE PAINTING – PHOTO EDITING (project 01)
• Digital photography – cinematography and matte paint – conventions, terms, attributes
• Photo referencing – research and management ; aesthetic and technical aspects
• Basic photo editing tools; photo retouching, photo adjusting
• Attributes of convincing photo composite (I) – light, color, atmosphere; comparative analysis
• Day to night conversion
PHOTOBASHING (project 02)
• Photo manipulation and extraction techniques and tools
• Working with smart objects and masks
• Non-destructive photo editing techniques
• Attributes of convincing photo composite (II)- image planes, local contrast , aerial perspective…
• Scale and proportions, structures and image plane attributes
LANDSCAPE MATTE PAINTING (project 03)
• Project preparation – analyzing assignment, gathering and organizing photo references, making mood-boards, hero reference break down
• Working with the plate; term, conditions and properties
• Creating paint over sketch
• Photo elements extraction and integration – block in composition
• Color correction; planes values reference matching; light articulation, final tuning
CITYSCAPE MATTE PAINTING (project 04)
• Types and usage of linear perspective
• Using linear perspective in architectural environment creation; rules, distortion, converging lines; creating geometric volumes
• Setting up a perspective grid
• Making concept sketches following the perspective grid
• Architectural photo elements – extraction and manipulation; transferring perspective from photo into orthographic view; perspective grid matching and aligning
• Photo elements block in following perspective layout
• Color correction, atmosphere, light …
• Details and final tuning
CITYSCAPE MATTE PAINTING II – night version (optional)
• Day to night conversion
• Artificial light types and properties
• Light integration into pre-made matte (matte from previous assignment)
• Final tuning
Upon completion of the course students will receive the Crater Training Center Certificate.
Dejan Vukadinović
Lecturer @ Belgrade Polytechnic School
One of the first Crater Training Center instructors, Dejan is an expert in Concept Design, Digital Illustration and Matte Paint currently teaching Character and Concept Design at Belgrade Polytechnic School. A member of many award-winning projects, he has tried his hand in gaming, film, and advertising and participated in many competitions in the country and abroad. Graduated in Industrial Design from the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade, he has been with Crater Training Center since 2012 teaching Matte Painting and Environment Design course.
COURSE INFORMATION
TUITION
1160 EUR price category 1*
1740 EUR price category 2*
VAT included.
* View pricing & payment options
Start date
October, 2023
Check out the course calendar
COURSE DURATION
5 weeks (60 classes)
REQUIREMENTS
basic computer skills
drawing skills
work with a graphics board
Photoshop*
* or equivalent computer skills
ENROLLMENT
In the classroom / Online
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VFX in Houdini
Master the magic of natural phenomena!
The safest way of approaching one of the industry’s most daunting software, VFX in Houdini offers a basic overview of the methodology and tools used to create top dynamic effects as it is done in a genuine professional production environment. Designed to prepare students to create a full-CG VFX shot for both film and gaming, it covers all typical CG tasks necessary to complete a standard VFX render, as well as a level in Unreal Engine. Through the development of the scene, the students learn how to navigate through the complexity of Houdini’s node-based workflow. The course culminates in a class-based project, allowing students to get a first taste of working within a professional creative team.
Week 1
• Introduction, reference study, – Houdini interface basics, simple shot setup. Becoming familiar with interface, importing objects, animating them, animating camera
• Simple shot layout and first render – Continuation of previous class. Setting up everything for first draft render.
Week 2
• SOP modeling – In this class students will use SOP operators to model architectural elements in non destructive manner, which is also applicable in procedural generation for game development.
• SOP modeling II – Creating organic environment elements. Using curves, point VOP nodes and ramps to control shapes.
Week 3
• modeling III – Packaging asset as Houdini digital assets. Scattering assets in the scene, controlling distribution, orientation via attributes.
• SOP modeling IV – Making our environment richer, packing everything in smart and memory efficient manner.
Week 4
• SOP fx I – Doing simple effects like laser beams, hitting spaceships and environments. Lightning effects, from interaction of ships and environment.
• SOP fx II – In this class we will set up portal effect using simple VOP operators. Goal of this class is to show you how math can be used to design memory efficient effects.
Week 5
• Particles I – Creating particle sparks, snow, rain. Rendering particles as points, volumes, sprites.
• Particles II – Using particles to create swarms of spaceships. Adding particles to our portal.
Week 6
• Rigid bodies I – Rigid body simulations for debris hits, collapsing walls.
• Rigid bodies II – Rigid body simulations for spaceships destruction, combining animation with rigid bodies.
Week 7
• Pyro I – Off the shelf pyro, that will be used for ship explosions. Creating several variations and caching them. Instancing explosions.
• Pyro II – Adding pyro effects to our portal, integrating particles and pyro.
Week 8
• FLIP simulations I – Using flip simulations to create waterfall for our shot. Caching our first flip. Whitewater setup.
• FLIP simulations II – Waterfall refining. Whitewater refining, caching. Render setup.
Week 9
• Rigid bodies III – Bridge collapse, use of constraints.
• Rigid bodies IV – Bridge collapse refining, integrating with pyro, particles.
Week 10
• Ocean spectrum – Adding water elements to the scene. Use of ocean spectrum.
• FLIP Flat Tank simulation – Water – collapsing bridge interaction. Using FLIP Flat Tank to create collapsing bridge interaction with water.
Week 11
• Materials and lights – Setting up procedural material assignments. Use of 3D textures. Separating different elements as render layers.
• Render review and compositing.
Week 12
• Export to Unreal as static geometry. Use of Houdini Engine inside Unreal.
• Export of FX to Unreal via SideFX Labs tools.
Upon completion of the course students will receive the Crater Training Center Certificate.
Bogdan Amidžić
Digital Effects Supervisor @ Crater Studio
A rare breed of artist and programmer, Bogdan is a VFX Supervisor at Crater Studio with more than 12 years of experience in VFX production of feature films, commercials, and music videos. Always driven by the thrill of new challenges, he combines his love for scripting (MEL, Python, VEX) and illustration/ concept art to provide creative solutions and overcome insurmountable obstacles. Working many years as compositing artist, in the past few years, he has mostly been involved with 3D VFX in Maya and Houdini. Eager to share his vast knowledge with friends and colleagues, Bogdan teaches Digital Compositing and VFX in Houdini courses at Crater Training Center.
COURSE INFORMATION
TUITION
1380 EUR price category 1*
2070 EUR price category 2*
VAT included.
* View pricing & payment options
Start date
2024
Check out the course calendar
COURSE DURATION
13 weeks (120 classes)
REQUIREMENTS
basic computer skills
Photoshop*
3D Essentials*
* or equivalent computer skills
ENROLLMENT
In the classroom / Online
Students works
Related news
Rigging
Learn how to prepare your model for animation!
This course is primarily intended for those who have no experience with rigging techniques, but also for professional riggers and for 3D artists who want to expand their skills and knowledge of character rigging.
In this course, we will go through the entire process of rig creation, animation construction for one character that involves constructing the spine, arms, fingers, legs, head and face. The course participants will be thoroughly acquainted with the concepts of construction, which include, among other things, the preparation of 3D models for rigging and advanced techniques such as:
● Different approaches to construction depending on different conditions such as animator affinities, studio and studio’s pipeline requirements, co-production, mocap, genuine animation, and various tasks that a “rigger” may face in practice.
● Special attention will be given to logic and mathematics behind the mechanics of 3D software, which will be explained in the simplest way possible for the sake of better understanding and handling of non-standard problems from project to project.
After completing the course, participants will:
● Have the knowledge to independently implement the learned techniques,
● Be able to improve the existing rigs on which they have worked on independently,
● Get all the scripts (MEL and Python) and tools they used during the course, for permanent use.
Theory of rigging and tools
• Theory of rigging
• Getting acquainted with the tools used for rigging
Skeleton menu
• Getting acquainted with the skeleton menu
Joint orientation, controls for animation
• Explaining the orientation of joints and making controls for animation
• Setting up joints and the correct orientation of joints on a character (”Tips and tricks” how to most efficiently set up the joints on a character)
• Finalizing settings of joints on a character, naming and mirroring joints
• Exercise for setting up joints
Rigging legs
• Reverse foot controls technique
• Questions and exercises
• Advanced techniques for rigging legs (IK-FK system, IK stretch, pole vectors)
• Questions and exercises
Rigging spines and heads
• Rigging spines and heads (IK stretch and FK system)
• Questions and exercises
Rigging arms
• Rigging arms (IK stretch and FK system, forearm twist)
• Questions and exercises
Rigging fingers
• Rigging fingers, making predefined poses and enabling the manual movement of each individual finger
• Questions and exercises
Preparing a rig for animators
• Preparing a rig for animators and connecting all rig systems (cleaning excess attributes on controls, color coding controls for easier visual selection, making an accurate hierarchy for the global scale of the entire rig)
• Questions and exercises
Theory of skinning
• Theory of skinning
• Getting acquainted with tools for skinning
• Preparing a model for skinning
• Skinning techniques (smooth and rigid)
Skinning a rigged character
• Skinning a rigged character (part one)
• Questions and exercises
• Skinning a rigged character (part two)
• Questions and exercises
Advanced techniques for skinning
• Advanced techniques for skinning (techniques that give the effect of real bodily deformities)
• Questions and exercises
Rigging faces
• Face rigging (theory section)
Blend shapes
• Getting acquainted with blend shapes
• Blend shape techniques for rigging faces, making controls for animation of blend shapes
• Questions and exercises
Techniques for rigging faces
• Bones technique for rigging faces and making controls for animation
• Questions and exercises
• Cluster technique for rigging faces and making controls for animation
• Questions and exercises
Connecting face and body rigs
• Connecting face and body rigs, making a low res model for fast feedback after animation
• Questions and exercises
Advanced techniques for rigging
• Advanced techniques for rigging (corrective shapes)
• Questions and exercises
Upon completion of the course students will receive the internationally recognized Adobe Certificate of Completion, as well as the Crater Training Center Certificate.
Milicko Mijatovic
Lead Rigger @ Crater Studio
A CG superstar with the privilege of having worked with Emir Kusturica, Nikita Mihalkov, Netflix and many other big industry names, Miličko has been building his career in 3D animation for more than two decades. Starting as a 2D animator, he quickly moved into 3D and found his focal point in Rigging. He works at Crater Studio as a Lead Rigger, where he grows every day through work on numerous film and animation projects. He has collaborated with Mercedes, Coca-Cola, Heineken and numerous domestic studios. He has also worked in the gaming industry, where he is certainly worth mentioning for his work on Casino Gaming. At Crater Training Center, Miličko teaches Rigging.
COURSE INFORMATION
TUITION
780 EUR price category 1*
1170 EUR price category 2*
VAT included.
* View pricing & payment options
Start date
May 27th, 2024
Check out the course calendar
COURSE DURATION
4 weeks (40 classes)
REQUIREMENTS
basic computer skills
Photoshop*
3D/VFX Essentials *
* or equivalent computer skills
ENROLLMENT
In the classroom / Online
Students works
Organic Modeling #1: Character Sculpting
Master the basics of digital sculpting in one of the most popular software in the creative industry – ZBrush.
This course is ideal for those who already wield the skills of 3D modeling and would love to present their sculpts in a digital environment. Students will master the tools, techniques, and methods essential for creating memorable and unique computer-generated characters and assets for video games and film.
ZBrush stands as an industry standard when it comes to digital modeling and sculpting, and with this course, students will get an introduction to this software and its capabilities. In this course, students will gain a good understanding of elementary skills for organic modeling and poly painting. They will also build a solid foundation for further perfecting and developing their artistic style.
Click here to read more about organic modeling and why this profession became so popular in the film and video game business.
Basic course ZBrush Organic Modeling
• General introduction to the ZBrush software.
• History of the software and its origin.
• Applicability of the software in different industries.
• The place of the software in the film and gaming industry.
• Representative examples of its application from the mentioned industries.
• Getting acquainted with the graphic environment and adapting it.
• Introduction to the tools and main features of the software.
• Get to know the most commonly used tools in more detail.
• Introduction to tools that facilitate repetitive actions.
Application of learned tools on simple shapes
• Application of the Standard Brush tool.
• Application of the Clay Buildup Brush tool.
• Apply the Move Tool Brush.
• Application of the Damian Standard Brush tool.
• Application of the Clay Brush tool.
Surface masking
• Introduction to the tool for masking surfaces on the basic mesh.
• Application and typical situations when used.
• Graphical environment of tools and modes.
• Apply masks to get the shape, color or texture on a simple shape.
DynaMesh tool
• Introduction to one of the most important functions of the software for which he became famous.
• Introduction to the graphical environment of tools and applications on simple forms.
• Exercise for applying DynaMesh tools with learned Brush tools.
ZRemesher tool
• Introduction to the tool for automatic topology change.
• Familiarity with the graphical environment of the tool and when applied in accordance with the “ZRemesher Guides Brush”
Guides Brush
• Coordinated application of DynaMesh and ZRemesher tools
Plugin Decimation Master
• Introduction to the process of decimating a large number of polygons by triangulation without losing detail.
• Situations in which it is used and what are the additional functions.
• Use value of the decimating.
Upon completion of the course, students will receive the Crater Training Center Certificate.
Milan Krstić
Milan Krstić is a 3D Artist from Belgrade with vast experience in the video games and film industry. He graduated at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Belgrade, and during his career he found himself in positions such as 3D Character Artist, 3D Environment Artist and 3D Concept Artist.
His portfolio consists of various interesting projects, including video games Scorn and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, films Extinction and Knives Out 2 (Netflix), as well as TV shows The Arc and Krypton (extended DC universe).
Milan currently works at the Belgrade Polytechnic where he teaches Digital Modeling and Character Design.
COURSE INFORMATION
TUITION
940 EUR price category 1*
1410 EUR price category 2*
VAT included.
* View pricing & payment options
Start date
September, 2024
Check out the course calendar
COURSE DURATION
7 weeks (80 classes)
REQUIREMENTS
basic computer skills
Photoshop*
* or equivalent computer skills
ENROLLMENT
In the classroom / Online
Related news
3D Essentials
Start your journey through computer graphics!
Our bestselling entry-level course, 3D Essentials is the perfect introduction to the vast world of computer graphics and all of the opportunities it offers. Structured upon the Autodesk Maya and Adobe Substance 3D Painter software packages, this course is aimed primarily at beginners looking to streamline their learning and build a strong foundation for further specialization in 3D computer-generated graphics.
Apart from technical skills, the course also provides students with a historical overview of industry developments as well as current trends, future predictions, and tips & tricks for entering the VFX and gaming arena. Suitable also for specialized artists wishing to expand their general knowledge and further improve their skills.
3D Essentials can be combined with the majority of our specialized courses in VFX & Game Art.
Getting to know the industry
• History of the VFX and Gaming industry.
• Current affairs and trends in the VFX and Gaming industry.
• The future of computer graphics.
Getting to know the Autodesk Maya
• History of the Maya software.
• Industry fields in which it is used and why.
• Basic concepts of working in Maya.
Maya interface I
• Basic components of the interface.
• Navigating the Maya interface.
• Use of masks for selection.
• Transform tools.
• Snap tools.
Maya interface II
• Editors in Maya (Outliner, Attribute Editor).
• Parenting and hierarchy.
• Duplicate command.
Basics of poly modeling I
• Approaching the problem of modeling.
• Getting acquainted with polygon geometry.
• Poly components.
• Basic tools for poly modeling (Create Polygon Tool, Merge Vertices).
Basics of poly modeling II
• Advanced tools for poly modeling.
• Understanding the term good geometry.
Basics of poly modeling III
• Techniques for model optimization.
• Testing technical defects of a model.
• Applying deformers in modeling.
Basics of poly modeling IV
• Applying advance techniques in modeling.
Custom user interface
• Advantages of adjusting a custom UI.
• Methods of increasing comfort and speed of work.
• Creating a shelf.
• Creating a marking menu.
• Creating custom hotkeys.
Digital camera & Camera tracking
• How a practical camera works.
• Differences between a camera in Maya and a practical camera.
• Application in the industry.
Basics of rigging
• A look at the most common techniques.
• Using rigging techniques in your every day work.
Basics of dynamics
• Fundamentals of nCloth.
• Usage of Dynamics in modeling.
UV mapping I
• Theory of UVing, purpose and examples of good and bad UVs.
• Why having a good UV is essential for further production.
• Difference between VFX asset and game asset (UDIM vs game vs environment).
• Demonstration of the UV toolkit inside Maya.
• Other applications for UVing.
UV mapping II
• Demonstration of creating UVs for a VFX asset (UDIM).
• Demonstration of creating UVs for a game asset (as well as UV environment kits).
Texturing in Adobe Substance 3D Painter I – Introduction to Adobe Substance 3D Painter and PBR
• For what it is used and why.
• Introduction to the interface and its tools.
• What is PBR?
• PBR components.
Texturing in Adobe Substance 3D Painter II – Basics of Adobe Substance 3D Painter I
• Creating materials, creating masks.
Texturing in Adobe Substance 3D Painter III – Basics of Adobe Substance 3D Painter II
• Application of other tools (Brushes, Projections, Text, Anchor Point…).
Texturing in Adobe Substance 3D Painter IV – UDIM
• What is UDIM?
• UDIM Workflow.
• Industry examples.
• A practical example of UDIM.
Texturing in Adobe Substance 3D Painter V – Work in Production
• Preparation for production.
• Tips and Tricks.
• Common mistakes.
VFX and Game production (VFX and Game pipeline)
• Project management.
• Work ethic.
• Approaching work with the goal of achieving the best possible results.
• Interpersonal relations in the workplace.
Upon completion of the course, students will receive the internationally recognized Autodesk Certificate of Completion, as well as the Crater Training Center Certificate.
Milos Jovanovic
Freelance Character Rigger and 3D Generalist
One of our most experienced lecturers, Miloš Jovanović, is a 3D Generalist and a Maya expert with vast experience in rigging, animating, and rendering at Crater Studio. Challenges are his natural habitat, as he is constantly exploring new software. Familiar with both studio and freelance work environments, he shares his experience with the students and provides them guidance through all the stages of building a career in the VFX industry. As a team player, he enjoys getting the best out of people and helping them develop their skills. In the 3D Essentials course, he teaches hard surface modeling.
Stefan Lukić
Technical Artist/Playstudios
He got into the gaming industry as a result of his love for games and movies. Stefan started his career as a Texturing and Modeling Artist at Bunker Studio, and he continued to develop his career at Ubisoft as an Environment/Level Artist and a Prop Artist. Currently he is working as a Technical Artist at Playstudios and Lecturer at SAE Institute Belgrade. Among the projects he participated in The Crew 2, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Frontline and Assassin’s Creed VR.
Dimitrije Dimoski
Assistant @ Crater Training Center
Dimitrije is a seasoned professional in the field of photo and video production, boasting extensive experience in understanding the intricate interplay between cameras and light. His fascination with the inner workings of major VFX productions spurred him to pursue a deeper understanding of the craft. Upon completing the 3D Essentials course at our school, Dimitrije swiftly transitioned into the role of an assistant instructor, where he imparts his knowledge and guides aspiring artists in their first steps within the VFX and Gaming industry.
COURSE INFORMATION
TUITION
980 EUR price category 1*
1470 EUR price category 2*
VAT included.
* View pricing & payment options
Start date
October, 2024
Check out the course calendar
COURSE DURATION
7 weeks (105 classes)
REQUIREMENTS
basic computer skills
Photoshop*
* or equivalent computer skills
ENROLLMENT
In the classroom / Online
