Course description
Advanced 3D Visual Effects
Dive into the detail and take your VFX knowledge to the next level!
You'll gain core 3D skills through hands-on learning, to give you a thorough technical understanding of software and principles, before moving on to more complex techniques of particle movement, hair, fur and more.
This course is perfect for you whether you’re a 3D Artist looking to develop a career in VFX, a 2D VFX Artist wanting to move into 3D or a VFX graduate preparing for the competitive job market. This course will also suit students from a creative or technical background, keen to change career and get into VFX.
Our tutors are top industry professionals, having worked on the likes of Fantastic Beasts, Gladiator, Kingsman and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2., so you’ll be taught by some of the best in the business.
Who should attend?
Module 1 - 3D foundation
Introduction to Maya
The user interface
Introduction to modelling
Introduction to textures
Introduction to lighting, shading and rendering
Modelling
NURBS curves and surfaces
NURBS surfaces to polygons
Polygonal modelling
Topological rules
Modelling continued
Polygonal modelling continued
Organic modelling
Non-linear modelling
UV mapping techniques (organic and hard surface)
Colour and lighting
Lighting, traditional cinematographic and photographic techniques
Colour theory, three-point lighting
Natural lighting
Indirect lighting techniques
Image-based lighting
Matching lighting
Advanced lighting
Basic texturing
Hypershade
Texturing masterclass
Image manipulation with Photoshop
Texture distressing with Photoshop
Non-destructive texturing workflows
Camera projection mapping
Shading and rendering
Displacement mapping
Maya nodes
Ray tracing (reflections, refractions and shadows)
Shaders
Material properties and case studies (MIA shaders)
Module 2 - Visual Effects
Tracking and integration
Introduction to cameras
Camera tracking with 3DEqualizer
Manual tracking techniques
Advanced matchmoving techniques
Lens distortion
Camera lineup
Digital sculpting and 3D painting
Texturing
Sculpting and detailing
Import and export workflow
Advanced shading and lighting
Ai standard surface material
Advanced Arnold nodes
Advanced lighting theory
Lighting effects
Render layers and compositing
Render layers and passes
Introduction to compositing
Compositing with Nuke (CG layers)
Rotoscoping and keying with Nuke
Animation and rigging
Keyframe animation
Path animation
Constraints and rigging
Project week
Presentation
Module 3 - Advanced 3D for visual effects
Particles and expressions
Maya rigid bodies
Constraints
Introduction to particles
Rendering particles
Emitters
Emission properties
Fields
Bullet dynamics
Expressions and particle expressions
Basic MEL scripting
Houdini fundamentals
Introduction
Procedural modelling
Digital assets
Mantra
Dynamics
Shading
Fur and hair
Fur basics, grooming, lighting and rendering
Hair basics, simulation and styling
Different uses of hair
Dynamic fur
Fluids
2D and 3D containers
Fluid contents and simulations
Texturing and rendering fluids
Fluid caches
Bifröst
Cloth
Overview of Nucleus
Introduction to NCloth
NCloth solving and collisions
NParticle overview
Constraints
Caching Nucleus solvers
Project week
Presentation
Training content
Module 1 - 3D Foundation
Introduction to Maya
The user interface
Introduction to modelling
Introduction to textures
Introduction to lighting, shading and rendering
Modelling
NURBS curves and surfaces
NURBS surfaces to polygons
Polygonal modelling
Topological rules
Modelling continued
Polygonal modelling continued
Organic modelling
Non-linear modelling
UV mapping techniques (organic and hard surface)
Colour and lighting
Lighting, traditional cinematographic and photographic techniques
Colour theory, three-point lighting
Natural lighting
Indirect lighting techniques
Image-based lighting
Matching lighting
Advanced lighting
Basic texturing
Hypershade
Texturing masterclass
Image manipulation with Photoshop
Texture distressing with Photoshop
Non-destructive texturing workflows
Camera projection mapping
Shading and rendering
Displacement mapping
Maya nodes
Ray tracing (reflections, refractions and shadows)
Shaders
Material properties and case studies (MIA shaders)
Module 2 - Visual effects
Tracking and integration
Introduction to cameras
Camera tracking with 3DEqualizer
Manual tracking techniques
Advanced matchmoving techniques
Lens distortion
Camera lineup
Digital sculpting and 3D painting
Texturing
Sculpting and detailing
Import and export workflow
Advanced shading and lighting
Ai standard surface material
Advanced Arnold nodes
Advanced lighting theory
Lighting effects
Render layers and compositing
Render layers and passes
Introduction to compositing
Compositing with Nuke (CG layers)
Rotoscoping and keying with Nuke
Animation and rigging
Keyframe animation
Path animation
Constraints and rigging
Project week
Presentation
Module 3 - Advanced 3D for visual effects
Particles and expressions
Maya rigid bodies
Constraints
Introduction to particles
Rendering particles
Emitters
Emission properties
Fields
Bullet dynamics
Expressions and particle expressions
Basic MEL scripting
Houdini fundamentals
Introduction
Procedural modelling
Digital assets
Mantra
Dynamics
Shading
Fur and hair
Fur basics, grooming, lighting and rendering
Hair basics, simulation and styling
Different uses of hair
Dynamic fur
Fluids
2D and 3D containers
Fluid contents and simulations
Texturing and rendering fluids
Fluid caches
Bifröst
Cloth
Overview of Nucleus
Introduction to NCloth
NCloth solving and collisions
NParticle overview
Constraints
Caching Nucleus solvers
Project week
Presentation
Costs
- Tuition fees (on-campus): £16,850
- Tuition fees (live online): £13,200
Continuing studies
Our students go on to work in many areas of the industry.
Some of the junior opportunities you will be able to consider on completion of the course include:
- Runner
- Junior 3D Artist
Quick stats about Escape Studios?
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First Unreal Authorised Training Center in the UK
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Escape Studios
Escape Studios is one of the UK's leading animation, games and VFX schools. We’ve been at the forefront of creative education since 2002, supplying the industry with studio-ready talent. Approved and endorsed internationally as a Rookies and Toon Boom Harmony...