3D Training

Lesson 1 • Core 3D Terminology and Concepts

Defines vertices, edges, faces, normals, and meshes. Shared vocabulary prevents miscommunication across modeling, rigging, and rendering workflows.

Lesson 2 • Introduction to 3D Software Interfaces

Maps common UI elements—outliner, properties panel, timeline—found across major 3D applications. Students transfer interface knowledge to any tool they encounter.

Lesson 3 • Understanding 3D Coordinate Systems

Introduces X, Y, Z axes, world vs. local space, and unit conventions. Establishes spatial reasoning as the basis for all subsequent modeling and scene work.

Lesson 1 • Creating and Placing Primitive Objects

Covers spheres, cubes, cylinders, planes, and cones as building blocks. Primitives form the starting geometry for nearly every modeling workflow.

Lesson 2 • Object Hierarchy and Parenting

Explains parent-child relationships and how transforms propagate through a hierarchy. Proper hierarchy management is essential for rigging and scene organization.

Lesson 3 • Transform Tools: Move, Rotate, Scale

Teaches precise object transformation using numeric input and gizmos. Accurate transforms are prerequisite to clean scene assembly and animation.

Lesson 1 • Hard-Surface Modeling Workflow

Applies polygon tools to model mechanical and architectural objects with sharp edges. Students complete a structured hard-surface asset from blockout to final mesh.

Lesson 2 • Edit Mode and Component Selection

Introduces vertex, edge, and face selection modes and selection tools. Component-level editing is the foundation of all polygon modeling operations.

Lesson 3 • Organic Modeling Fundamentals

Introduces sculpt-friendly topology and symmetry workflows for characters and natural forms. Organic modeling requires different edge flow strategies than hard-surface work.

Lesson 4 • Maintaining Clean Topology

Teaches edge flow principles, avoiding n-gons, and managing poles. Clean topology ensures correct deformation, subdivision, and UV unwrapping.

Lesson 1 • UV Unwrapping and Layout

Covers seam placement, unwrapping methods, and UV island packing. Proper UV layout is required for accurate texture projection on any mesh.

Lesson 2 • Procedural Texturing Techniques

Uses noise, gradient, and math nodes to generate resolution-independent textures. Procedural textures eliminate UV dependency and scale to any output resolution.

Lesson 3 • Material Fundamentals and Shader Nodes

Explains material slots, shader graphs, and node-based workflows. Node-based shading is the universal approach across modern 3D and rendering applications.

Lesson 4 • Texture Painting and Baking

Teaches hand-painted detail and baking high-poly detail onto low-poly meshes. Baking transfers surface information for use in real-time and offline rendering.

Lesson 1 • Light Types and Properties

Covers point, spot, area, directional, and HDRI environment lights. Understanding each light type enables deliberate control over scene illumination.

Lesson 2 • Shadows, Reflections, and Light Linking

Controls shadow softness, ray-traced reflections, and per-light object exclusions. Fine-tuning these properties separates amateur from professional lighting setups.

Lesson 3 • Three-Point Lighting Principles

Applies key, fill, and rim light logic to 3D scenes for professional results. Three-point lighting is the foundational framework for character and product visualization.

Lesson 1 • Render Engine Overview and Selection

Compares path-tracing, rasterization, and hybrid render engines by use case. Choosing the right engine balances quality, speed, and hardware requirements.

Lesson 2 • Output Formats and Color Management

Covers EXR, PNG, JPEG formats and linear vs. display color spaces. Correct color management ensures consistent appearance from render to final delivery.

Lesson 3 • Render Passes and AOVs

Explains diffuse, specular, shadow, and depth passes for compositing flexibility. Render passes allow non-destructive colour grading and effects in post-production.

Lesson 1 • Animation Principles in 3D

Applies squash and stretch, anticipation, follow-through, and arcs to 3D motion. These principles elevate mechanical movement into convincing, expressive animation.

Lesson 2 • Skinning and Weight Painting

Covers mesh binding, automatic weights, and manual weight painting correction. Accurate weights determine how mesh vertices follow bone movement during animation.

Lesson 3 • Keyframe Animation and the Graph Editor

Sets keyframes on transforms and shapes, then refines timing in the graph editor. The graph editor gives animators precise control over interpolation and easing.

Lesson 4 • Forward and Inverse Kinematics

Explains FK and IK chains and when to apply each for limb and spine control. IK solvers simplify posing by letting animators position end effectors directly.

Lesson 1 • Portfolio Development and Presentation

Guides selection, rendering, and presentation of work for professional portfolios. A strong portfolio communicates technical skill and artistic range to employers.

Lesson 2 • Asset Management and File Structure

Establishes folder hierarchies, asset libraries, and version control practices. Consistent file structure prevents lost assets and enables smooth team collaboration.

Lesson 3 • Quality Assurance and Review Process

Introduces checklist-based QA, peer review, and client feedback integration. Systematic review catches errors before delivery and builds professional credibility.

Lesson 4 • Exporting Assets for Different Platforms

Explains FBX, OBJ, GLTF, and USD export settings for various target applications. Correct export settings preserve geometry, materials, and animation data.