Blender Geometry Nodes: Boats Course

Lesson 1 • Mesh Editing Basics

Introduces Edit Mode tools for vertices, edges, and faces. Students gain the mesh literacy needed to interpret geometry node outputs accurately.

Lesson 2 • Project File Organization

Establishes naming conventions, collection hierarchies, and file linking strategies. Clean project structure is critical when geometry node trees grow complex.

Lesson 3 • Navigating the Blender Interface

Master viewport controls, editor types, and workspace layouts essential for 3D work. This foundation prevents disorientation in later node-heavy sessions.

Lesson 4 • Materials and Shading Overview

Explains the Shader Editor, material slots, and basic PBR inputs. Understanding shading prepares students to texture boat geometry produced by nodes.

Lesson 1 • Fields and Attribute Basics

Demystifies the field system and named attributes for storing per-element data. Attribute control is the backbone of all advanced procedural techniques ahead.

Lesson 2 • Node Groups and Reusability

Teaches creating, naming, and nesting node groups for modular graph design. Reusable groups dramatically reduce complexity in the boat assembly chapters.

Lesson 3 • Primitive Geometry and Mesh Nodes

Introduces mesh primitive nodes, Join Geometry, and Transform Geometry. Students build their first procedural shapes using only node-generated geometry.

Lesson 4 • The Geometry Nodes Editor

Covers the node editor layout, modifier stack placement, and the Group Input/Output nodes. This context is required before any node construction begins.

Lesson 1 • Designing the Hull Profile with Curves

Uses Bezier and NURBS curve nodes to define hull cross-sections and sheer lines. Curve-driven design allows instant hull shape iteration without manual mesh editing.

Lesson 2 • Hull Thickness and Watertight Closure

Applies solidification and cap geometry to produce a watertight hull mesh. A closed mesh is required for correct rendering and physics simulation.

Lesson 3 • Adding Keel and Chine Details

Extrudes keel geometry and defines chine lines using attribute-driven selection. These structural details establish the hull's hydrodynamic character.

Lesson 4 • Lofting the Hull Surface

Covers lofting techniques using curve instances and mesh bridging nodes. This section produces the primary hull surface from bow to stern.

Lesson 1 • Mast and Rigging Procedurally

Constructs mast geometry and rigging lines using curve nodes and spline interpolation. Rigging parameters expose height, spread, and tension as user controls.

Lesson 2 • Railings and Stanchion Instancing

Distributes stanchion instances along deck edge curves and connects them with rail geometry. Instancing keeps polygon count low while maintaining visual detail.

Lesson 3 • Hatches, Cleats, and Hardware

Places deck hardware using attribute-driven point distributions and custom instance collections. Hardware density and placement are fully parameter-controlled.

Lesson 4 • Generating the Deck Surface

Fills the hull opening with a parametric deck mesh that conforms to the hull profile. The deck serves as the base for all superstructure elements.

Lesson 1 • Passing UV Data from Nodes to Shaders

Exports UV coordinates generated inside geometry nodes as named attributes consumed by the Shader Editor. This bridge is essential for texture-accurate boat surfaces.

Lesson 2 • Hull Paint and Antifouling Textures

Creates waterline-based color masks and worn paint effects using position-driven gradients. Realistic hull texturing relies on combining procedural and image-based inputs.

Lesson 3 • Metal and Glass Shader Setup

Configures PBR metal shaders for hardware and glass shaders for cabin windows. Physically accurate shaders ensure the boat reads correctly under any lighting.

Lesson 4 • Wood Deck Texture Workflow

Generates teak-style deck planking patterns using procedural noise and stripe functions. Plank width, gap color, and grain direction are exposed as parameters.

Lesson 1 • Ocean Shader and Foam Effects

Develops a deep-water shader with subsurface scattering and procedural foam masks. Foam placement is driven by wave crest data passed from geometry nodes.

Lesson 2 • Boat Wake and Bow Wave

Generates a V-shaped wake and bow wave using geometry node deformation on the ocean mesh. Wake scale responds to a speed parameter exposed in the modifier.

Lesson 3 • Environment Lighting and Sky Setup

Configures HDRI sky lighting, sun angle, and atmospheric haze for a maritime scene. Lighting choices dramatically affect the perceived mood of the final render.

Lesson 4 • Floating the Boat on the Ocean

Aligns the boat's waterline to the ocean surface using constraint-driven transforms and node outputs. Correct waterline placement is critical for scene realism.

Lesson 1 • Scattering Boats Across a Scene

Distributes multiple boat instances across a harbor plane using point distribution and random seed control. Instance variation is driven by attribute randomization.

Lesson 2 • LOD and Polygon Budget Management

Implements level-of-detail switching inside the node tree to reduce polygon count at distance. LOD management is essential for real-time and large-scene performance.

Lesson 3 • Exporting Variants as Separate Assets

Bakes each variant into a standalone mesh and exports it with correct scale and axis orientation. Proper export settings ensure compatibility with downstream pipelines.

Lesson 4 • Designing a Parameter Control Panel

Organizes all exposed node inputs into a logical modifier panel with tooltips and value ranges. A clean control panel makes the asset usable by non-technical team members.

Lesson 1 • Animating Node Parameters Over Time

Keyframes geometry node inputs to animate hull deformation, wave intensity, and rigging tension. Parameter animation avoids the need for manual mesh keyframing.

Lesson 2 • Cinematic Camera Work

Sets up tracking shots, crane moves, and depth-of-field using Blender's camera tools. Camera craft elevates the final render from a technical demo to a cinematic piece.

Lesson 3 • Compositing and Final Color Grade

Uses Blender's Compositor to add lens effects, color grading, and atmospheric haze. Compositing transforms raw renders into a finished, broadcast-quality deliverable.

Lesson 4 • Boat Path Animation Along a Curve

Constrains the boat to a Bezier path and synchronizes ocean wake direction to travel heading. Path-based animation produces smooth, controllable boat movement.