Shader Magic in Blender (Ver 3.41 and above) from Udemy

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

A Short Demo on parts of the course content.

Just a quick walk through how my view is set up to get the most out of this course.

This is all your resources. To go through the course, you will only need the images since you will create all blend files during the course. However, most of the exercises in the sessions are saved as .blend files that you can use if you want to. You also have the software for the flowmap here, if the link doesn't work as I give in the session for flowmaps.

During the course...make the best tile wall/floor you can!

Prepare UI to match mine.

This will give you a basic understanding on why we use "Texturecoordinate" and what the differences are on the most common outputs.

Theory - A bit more about vectors

Going through the different nodes to use to filter values out to produce desired result and shape.

Most patterns are symmetrical in shape. Often they are exactly the same on left, right, top and bottom. This session will explain how you are able to do symmetrical shapes easy.

One tile doesn't cover a complete wall, so in this session I'll go through how to duplicate those tiles and scale them to fit.

To make a good tile, we need to clean it a bit so it gets more flat and have good edges. This session goes through how to do that using a MapRange node.

Finally we put everything away in a nice little node group, which makes it easy to use later on if you want to build tiles without the need of creating all those nodes again. NB! Save!! Will use this later on in section 4!!

"Length" is one of the most used nodes when creating your own shapes, so here I will go through how you can use it.

This is more a small exercise in masking and creating easy shapes, so you get a good idea on how to put all the above together.

As a student you will know what type of patterns you can create using the built in textures that comes with Blender.

Brick Texture

Checker Texture

Environment Texture

Gradient Texture

IES Texture

Image Texture

Magic Texture

Musgrave Texture

Noise Texture

Voronoi Texture

Wave Texture

White Noise Texture

Explaining the dimensions on textures

As a student you will be given a solid base to stand on when it comes to create shapes using only math.

Visualize math with graphs

Using the Compare Node to check the value of UV

How to use X and Y more than once to increase amount of possible shapes.

Introducing the node "Power"

Making a "heart" with only math nodes

Making the "spade" shape from cards by using the "heart" shape.

Let's make the rest of the shapes from a deck of cards

Shape things using Vector curves

How to add a second border pattern on a floor

Examples using Power node a bit more

We dust of those tiles we did in the section 2 and starts to add mortar between the tiles with the new knowledge that we now learned in this section.

Setting bounds or borders on your UV and merging UV Together

As a student I will get used to how to think and start when building new shapes

Create a smiley

Create a red cross

Create a cylinder shaped pill

Copy a floor tile pattern (circle shapes)

Copy a floor tile pattern again (handling gray scale)

As a student you will learn the most common shader techniques that are used when creating games.

Blend textures using a second texture

Blend textures together using Vertex Color

Introduction to Vector Math Normal and "Dot Product"

Using Dot Product as Fresnel effect

Using Dot Product together with Normal Maps

How to use the "Cross Product"

What is the vector node "Snap"?

How to use "Face Forward"

Using "Vector Rotate"

Rotating our tiles

Example on creating scratches

How to find edges and add dirt

Take a look at Vector Bump

Using Trim sheets

Using Sprite Sheets

Using Flow maps

Learning about Parallax mapping

Randomizing tiles from an atlas

Finding edges on a 2D Texture

Introduction to using "Radial"

Using "Radials" to create polygons

Using UV to create simple VFX

Creating Index to tiles on a UV

A deeper example of tile math

How to UV Offset to create things like wooden planks

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Shader Magic in Blender (Ver 3.41 and above) with these activities:

Review Basic Trigonometry

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Reviewing trigonometry will help you better understand the math behind shader creation, especially when working with vector math and rotations.

Browse courses on Trigonometry

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Review trigonometric functions (sine, cosine, tangent).
Practice solving problems involving angles and triangles.
Understand the unit circle and its relationship to trigonometric functions.

Read 'The Book of Shaders'

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Reading 'The Book of Shaders' will provide a solid foundation in shader programming concepts, complementing the node-based approach taught in the course.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the introductory chapters on shader basics.
Experiment with the code examples provided in the book.
Relate the concepts learned to the Blender shader nodes.

Experiment with Blender's Math Node

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Practicing with the Math node in Blender will solidify your understanding of mathematical operations within the shader editor.

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Create a simple material in Blender.
Add a Math node and experiment with different operations (Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide, etc.).
Connect different inputs to the Math node and observe the results.
Try combining multiple Math nodes to create more complex calculations.

Four other activities

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Reference 'Blender Compositing and Post Processing'

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Understanding compositing techniques will help you enhance the final output of your shaders.

View Blender 3D: Characters, Machines, and Scenes... on Amazon

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Read the chapters on color correction and post-processing effects.
Experiment with different compositing nodes in Blender.
Apply compositing techniques to your shader renders.

Create a Procedural Texture Library

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Creating a library of procedural textures will reinforce your understanding of shader nodes and their combinations.

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Create a new Blender project.
Design and create at least five different procedural textures (e.g., wood, marble, metal).
Organize the textures into a reusable library.
Document the node setup for each texture.

Develop a Custom Shader for a Game Asset

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Developing a custom shader for a game asset will allow you to apply the concepts learned in the course to a practical project.

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Choose a simple game asset (e.g., a rock, a tree, a crate).
Design a custom shader that enhances the asset's appearance (e.g., adding moss to the rock, creating wind effects for the tree).
Implement the shader in Blender using shader nodes.
Export the asset and shader to a game engine (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine) and test it.

Shader Breakdown Presentation

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Creating a presentation breaking down a complex shader will solidify your understanding and improve your ability to explain shader concepts.

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Choose a complex shader from online resources or create your own.
Analyze the shader's node setup and functionality.
Create a presentation explaining the shader's purpose, key nodes, and how they work together.
Present your breakdown to peers or in an online forum.

Career center

Learners who complete Shader Magic in Blender (Ver 3.41 and above) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Technical Artist

A Technical Artist bridges the gap between artists and programmers in game development and animation. This role requires a strong understanding of both art creation pipelines and the technical constraints of real-time rendering. This course helps build a foundation in shader creation and manipulation within Blender, a skill directly applicable to creating visually stunning and performant effects in game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine. Learning how to create shapes, use vector math, and implement techniques like vertex painting and flowmaps, as covered in this course, are essential for a Technical Artist to optimize art assets and develop custom shaders to achieve a desired look. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist

Shader Developer

A Shader Developer writes and optimizes shaders for various applications, including games, visual effects, and real-time rendering. This course directly addresses the core skills needed for this role. You'll learn how to create shaders from scratch, manipulate textures, and implement advanced rendering techniques. The course's focus on vector math, procedural patterns, and techniques like parallax mapping provides a strong base for a Shader Developer. The course may be useful to develop custom shaders and visual effects, and optimize shader performance across different platforms. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

See salaries and explore the career path for Shader Developer

Game Developer

A Game Developer is involved in the creation of video games across multiple platforms, and proficiency in shader creation can greatly enhance their capabilities, especially in creating visually appealing and optimized game environments. This course may be useful for Game Developers to understand the underlying principles of shader creation. The course’s exploration of techniques like flowmaps, sprite sheets, and edge detection provides practical skills to enhance visual fidelity and performance. By learning how to create custom shaders, a Game Developer can achieve unique art styles and optimize rendering for specific platforms. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Visual Effects Artist

A Visual Effects Artist creates stunning visual effects for film, television, and games, and this often involves using shaders to generate realistic or stylized effects. This course may be useful for Visual Effects Artists to design and implement custom shaders in Blender. By exploring techniques such as radial gradients, procedural patterns, and UV manipulation, this course helps build a foundation for creating complex visual phenomena. Understanding how to create and manipulate shaders is crucial for achieving high-quality visual effects that meet the demands of the industry. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Effects Artist

3D Artist

A 3D Artist creates three-dimensional models and environments for games, animation, and other visual media. While they may not always write shaders directly, understanding shader principles can help build a foundation for creating more effective and visually appealing models. This course may be useful for 3D Artists to create custom materials and textures within Blender. The course's coverage of procedural patterns, texture manipulation, and techniques like creating scratches and dirt provides valuable skills for enhancing the realism and detail of 3D models. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

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Material Artist

A Material Artist specializes in creating realistic and stylized materials for 3D models and environments. This course, while not explicitly focused on materials, provides a solid foundation in shader creation, which is essential for crafting advanced materials. You'll learn how to create procedural patterns, manipulate textures, and use techniques like radial gradients to generate unique material properties. The course’s hands-on approach to shader creation helps build a foundation for understanding how materials are rendered and how to achieve specific visual effects. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

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Real-Time Graphics Programmer

A Real-Time Graphics Programmer focuses on optimizing and implementing rendering techniques for real-time applications, such as games and simulations. This role requires a deep understanding of shaders and their impact on performance. This course helps build a foundation in shader creation and manipulation within Blender, providing practical experience with techniques like flowmaps, parallax mapping, and edge detection. Understanding how to optimize shaders and implement custom rendering effects is crucial for achieving high-performance graphics in real-time applications. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

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Simulation Engineer

A Simulation Engineer develops and implements simulations for various applications, such as engineering design, scientific research, and training. This course helps build a foundation in creating custom shaders for visualizing simulation data. The course's coverage of vector math, procedural patterns, and texture manipulation provides valuable skills for generating realistic and informative visualizations. By learning how to create and manipulate shaders within Blender, a Simulation Engineer can enhance the clarity and impact of their simulations. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

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Motion Graphics Designer

A Motion Graphics Designer creates animated graphics for videos, websites, and other media, and understanding shader creation can help them create unique and visually appealing animations. This course may be useful for Motion Graphics Designers to design and implement custom shaders in Blender. The course’s exploration of techniques such as radial gradients, procedural patterns, and UV manipulation provides valuable skills for creating dynamic and engaging motion graphics. By learning how to create and manipulate shaders, a Motion Graphics Designer can enhance the visual impact of their animations. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

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Virtual Reality Developer

A Virtual Reality Developer creates immersive experiences for VR platforms. Optimizing performance and creating visually compelling environments are critical for VR applications. This course may be useful for Virtual Reality Developers to create and optimize shaders for VR environments. The course's coverage of techniques like parallax mapping, flowmaps, and edge detection provides valuable skills for enhancing the realism and performance of VR scenes. By learning how to create custom shaders, a Virtual Reality Developer can create more immersive and engaging experiences. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

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Augmented Reality Developer

An Augmented Reality Developer creates interactive experiences that blend the real world with digital content. Creating visually appealing and performant AR applications requires an understanding of shader creation and optimization. This course may be useful for Augmented Reality Developer to create custom shaders for AR environments. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

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Product Designer

A Product Designer designs and develops new products, and this often involves creating 3D models and visualizations. While not directly involved in shader creation, understanding shader principles can help build a foundation for creating more realistic and visually appealing product renderings. This course may be useful for Product Designer to create custom materials and textures within Blender. The course’s coverage of procedural patterns, texture manipulation, and techniques like creating scratches and dirt provides valuable skills for enhancing the realism and detail of product models. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

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Architectural Visualization Artist

An Architectural Visualization Artist creates photorealistic renderings and animations of architectural designs. Understanding shader creation can help them create more realistic and visually appealing visualizations. This course may be useful for Architectural Visualization Artist to create custom materials and textures within Blender. The course’s coverage of procedural patterns, texture manipulation, and techniques like creating scratches and dirt provides valuable skills for enhancing the realism and detail of architectural renderings. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

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Scientific Visualization Specialist

A Scientific Visualization Specialist creates visual representations of scientific data, often using 3D modeling and rendering techniques. This course may be useful for Scientific Visualization Specialist to create custom shaders for visualizing complex datasets. The course’s coverage of vector math, procedural patterns, and texture manipulation provides valuable skills for generating informative and visually appealing visualizations. By learning how to create and manipulate shaders within Blender, a Scientific Visualization Specialist can enhance the clarity and impact of their data representations. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

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Digital Sculptor

A Digital Sculptor creates high-resolution 3D models for various applications, including games, film, and product design. Understanding shader creation can help them create more realistic and visually appealing sculptures. This course may be useful for Digital Sculptor to create custom materials and textures within Blender. The course’s coverage of procedural patterns, texture manipulation, and techniques like creating scratches and dirt provides valuable skills for enhancing the realism and detail of digital sculptures. This course may be useful to help understand shader creation from the ground up.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Shader Magic in Blender (Ver 3.41 and above).

Putting Knowledge to Work

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Provides a comprehensive introduction to shader programming concepts. It covers the fundamentals of GLSL, which is highly relevant to creating shaders in Blender. The book explains the math behind shaders in an accessible way, making it a valuable resource for understanding the underlying principles taught in the course. It is particularly useful for those who want to deepen their understanding of shader creation beyond the node-based interface.

Putting Knowledge to Work

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Putting Knowledge to Work

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Blender 3D: Characters, Machines, and Scenes for...

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While this course focuses on shader creation, understanding compositing is crucial for the final look of your renders. provides a comprehensive guide to Blender's compositing tools and techniques. It covers topics such as color correction, adding effects, and combining different render layers. It is more valuable as additional reading to understand how shaders fit into the broader rendering pipeline.

Blender 3D: Characters, Machines, and Scenes for...

Kindle Edition

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Shader Magic in Blender (Ver 3.41 and above)

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