Creating 3D environments in Blender from Udemy

This fresh, new Blender 3.2 + 4.1 course update (Version 3.0) contains valuable information for anyone looking to build 3D Environments. If you are new to Blender, it explains all the basics, teaching everything from grass to building creation, from scratch. If you’ve used Blender 2.81, this brand-new course highlights all the new Blender 3.2 features you can use to create amazing 3D environments. This course now includes an entirely new chapter focused on Blender 4.1

Create beautiful 3D environments

Creating 3D environments is now more popular than ever, with a growing number of people mastering the skill of 3D crafting. Whether you are just starting out or already quite experienced, creating 3D environments can be a time-consuming and complex craft. During my 15 years creating these environments, I have faced and overcome many challenges. Having discovered the beauty and joy of 3D crafting, I now love nothing more than sharing my passion and wealth of experience with others. I hope this course sets you on the path to designing your own dream environment entirely in 3D.

Learn everything from A to Z

When I started 3D modeling, the only learning source I had was a printed book on random modeling. For me, it was enough to learn the basics, but without guidance, it’s easy to get lost. Today, there are many online learning resources that offer a swifter path to success in this field. However, not all offer a complete A to Z on 3D crafting. That’s why this 3D environment course is especially designed to cover everything you need to know to create stunning environments.

Step-by-step guidance

Discover everything you need to know to create your own 3D environments. Even if you have never touched Blender before, this course offers step-by-step guidance to help you with the basics so that you can feel comfortable using the software.

With 33+ hours of video content, this course takes you from complete beginner to proficiency.

Best of all, it’s completely up to date. I developed the first version of this course in 2015 and I continually update and improve the content. In 2020, Version 2.0 covered the new Blender 2.8 UI, but the latest Blender 3.2 update meant it was time for another major overhaul. Version 3.0 has fully updated course material recorded in Blender 3.2, so you can follow along with ease.

What will you learn in this course?

· Blender basics, just enough to follow this course (fully documented with handbook)

· Creating grass (Geometry nodes )

· Creating trees (Geometry nodes )

· Building a ruined landscape

· Blending displaced materials

· Creating a river scene

. Creating a snow scene

· Creating a procedural sky with clouds

· Working with photo scanned structures

And much more.

What included in this course?

As always, I offer a course full of content, this time it’s bigger than ever. The course uses free content from the Polyhaven CC0 platform, which I started with Greg Zahl in 2018 to provide textures, models and HDRi’s for everyone to use. Simply go and pick the assets you like. A selection of 4K textures and models are included in the course, but feel free to download up to 16K from the Polyhaven platform.

You’ll also receive exclusive content you won’t find on Polyhaven:

· Photo-scanned rocks, tree barks, wooden beams, plants, ruins and a castle

· Photo references (landscapes, buildings, flowers)

· 125 pages of documentation for the introductory chapter

· All Blender scene files (Blender 3.2 + 4.1).

Chapter overview

Chapter 1: Course introduction

A short introduction what you will learn in each chapter. Also, some explanation about workflow and organization, motivation and inspiration and course related questions.

Chapter 2: Blender basics

This chapter learns you the Blender fundamentals. If you are new to Blender, this chapter helps you on track with a quick introduction of the interface and viewport and some of the most used tools. We also build a simple table/chair scene and build a dice scene with geometry nodes. This chapter comes with 125 pages of documentation.

Chapter 3: Creating a grass scene

In this chapter we start with making grass strands. We pack the strands in Geometry nodes and build a simple but realistic grass scene with the geometry Nodes system. We use proxy models to speed up the viewport and add some variation by modeling some flowers. In the end of this chapter, we animate the grass so you can render the scene in motion.)

Chapter 4: Creating a forest path scene

Big topic in chapter 4 is tree creation. We use photo-scanned barks in combination with generated branches. We add twigs on the branches with the geometry nodes and provide this with an animation. We upgrade the grass template by adding a path generator so you can simply adjust the scene by drawing a path. (

Chapter 5: Creating a ruined scene

In this chapter we use the grass template and trees from the previous chapter and spend most of the time on the ruin structure. We build an advance material node to blend a brick and plaster material. We also model some bricks and scatter these on the structure with Geometry nodes.

Chapter 6: Farmhouse river scene

This course comes with lots of scanned rocks, this chapter is the ultimate scene to blend all the rocks to make a river scene. First we shape the terrain so we have a river bed. Most of the lectures cover the creation of the farmhouse. , this is the main structure of the scene. In the end of the chapter we scatter the river with rocks and animate the river.

Chapter 7: Sunset castle scene

This time we use a photo-scanned castle and blend the structure with the terrain. We build a sky with volumetric clouds and use the Nishita skylight to blend the sky to create a sunset.

Chapter 8: Mountain ruin scene

This large landscape combines all the best from all chapters. We use the grass, trees and path to create a mountain path. We fill the scene with scanned ruin structures and blend the sky with distance mountains.onderful environmental scene. All content and textures come from Texture/HDRI Haven and are included in the course.

Chapter 9: Creating a frozen lake

Embark on the creation of a serene frozen river set within a dense forest. Master the art of blending materials to achieve a seamless transition between rocks and water. Add life to your scene with realistic trees, finishing with snow and mist effects for a breathtaking result.

About me

My name is Rob Tuytel and I have been a environment designer for the past 17 years. I have a huge passion for the Dutch 17th century and mainly focus on medieval architecture. I am Co-Founder of Polyhaven together with Greg Zahl. I love to study old environment paintings and use these as an inspiration for my work. You might know me from the Tears of Steel open Blender movie or from my previous environment course for Blender 2.81.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Creating stunning unique environments
Learn blender 3.2, 4.1
Working with geometry nodes
Learn the blender basics
Creating photo-scanned trees

Creating a procedural volumetric sky
Organize your workflow to make large environment scenes
Use 4k /8k pbr textures
Find motivation and inspiration to build your dream scene

Creating stunning unique environments
Learn blender 3.2, 4.1
Working with geometry nodes
Learn the blender basics
Creating photo-scanned trees
Creating a procedural volumetric sky
Organize your workflow to make large environment scenes
Use 4k /8k pbr textures
Find motivation and inspiration to build your dream scene

Syllabus

Chapter 01 - Introduction (3.2)

Lecture 01 - Organization and workflow

Lecture 02 - Motivation and inspiration

Lecture 03 - The old masters

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines 3D environment design, a core skill for creating beautiful 3D environments

Develops proficiency in the latest Blender features, making it useful for skills and knowledge

Suitable for both beginners and experienced learners, providing a solid foundation

Led by Rob Tuytel, recognized for his work in 3D environment design

Offers hands-on labs and interactive materials, reinforcing learning

Provides extensive assets and documentation for support

Reviews summary

Comprehensive blender environment creation

According to learners, this course is a highly comprehensive and exceptionally valuable resource for mastering 3D environment creation in Blender. Students consistently praise the instructor's clear explanations and the course's step-by-step approach, making complex topics accessible. The inclusion of practical projects, such as creating grass, trees, ruins, and river scenes, is highlighted as a major strength, allowing learners to build a strong portfolio. Many appreciate the up-to-date content, specifically mentioning the coverage of Blender 3.2 and 4.1 features, including Geometry Nodes. While some find the pace challenging at times, especially for absolute beginners, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with students finding the course transformative for their skills in 3D art.

Specifically targets environment creation.

"This course is perfect if you want to specialize in creating realistic 3D environments."

"It doesn't cover every single aspect of Blender, but it's hyper-focused on environments, which is what I needed."

"If your goal is stunning landscapes and scenes, this course delivers."

Includes valuable assets and documentation.

"The inclusion of Polyhaven assets and exclusive scanned content is a huge bonus."

"Having the Blender scene files is incredibly helpful for reviewing or troubleshooting."

"The documentation for the intro chapter was a surprisingly useful resource."

"Access to 4k/8k textures and models directly within the course saved me time."

Content reflects recent Blender versions.

"It's great that the course is updated for Blender 3.2 and even includes 4.1 info. Following along was easy."

"Geometry Nodes coverage is essential for modern Blender workflows, and this course teaches it well."

"Appreciated that it wasn't outdated like some other Blender tutorials I've tried."

"Seeing how things work in the latest Blender versions saved me a lot of confusion."

Covers a wide range of environment topics.

"This course covers a lot of ground, from basic Blender concepts to advanced environment techniques like scattering with Geometry Nodes."

"It's probably the most complete course I've found for learning 3D environments. It touches on everything you need."

"I feel like I learned so many different aspects of creating scenes, not just one specific thing. Very thorough."

Hands-on exercises build practical skills.

"The projects are amazing! Building the ruined scene and the river scene really helped solidify everything I learned."

"I loved the hands-on nature of the course. Creating actual scenes is the best way to learn."

"The projects felt realistic and gave me confidence in applying the techniques taught."

"Building a full environment from scratch was incredibly rewarding and practical for my portfolio."

Clear, patient, and easy to follow.

"The instructor explains things in a very clear and easy-to-understand manner, even when dealing with complex topics."

"Rob Tuytel's teaching is fantastic. He goes step-by-step and doesn't skip crucial details."

"His calm and methodical approach made learning Blender environments much less intimidating than I expected."

"The instructor is very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject."

Moves quickly at times, challenging for novices.

"Sometimes the pace is a bit fast, and I had to rewatch sections to fully grasp everything, especially early on."

"As a complete beginner, I found the Blender basics chapter helpful, but the course accelerates quickly afterward."

"Might be challenging if you've never opened Blender before, although the intro helps."

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 Creating 3D environments in Blender with these activities:

Find a mentor in 3D environment design

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Seek guidance and support from an experienced professional in the field of 3D environment design who can provide personalized feedback and advice.

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Identify potential mentors
Reach out to potential mentors and introduce yourself
Build a relationship with your mentor and seek their guidance

The Art of 3D Environment Design: Creating realistic virtual worlds

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Start off by reviewing the techniques and skills behind creating 3D environments from the book written by the instructor of this course.

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Read introduction and chapters 1-3
Go through chapters 4-6
Study chapters 7-9

Follow along with tutorials on creating 3D environments

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Reinforce your learning by following along with additional tutorials that further demonstrate the concepts taught in the course.

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Watch the tutorials and follow along
Apply what you've learned to your own projects

Six other activities

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Join a study group or online forum for 3D environment design

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Engage with other learners and professionals in the field of 3D environment design to exchange knowledge, ideas, and support.

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Find a study group or online forum
Introduce yourself and your interests
Engage in discussions and share your work

Practice modeling and texturing 3D objects

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Build your proficiency in 3D modeling and texturing by completing exercises and drills that focus on these specific skills.

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Find practice exercises and drills
Complete the exercises and drills
Review your work and identify areas for improvement

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Deepen your understanding of 3D environment design by attending a workshop led by experienced professionals in the field.

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Find a workshop on 3D environment design
Register for the workshop
Attend the workshop and participate actively

Create a 3D forest scene

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Start working on your own project that will test your abilities to create your own 3D environments from scratch by applying the fundamentals of the course.

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Plan the design of your forest scene
Create the basic terrain and landscape
Model and add trees to the scene
Add details such as rocks, plants, and water
Lighting and rendering the scene

Volunteer on a 3D environment design project

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Gain practical experience and contribute to a real-world project by volunteering your skills in 3D environment design.

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Find a 3D environment design project to volunteer on
Contact the project organizer and express your interest
Join the project team and contribute your skills

Participate in a 3D environment design contest or competition

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Challenge yourself and showcase your skills by participating in a contest or competition related to 3D environment design.

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Find a 3D environment design contest or competition
Read the contest or competition rules and requirements
Create your submission and submit it before the deadline

Career center

Learners who complete Creating 3D environments in Blender will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Environmental Artist

In this course, students will learn the basics of Blender, a widely used software in the field of environmental art. Additionally, students will gain experience in creating realistic 3D environments, which is a key skill for environmental artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Artist

Game Designer

This course provides a strong foundation in Blender, a widely used software in the game design industry. By learning Blender, game designers can gain valuable experience in creating 3D environments, which is essential for success in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Computer Graphics Artist

This course provides a comprehensive foundation in Blender, a widely used software in the computer graphics industry. This course can help computer graphics artists build a portfolio of 3D environments, which is essential for success in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Graphics Artist

Motion Graphic Designer

This course provides a foundation in Blender, a widely used software in the motion graphic design industry. By learning Blender, motion graphic designers can gain valuable experience in creating 3D environments, which can be used to create realistic and engaging animations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Graphic Designer

Graphic designer

Blender is a widely used software in the graphic design industry. This course will help graphic designers build a foundation in Blender, which can be used to create realistic 3D environments and graphics.

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Architectural Drafter

An architectural drafter will use their knowledge of architectural design software to build a foundation of skills needed to succeed in this role. By learning Blender, an architectural drafter may gain additional experience in creating realistic 3D models of buildings and structures.

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Art Director

Creating 3D environments is a highly relevant skill for an art director. This course teaches the fundamentals of Blender, which is a widely used software in the field of art direction.

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Virtual Reality (VR) Developer

This course can be useful for VR developers who want to learn how to use Blender to create 3D environments for VR applications. This skill can be used to create realistic and immersive VR experiences.

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Technical Artist

This course can be useful for technical artists who want to learn how to use Blender to create 3D models and environments. This skill can be used to create realistic 3D models and environments for use in video games, movies, and other digital media.

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Multimedia Artist

This course may be useful for multimedia artists who want to learn how to use Blender to create 3D environments. This skill can be used to create realistic 3D models and animations, which can be used in a variety of multimedia projects.

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Interior designer

This course can be useful for interior designers who want to learn how to use Blender to create 3D models of interior spaces. This skill can be used to create realistic renderings of interior designs, which can be helpful for marketing and client presentations.

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Landscape Architect

This course may be useful for landscape architects who want to learn how to use Blender to create 3D models of landscapes. This skill can be used to create realistic renderings of landscape designs, which can be helpful for marketing and client presentations.

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Product Designer

This course may be useful for product designers who want to learn how to use Blender to create 3D models of products. This skill can be used to create realistic renderings of product designs, which can be helpful for marketing and client presentations.

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Urban Planner

This course may be useful for urban planners who want to learn how to use Blender to create 3D models of urban environments. This skill can be used to create realistic renderings of urban planning proposals, which can be helpful for public consultation and decision-making.

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User Experience (UX) Designer

This course may be useful for UX designers who want to learn how to use Blender to create 3D models of user interfaces. This skill can be used to create realistic prototypes of user interfaces, which can be helpful for user testing and feedback.

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