Intermediate 3D Modelling and Game Asset Creation from Coursera

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Syllabus

Speeding Up Our Workflow

In this module, we will explore ways to speed up your modeling workflow using perimeter selection, an advanced method to simplify geometry selection. We’ll then focus on completing and texturing a hanging cage model, ensuring it is ready for integration into your scene.

Creating Furniture Like Ikea

In this module, we will create a set of bookcases, varying the design to include unique details such as books and scrolls. You will also learn how to add these bookcases to Blender’s asset manager for future use, improving workflow efficiency.

Working with Cloth

In this module, we will focus on creating cloth-based assets such as wall banners. You’ll learn basic sculpting techniques, apply realistic cloth materials, and add decals to bring authenticity to the props.

Customizing Decal Materials

In this module, we will model and texture stocks, adding blood decals for a gritty effect. You’ll also learn to manipulate decals on difficult geometry using Blender’s knife tool and shrink-wrap modifier.

A Crash Course in Geometry Nodes

In this module, you will dive into the basics of geometry nodes, an essential feature for altering and controlling a model’s geometry. You’ll learn to add variables, allowing for faster adjustments and customization of props.

Game of Thrones Style Stocks

In this module, we will create Game of Thrones-style X stocks, learning advanced modeling techniques with the loop tools addon. You’ll also texture the stocks with realistic details, including blood decals, for a dramatic effect.

Working with Emission Materials

In this module, we will create torch props and apply emission materials to simulate the effect of glowing embers. You’ll also learn how to create ornate elements with curves, adding visual complexity to your models.

Creating Realism in Our Prop

In this module, we will focus on creating a prison bed prop with realistic features like straw. You’ll learn to refine the bed’s structure and apply decals to make the scene more immersive.

What Is Modifier Stacking?

In this module, we will explore the concept of modifier stacking by using remesh and decimate tools to create clean candle props. You’ll also learn to add textures and glowing effects to make the candles look realistic in your scene.

How to Create Low-Poly Weapons

In this module, we will create low-poly weapons, including swords and a wooden shield. You’ll also model a weapons rack to organize the assets, completing the armory set for your dungeon scene.

Creative Ways of Using Topology

In this module, we will focus on creating a helm to add to your weapon collection. You’ll learn how to refine its details by manipulating topology and troubleshoot any decal issues to ensure the final model is polished and ready for use.

Creating More Complex Geometry Nodes

In this module, we will use geometry nodes to create complex rope structures and apply the decimate modifier to maintain a low-poly count. This will ensure the assets remain efficient for real-time rendering while still looking realistic.

Modelling the Final More Complex Props

In this module, we will model the final complex prop—a medieval torture rack. You’ll use advanced techniques such as Booleans and geometry nodes to ensure the model is both detailed and optimized.

Bringing All Our Modelling Techniques Together

In this module, we will bring together all the techniques learned so far to model a guillotine. You’ll focus on adding ornate details, ensuring structural accuracy, and completing the final dungeon prop.

Working with Blender Cycles X

In this module, we will set up cameras and adjust clipping to ensure your models are ready for rendering in Blender’s Cycles X engine.

Compositing Renders

In this module, we will focus on using Blender’s compositor nodes to improve the visual quality of your renders. You’ll learn how to add effects like bloom and adjust saturation for professional-looking portfolio pieces.

Welcome to Realtime Rendering

In this module, we will introduce you to the Eevee render engine. You’ll learn how to set up and render models quickly, making your portfolio stand out with high-quality real-time rendering.

Learning about Animation Paths

In this module, we will teach you how to present your work using a turntable animation, allowing you to display your models from all angles for your portfolio or showreel.

Unreal Engine 5 Blender Setup

In this module, we will wrap up the Blender section of the course by preparing your models for export into Unreal Engine 5. You’ll learn best practices for optimization and organization, ensuring a smooth transition into game development.

Good to know

Know what's good

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, and possible dealbreakers

Covers Blender’s Cycles X and Eevee render engines, which allows learners to render game assets with professional-level quality, enhancing their portfolios and increasing their appeal to potential employers

Explores the geometry node system to automate complex tasks, which is a powerful tool for efficient and customizable 3D modeling workflows, especially useful for creating intricate game assets

Teaches techniques for optimizing props like weapons and shields while keeping polygon counts low, which is essential for game asset creation and ensures smooth performance in game engines

Requires a basic understanding of 3D modeling and Blender tools, which may necessitate that beginners first complete introductory courses to build a foundational knowledge base

Focuses on preparing assets for Unreal Engine 5, which is a current industry-standard game engine, making the skills learned directly applicable to modern game development pipelines

Includes the creation of assets like torture devices and blood decals, which may not appeal to all learners due to the potentially graphic and violent nature of the content

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 Intermediate 3D Modelling and Game Asset Creation with these activities:

Review Blender Basics

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Reinforce your foundational Blender skills to ensure a smooth transition into the intermediate techniques covered in the course.

Browse courses on Blender

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Practice basic modeling operations like extruding, bevelling, and loop cutting.
Familiarize yourself with Blender's interface and navigation.
Review common modifiers like subdivision surface and bevel.

Read 'Mastering Blender' by Oliver Villar

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Expand your knowledge of Blender's capabilities and discover advanced techniques for creating game assets.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the chapters relevant to modeling, texturing, and rendering.
Experiment with the techniques described in the book.
Take notes on key concepts and workflows.

Model Low-Poly Assets

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Improve your skills in creating optimized game assets by practicing low-poly modeling techniques.

Browse courses on Low-Poly Modeling

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Find reference images of simple game assets like crates, barrels, or rocks.
Model the assets using Blender, focusing on keeping the polygon count low.
Experiment with different texturing techniques to add detail.

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Follow Advanced Geometry Nodes Tutorials

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Deepen your understanding of Geometry Nodes by following advanced tutorials and experimenting with complex setups.

Browse courses on Geometry Nodes

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Search for tutorials on creating procedural assets using Geometry Nodes.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step, paying attention to the underlying principles.
Adapt the techniques to create your own unique assets.

Create a Portfolio Piece

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Showcase your skills and solidify your learning by creating a high-quality 3D model suitable for your portfolio.

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Choose a complex game asset to model, such as a weapon or piece of armor.
Model, texture, and render the asset using the techniques learned in the course.
Present your work in a professional manner, highlighting your skills and process.

Read 'Blender Compositing and Post Processing' by Enrico Valenza

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Enhance your rendering skills by learning advanced compositing techniques in Blender.

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

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Read the chapters on color correction, special effects, and animation.
Experiment with the techniques described in the book.
Apply your knowledge to improve the visual quality of your portfolio pieces.

Create a Dungeon Environment in Unreal Engine 5

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Apply your 3D modeling skills to create a complete game environment in Unreal Engine 5, integrating the assets you created during the course.

Browse courses on Unreal Engine 5

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Set up a new project in Unreal Engine 5.
Import your 3D models into the engine.
Create a scene using your assets, adding lighting and effects.
Optimize your scene for performance.

Career center

Learners who complete Intermediate 3D Modelling and Game Asset Creation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Prop Artist

A prop artist specializes in creating the objects and items that populate game worlds. This course is directly relevant to a prop artist because it focuses on the creation of a variety of game props, including furniture, weapons, and torture devices. A prop artist will benefit from the course's deep dive into Blender's modeling, texturing, and optimization tools. This course’s exploration of materials, decals, and real-time rendering will be helpful to any prop artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Prop Artist

Game Asset Artist

A game asset artist is responsible for creating the visual elements of a game, such as props, characters, and environment assets. This course is well suited for a game asset artist because it focuses on the creation of a variety of game props, from furniture and banners to weapons and torture devices. A game asset artist will learn to use Blender’s tools effectively for modeling, texturing, and optimizing assets for real-time rendering. The course's emphasis on game engine integration, specifically for Unreal Engine 5, makes it a strategic choice for a game asset artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Asset Artist

3D Modeler

A 3D modeler creates three-dimensional digital models of objects, characters, or environments. This course helps a 3D modeler hone their skills by focusing on creating game assets, including furniture, weapons, and props, using Blender's robust toolset. A 3D modeler will benefit from this course's modules on rapid geometry selection, modifier stacking, and advanced texturing techniques. Further, a 3D modeler creating game assets will benefit from lessons on low poly modeling and real-time rendering optimization. This course’s focus on practical application will be useful.

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Technical Artist

A technical artist bridges the gap between artistic vision and technical implementation in game development. A technical artist is well suited for this course as it provides technical knowledge of Blender and how to optimize assets for real time rendering. This course teaches a variety of modeling techniques like rapid geometry selection, modifier stacking, and geometry nodes, which are vital for a technical artist. The course's focus on using Blender to create game-ready assets and integrate them into Unreal Engine 5 will be very useful to any technical artist.

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Environment Artist

An environment artist creates the worlds in which games take place. This course helps an environment artist by teaching how to model a variety of props and assets including furniture, banners, and torture devices. This course helps an environment artist by explaining how to create realistic textures, including blood decals and emission materials. An environment artist can use the skills taught in this course to create immersive environments.

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Texture Artist

A texture artist creates the visual surfaces of 3D models, using digital painting techniques to add realism to game assets. This course will help a texture artist improve their skills in Blender, particularly in creating a variety of textures. Texture artists will also learn to create blood decals and emission materials for torches. The course includes lessons on working with Blender's Cycles X and Eevee render engines, valuable for a texture artist to render their work at a professional level.

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Digital Sculptor

A digital sculptor creates detailed 3D models, often focusing on organic forms and intricate details. This course helps a digital sculptor by introducing Blender's sculpting tools and teaching how to model assets such as cloth. The course also demonstrates methods to apply realistic cloth materials and decals to props. The course's use of Blender's sculpting and texturing features will be valuable for a digital sculptor.

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Freelance 3D Artist

A freelance 3D artist works on a project to project basis, using 3D modeling skills to create assets for a variety of clients. This course may be helpful to a freelance 3D artist, as they will learn techniques useful in the fast creation of assets. The course's lessons in rapid geometry selection, modifier stacking, and texture creation will be valuable to a freelance 3D artist, as they require skills in creating varied and unique assets. A freelance 3D artist can use this course to make a portfolio of game-ready props.

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Visual Effects Artist

A visual effects artist creates special effects for movies, television, and games. This course helps a visual effects artist by explaining the modeling and texturing of game assets in Blender. A visual effects artist can use this course to understand how to create assets and add realistic effects like blood decals and emission materials. While the course focuses on game assets, many skills are transferable to visual effects for film or TV.

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Level Designer

A level designer creates the environments and layouts for games. This course may be useful to a level designer, as it teaches the creation of a variety of game assets, like furniture, weapons, and props. A level designer will understand how to create game ready assets within Blender. This course will help a level designer work with environment and prop artists on a project.

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Architectural Visualizer

An architectural visualizer creates 3D models and images of buildings and spaces. This course can help an architectural visualizer, specifically in its lessons in using Blender. This course's modules in efficient modeling techniques and realistic rendering can be used to create detailed renders of buildings and interiors. An architectural visualizer may find the course's focus on material creation and lighting to be helpful.

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Animator

An animator creates the movements and actions of characters and objects in games. This course may be useful to an animator because this course teaches the creation of 3D props. While the course does not directly teach animation techniques, it focuses on how to create and optimize game-ready assets, which animators will often use in their work. This course may help an animator understand how assets are created.

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Game Designer

A game designer creates the concepts, rules, and mechanics for video games. This course may be useful for a game designer as it creates a variety of game assets. This course can give a game designer a better understanding of what it takes to create assets for use in a game engine. Although this course does not directly cover design decisions, it helps a game designer to better understand the technical process of asset creation.

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Instructional Designer

An instructional designer creates learning materials and curriculum. This course may be useful to an instructional designer when creating courses that teach 3D modeling. An instructional designer who learns this course will have a better understanding of how to organize and present the information. The course also covers many practical techniques that an instructional designer will need to understand in order to create an effective course.

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Software Developer

A software developer writes code to develop software for games or other applications. This course may be useful for a software developer. Although the course does not teach programming, it can provide a software developer insight into the process of creating 3D assets. Software developers sometimes create tools that assist artists in asset creation, so understanding the creation process of such assets can be crucial to a software developer.

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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 Intermediate 3D Modelling and Game Asset Creation.

Putting Knowledge to Work

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Provides a comprehensive guide to Blender's features, making it an excellent reference for intermediate users. It covers a wide range of topics, including modeling, texturing, and rendering, which are all relevant to this course. It serves as a useful reference tool for students looking to deepen their understanding of Blender's capabilities. This book is commonly used by both academic institutions and industry professionals.

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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Provides a comprehensive guide to Blender's compositing tools, which are essential for creating professional-looking renders. It covers a wide range of topics, including color correction, special effects, and animation. It is more valuable as additional reading than it is as a current reference. This book is commonly used by both academic institutions and industry professionals.

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

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Intermediate 3D Modelling and Game Asset Creation

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