Game 3D modeling in Blender - course 54,000 rub. from Coddy School of Programming for Children, training 9 modules (months)

Course teacher:
“Minecraft: introduction to artificial intelligence”, “Unity 3D”, “Frontend developer: sites on HTML/CSS/JavaScript”, “Game programming in Python”, “Bots in Python”, “Graphic design Photoshop”, “Game 3D modeling”, “Creating 2D and 3D games in C#”, “Creating games in Scratch"

1st module

The first day

Introduction to the 3D modeling environment Blender

• First acquaintance with the interface and panel.
• Analysis of basic objects (cube, cylinder, plane, etc.).
• Learning basic tools for moving, rotating, resizing.
• Analysis of object components – Vertices, Faces, Surfaces.

Practical task: using simple objects and basic tools, create a complex, composite object.
Result: first acquaintance with the world of 3D modeling and its tools.

Second day

Studying the editing mode and its tools - part 1

• Extrude - extruding new components of the model.
• Insert Faces – surface within a surface.
• Bevel – cutting corners.
• Knife – figured cutting according to the model.
• Loop cut – circular cut of the model.

Practical task: from any simple object, using the tools we have learned, make a more complex sculpture without using additional objects.
Result: formation of spatial thinking skills.

Day three

Studying the editing mode and its tools - part 2

• Poly Build – a multifunctional tool for quick editing.
• Spin – quickly create new polygons through rotation.
• Smooth – smoothing surfaces and transitions between them.
• Edge slide – displacement along the edge.

Practical task: using the learned tools, create a high-quality model from a single vertex.
Result: expansion of the set of tools for forming a model and development of imagination.

Day four

Studying the editing mode and its tools - part 3

• Shrink/Fatten – moving surfaces along normals.
• Push/Pull – moving surfaces relative to the midpoint.
• Rip Region – creation of new regions.
• Annotate – notes during modeling.
• Summing up the editing mode.

Practical task: make a realistic model of your favorite animal using the editing mode tools.
Result: strengthening of skills in working in the classic model editing mode.

2nd module

The first day

Getting to know the materials

• First acquaintance with simple materials.
• Analysis of material tabs.
• Various types of base materials.
• Rough, smooth and luminous surfaces.

Practical task: creating your own materials and customizing them, applying the same materials to different objects.
Result: familiarity with materials and their influence on the appearance of the model.

Second day

The use of different materials on one model

• Creating multiple slots for materials.
• Distribution of materials.
• Applying materials to polygons.
• Principle BSDF material and its settings.

Practice: Create multiple materials for one model and apply them to different parts of the model.
Result: developing an understanding of the interaction of materials and their distribution throughout the model.

Day three

Working with textures

• The concepts of “texturing” and “texture”.
• Search and use of ready-made textures.
• Seamless textures and tiling.
• UV-mapping and correct distribution of texture across polygons.
• Texture Paint – create your own textures.

Practical task: create a model with one or more textures and distribute them correctly.
Result: expansion of the set of tools for forming a model and development of imagination.

Day four

Creating materials using nodes

• The concept of “nodes” and their mutual influence on the material.
• Basic nodes.
• Extended node types.
• Mixing nodes.

Practical task: using nodes to make materials such as silver, gold, marble, glass, chocolate.
Result: creation of complex and realistic materials to obtain a better appearance of the 3D model.

3rd module

The first day

Introduction to Animations

• Timeline and working with it.
• Key frames and their creation.
• Move/rotate/resize animations.
• Visibility animations on the render.

Practical task: make animations of moving three different objects so that they look interconnected.
Result: obtaining the first skills in object animation.

Second day

Parsing animated fields

• Animation of color and material.
• Camera animation.
• Light source animation.
• Animation curves.

Practice: Use light color and visibility animations to simulate a light bulb flickering and overheating.
Result: the formation of a non-standard approach and the use of animations and their capabilities.

Day three

Formation of a video

1. Working on a video idea.
2. Setting the stage.
3. Determining camera angles and accents.
4. Configuring output file parameters.

Practical task: make a short video using animations, preparing the scene and thinking through the plot.
Result: developing the skill of creating cut scenes for games.

Day four

Creation of special effects

• The concept of modifiers.
• Build modifier.
• Options for using the Build modifier in a project.
• Application of animations in the real world.

Practical task: make an animated screensaver for a Youtube channel.
Result: application of animation skills to a real task.

4th module

The first day

Modifiers, their purpose and benefits part 1

• Introduction to modifiers and their purpose.
• Mirror – mirror modeling.
• Array – multiple cloning.
• Subdivision surface – increasing the number of polygons and smoothing.

Practical task: make a model using all three types of modifiers.
Result: Understanding the operation of modifiers, increasing the speed of modeling through their use.

Second day

Modifiers, their purpose and benefits part 2

• Bevel – smoothing corners.
• Decimal – reducing the number of polygons.
• Wireframe – creation of a 3D mesh along the edges of the model.

Practical task: make a model using all three types of modifiers.
The result: an expanded set of tools for fast modeling.

Day three

Modifiers, their purpose and benefits part 3

• Screw – creating objects by twisting.
• Smooth – smooth transitions.
• Curve – work with curves and combinations with other modifiers.
• Hook – surface modification using additional objects.

Practical task: create a model using Screw, add details to it using Curve + Array.
Result: training the skill of quickly creating objects from curves using modifiers.

Day four

Modifiers, their purpose and benefits part 4

• Wave – creating a “Wave” type curvature.
• Warp – deformation by stretching.
• Boolean – getting a new object from the previous two.
• Remesh – re-creation of a mesh of objects.

Practical task: make a piece of cheese using the learned modifiers.
Result: improved skills in working with object deformation through the use of modifiers.

5th module

The first day

Introduction to Lighting

• Types of light sources and a brief introduction to them.
• Point light – point light.
• Sun light – sunlight.
• Spot light – spot light.
• Area light – area of ​​light.

Practical task: make a model suitable as a source for each type of lighting.
Result: gaining first skills in working with different light sources.

Second day

Material as a light source

• Emission – use of a material as a light source.
• Combination of Emission material and light source.
• Different surfaces – different glow.
• Light distortion for glass materials.

Practical task: make a model of a lamp that glows with one color, but illuminates the surrounding surfaces with a different color.
Result: experiments with an unusual combination of color and light.

Day three

Detailed analysis of lighting settings

• Light section.
• Shadow section.
• Spot Shape (for Spot Light).
• Subsection Custom Distance.

Practical task: combine light with animation and create different effects.
The result: an in-depth study of light and its influence.

Day four

Tricks with light

• Length of shadows.
• Overload with light sources.
• Use of colors when using light.
• Using textures on the light source.

Practical task: create a scene using the lighting tricks you've learned.
Result: gaining additional skills and a non-standard view of lighting.

6th module

The first day

Introduction to sculpting

• Introducing new tools.
• Draw, Draw Sharp.
• Clay, Clay strips, Clay thumb.
• Layer.

Practical task: make your first model in sculpting mode.
Result: creation of a model with a new modeling method and new tools.

Second day

We continue our acquaintance with sculpting

• Inflate, Blob, Crease.
• Smooth, Flatten, Fill.
• Scrape, Multiplane scrape.
• Pinch, Grab.

Practical task: make a model using sculpting with a lot of details.
Result: obtaining a highly detailed model in sculpting mode.

Day three

Let's dive into sculpting

• Elastic Deform, Snake Hook, Thumb.
• Pose, Nudge, Rotate.
• Slide Relax, Boundary, Cloth.
• Simplify.

Practical task: creating a model of one or more characters with a high level of detail.
Result: preparation of high-quality models using sculpting for further use.

Day four

Converting the sculpting model to low poly

• The concept of retopology.
• Different ways to create a low-poly model based on a sculpture.
• Study finished models to learn more about sculpting details.
• Refinement of finished models to obtain higher quality material.

Practical task: make a low-poly character model for a mobile game from a sculpture.
Result: gaining skills in converting high-poly models into low-poly ones.

7th module

The first day

Rigging - creating a skeleton

• Bones and their connection to the model.
• Types of connections between bones.
• Ready-made skeletons for humanoid characters.
• Distribution of bones.

Practical task: create a skeleton for the character from previous lessons.
Result: a skeleton has been created for the model for animation.

Second day

Skeleton animation

• Concept of weight and distribution of weights.
• Automatic weight distribution.
• Extra dice.
• Generation Rig.

Practical task: adjust the weight for the generated skeleton of one of your models.
Result: setting up skeletal animation.

Day three

Character animations for use in the game

• Preparing the character model for animation.
• Fixing the starting position.
• Dividing the scale into a sequence of animations.
• Adjusting the smoothness of animations using GraphEditor.

Practical task: creating basic character animations - Idle, Walk, Run, Jump.
Result: character animation skill for the game.

Day four

Skeletal animation of game objects

• Analysis of models that are suitable for skeletal animation.
• Simulation of rope, cloak and snake.
• Creation of skeletal animation for rope, cloak, snake.
• Summarizing the topic of skeletal animation.

Practical task: creating models of objects and animation using rigging.
The result: creative application of skeletal animation to simple objects.

8th module

The first day

Introducing the concept of a particle system

• Overview of the Emitter particle system.
• Overview of the Hair particle system.
• Basic settings for particle systems.
• Using an object for a particle system.

Practical task: creating a simple particle system.
Result: gaining basic skills in working with a particle system.

Second day

Creating different effects using a particle system - part 1 

• Learn settings to create a rain effect.
• Create a rain effect.
• Learn settings to create a snow effect.
• Create a snow effect.

Practical task: creating the effect of a blizzard, rain and snow.
Result: honing your skills in working with particles.

Day three

Creating different effects using a particle system - part 2 

• Learning settings to create fire and smoke effects.
• Creating fire and smoke effects.
• Learn the settings to create a sparkle effect.
• Creation of different types of sparks.

Practical task: creating a realistic fire.
The result: combining different particle systems to achieve a more realistic effect.

Day four

Create fantastic effects using a particle system

• Various Sci-fi effects using a particle system.
• Energy effects.
• Electricity effect.
• Summarizing work with particle systems.

Practical task: creating various effects by mixing particle systems and deforming objects.
Result: creating effects for games using particle systems.

9th module

The first day

Introduction to add-ons

• Analysis of the concept of “add-ons”.
• LoopTools.
• Import Images as Planes.
• Extra Objects.

Practical task: adding new objects, creating a complex model.
Result: understanding the convenience of add-ons and gaining first skills in working with add-ons.

Second day

The most common add-ons

• Easy HDRI, Bolt Factory.
• CopyAttributes, Bool Tool.
• EdgeFlow, .

Practical task: creating a complex mechanical model.
Result: strengthening of skills in high-speed modeling of game models.

Day three

Creating your portfolio

• Analysis of the work done within the course.
• Selection of the most successful models.
• Making necessary adjustments, finalizing details, materials, animations.
• Create the right scene for each model.

Practical task: make ready-made renders of your models to form your own portfolio.
Result: the formation of a real 3D artist portfolio for each student.

Day four

Formation of a vector for further development as a 3D artist

• 3D artist for game characters.
• 3D artist for game levels.
• 3D special effects artist.
• Summing up the course, demonstrating your work.

Practical task: demonstrate your works created during the course of study in 3D game modeling.
Result: protection of a real portfolio of a 3D artist.