Whether you’re aspiring to be the lead renderer at Disney Pixar, pick up rendering for that indie video game you’ve always dreamed of developing, want to start an architectural 3d rendering service or even just learn a new skill as a hobby, there are a number of different paths help you get into this interesting area and develop the skills you need to succeed.
Each person is different. Some will be able to develop their skills more effectively in a classroom setting. Others will find it more beneficial to get hands-on experience. Below, you will learn more about learning 3D rendering and transforming yourself into a professional.
Professional training and tutorials
In Australia this is by far the best way to get started.
If you are looking to train in 3D rendering, you’ll be glad to know that there is no shortage of professional training available to you. The most obvious, often most expensive, are the packages offered by or in collaboration with the developers of the software themselves. For example, officially certified training in Autodesk software can be found through their website at www.autodesk.com/training-and-certification/overview.
However, my recommendation is to search for online courses, classes, tutorials. Resources in all manner of engines, programs and tools can be accessed through 3rd party sites like Lynda, Udemy and Skillshare. I have taken a lot of these myself.
3D rendering course As part of University or college Degree
If you’ve studied or are studying for a university or college degree which involves some form of computer graphics, one would expect that rendering would be covered in your course. Bournemouth University even offers a specialist degree in shading and rendering and unis all over Asia do as well.
However, bear in mind that, if your studies focus on one specific program for rendering, this might not be the software used in the workplace you end up going into. This isn’t such a big problem as the skills can be transferred over quite easily.
Blogs and communities
Thankfully, many generous artists, both pros and hobbyists, are willing to share their secrets for free, and a wealth of tutorials, tips and lessons can be found on blogs, message boards and online communities, such as Ronen Beckman.
Youtube is also a great place to look for video tutorials. Even if you attend school for 3D rendering, you should definitely think about joining an online forum or two. By doing so, you’ll be able to communicate directly with experts in the field. This will allow you to learn directly from them. You can also ask questions and get the answers that are needed.
Books
In general, books are written by highly intelligent individuals. Usually, they’re experts in their respective field. Buying books about 3D rendering is honestly not recommended. Some of these books will break the subject matter down into much easier to understand terms but they won’t go in to details of how to the latest techniques and are generally outdated.
You won’t have an expert by your side, but the book will prove to be a good replacement if you want to know the technical side. Learning 3D rendering from books is quite hard as 3d rendering is advancing so quick.
Finding A 3D Rendering Mentor
If you do not want to attend school, but still want to learn from a professional, you should consider finding a mentor. Find someone who is willing to show you the ropes. Use their experience and knowledge to guide you in the right direction!
Depending on the individual in question, there is a possibility that they’ll be willing to become your mentor for free. Even if you need to pay an hourly fee, having a mentor by your side will prove to be well worth the cost!
