Welcome to

CG fundamentals

Build a strong foundation in 3D art through a modern curriculum designed to prepare you for long-term growth in the creative industry.

Certificate
18 months
Beginner
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From Complete Beginer to Master
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Best Game Development school in US and Eastern Europe
Character Creation
Environment Art
VFX Training
3D Animation
CG Fundamentals
The Students are our Portfolio
Autodesk Authorized Training Centre
Maxon Training Partner
Unreal Academic Partner Program
Top 15 Creative Schools in the World
Best Game Development school in US and Easter Europe
Character Art
Environment Art
VFX Training
3D Animation
CG Fundamentals
The Students are our Portfolio
Autodesk Authorized Training Centre
Maxon Training Partner
Unreal Academic Partner Program
Top 15 Creative Schools in the World
Best Game Development school in US and Easter Europe
Character Art
Environment Art
VFX Training
3D Animation
CG Fundamentals
The Students are our Portfolio
Autodesk Authorized Training Centre
Maxon Training Partner
Unreal Academic Partner Program
Top 15 Creative Schools in the World
Best Game Development school in US and Easter Europe
Character Art
Environment Art
VFX Training
3D Animation
CG Fundamentals
The Students are our Portfolio
Autodesk Authorized Training Centre
Maxon Training Partner
Unreal Academic Partner Program
Top 15 Creative Schools in the World
A complete foundation program designed to help you grow from complete beginner to the confident 3D artist.

about

CG Fundamentals is our most comprehensive beginner program, created to help artists develop the skills, mindset, and confidence needed to succeed in the world of CG. Rather than focusing on isolated software tutorials, the program teaches how professional artists think, solve problems, and approach creative production. With structured guidance, hands-on projects, and continuous feedback, you'll build a solid foundation that supports any future specialization.

What you will learn

Develop a deep understanding of the complete 3D creation process and how different elements connect in modern production pipelines. Learn how to approach projects from concept to completion, strengthen your artistic and technical skills, gain confidence working with industry-standard tools, and create professional portfolio pieces that use best practices.

Who is this for

Designed for beginners and aspiring artists who want a structured path into the world of 3D art. Whether your goal is character art, environment art, game development, or becoming a well-rounded generalist, this program helps you discover your strengths while building a strong creative foundation.

Program
Benefits

REQUIREMENTS

DURATION

Starting at

$824

Price

Spider-Man in a black and red suit with teal jacket swinging on a web.

DEDICATION

FORMAT

  • No previous knowledge required.
  • 18 MONTHS
  • Approx. 24 hours/week
  • 100% online with 1-on-1 mentorship
  • $14,835

Get strong 3D fundamentals

  • 1-on-1 calls
  • Get direct access to experienced industry artists through personalized 1-on-1 sessions. Ask questions, review your progress, solve creative challenges, and receive clear direction tailored to your goals and skill level.
  • Personalized feedback
  • Receive detailed feedback on every stage of your work, from anatomy and forms to workflow, presentation, and storytelling. Learn exactly what works, what needs improvement, and how professionals approach refinement.
  • Guidance
  • Follow a structured learning path designed to help you grow faster and avoid common mistakes. Whether you're aiming for freelance work, studio positions, or personal projects, you'll always know what to focus on next.
  • Lifetime access
  • Keep full access to all course materials, and all assets inside M3DS even after completing the program. Revisit lessons anytime, continue improving at your own pace, and stay connected with new content as the academy evolves.
  • portfolio
  • Build a professional portfolio that reflects real industry expectations. Create polished character and creature projects designed to showcase your skills, strengthen your applications, and help you stand out to studios and clients.

01

1-on-1 calls

Get direct access to experienced industry artists through personalized 1-on-1 sessions. Ask questions, review your progress, solve creative challenges, and receive clear direction tailored to your goals and skill level.
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Studios that have Hired our graduates

Our Graduates Have Worked At

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Films and games our students worked on

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OUR ROADMAP

1st month
2nd month
3rd month
4th month
5th month
6th month
7th month
8th month
9th month
10th month
11th month
12th month
13th month
14th month
15th month
16th month
17th month
18th month

Basics in Maya & Zbrush

In the inaugural month, we lay the foundation of your 3D adventure. It begins with an exploration of basic modeling, sculpting, and rendering techniques in industry-standard software like Maya and Zbrush. These skills will form the cornerstone of your journey. As you delve into the intricate world of 3D, you’ll discover that every polygon, every brushstroke, and every rendering is a brushstroke on the canvas of imagination.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Learn basic modeling tools in Maya.
  • Introduction to ZBrush sculpting brushes.
  • First rendering experiments.
  • Understand the creative process of turning ideas into 3D shapes.

Topology and UVs

By the second month, we start delving into more complex terminology and workflows. We’re still focusing on the bare basics of modeling, UV Unwrapping, and concepts of good workflows.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Introduction to clean topology.
  • UV unwrapping basics.
  • Explore workflows for optimization and efficiency.

Introduction to Texturing

In the 3rd Month, we start to piece everything together and create fully fledged models with good topology, UVs, and Textures. This is the first time we encounter Substance Painter and what it is used for.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Explore Substance Painter for the first time.
  • Learn the relationship between topology, UVs, and textures.
  • Apply realistic textures to your models.

Advanced Workflows

Now it’s time to step up our game. We’ll revisit everything we’ve learned so far and expand on that knowledge. We’ll also learn how to set up rendering scenarios for our models with software such as Marmoset Toolbag.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Deepen modeling and sculpting skills.
  • Rendering techniques in Marmoset Toolbag.
  • Lighting setups for portfolio-ready assets.

Real World Preparations

In the 5th Month, we’ll cover what it’s like to create a prop, similar to an artist working in a studio. We’ll cover all necessary steps to follow proper guidelines and prepare ourselves for our first portfolio project.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Follow industry pipelines for prop creation.
  • Learn how to meet professional standards.
  • Get guided on planning your first portfolio piece.

Portfolio Project 01

During this month, you will get to choose from a myriad of options on what you want to be your first personal project. We’ll go over inspiration, references, workflows, and everything needed to create your very own prop. This month is heavily dependent on feedback from the Instructors.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Choose a personal project (prop).
  • Develop concepts, references, and workflow plans.
  • Heavy instructor feedback & pushback to refine results.

Game Engines

Halfway through the year, we’ll start looking into how game engines work, more specifically, Unreal Engine. We’ll learn the basics of the software, what it’s used for, and how we approach it as artists.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Learn game engine fundamentals.
  • Import assets into UE and set up basic scenes.
  • Understand how artists interact with game development tools.

Custom Materials

In the 8th month, we’ll take a look at Substance Designer, a software used to create your very own materials that can be used in any software.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Create procedural materials from scratch.
  • Export materials for use in multiple software packages.
  • Experiment with shaders and node-based workflows.

PBR Material Workflows

By combining Unreal Engine and Substance Designer, we’ll take a look at the fundamentals of Environment Art and how physically based rendering works. Here is where we dive deep into more complex setups to achieve amazing results.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Deep dive into PBR theory and practice.
  • Apply Substance Designer workflows inside Unreal Engine.
  • Learn environmental material setups.

Blocking and Forms for Characters

In the 10th month, we circle back to characters. This is where we encounter our first anatomy classes, proper blockouts, and great topology for characters.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Character blockouts and anatomy basics.
  • Sculpting proportional forms in ZBrush.
  • Learn topology for character models.

Advanced Character Workflows

After we revisit creating forms and shapes for characters, we’ll take a look at some more advanced workflows to bring the other aspects of the characters to life, such as hair creating, realistic skin textures, and more.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Skin detailing and realistic texturing.
  • Hair creation techniques.
  • Preparing characters for rigging and posing.

Rigging and Animation

By the end of the year, we’re going to close it out with a little bit of Rigging and Animation. Every single artist should know how to bring their work to life, and rigging and animation allows us to do that.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Rigging fundamentals in Maya.
  • Simple animation principles.
  • Pose and animate your own characters.

Environment Basics

After a full year of studying, it’s time to start choosing how we want to focus our efforts. For the next few months, we’ll cover the 3 Major areas where you will be able to specialize. In the first month, we’re going to start off with the basics of Environment creation.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Environment art fundamentals.
  • Blocking scenes and layouts.
  • Composition & storytelling in environments.

Character Basics

After revisiting Environment Art, we’ll circle back to Character Art. We’ll be going over the full process of creating our first full character, from blocking to shading to rigging and animation.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Blockout → Sculpt → Retopo → Texture → Rig → Animate.
  • Character shading and storytelling.

Game Development Basics

We’ll take a look at the basics of programming and coding with Unreal Engine. While this may not suit all students equally, it’s important to try out the Development process and choose whether or not you would like to specialize in it later down the road.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Introduction to Unreal Blueprint scripting.
  • Explore game mechanics.
  • Learn collaboration between artists & developers.

Portfolio Project 02: Initiation

Once all is said and done, over the course of the next 3 Months, we will work closely together to create your very own Environment, Character, or Game! This is the point where we focus all our energy on finding what we truly love doing.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Choose your path: Environment, Character, or Game.
  • Start 3-month guided personal project.
  • Find your true passion in 3D.

Portfolio Project 02: Production

It’s Specialization time! Once we have gone through the basics of all 3 major specialization routes, it’s time to choose what you want to further expand your skills in. This Portfolio Project varies from student to student and is tailored to everyone differently.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Discussing your future in the Gaming Industry.
  • Building a solid portfolio.
  • Specializing in a chosen Area.

Portfolio Project 02: Finalization

After we finish the Portfolio Project 02, you’ll be on your way to specialize in one of the 3 major routes. We also learn how to market ourselves in the Industry, what makes you stand out and what can make you blend in with other artists.

FRAMEWORKS

  • Refine, polish, and finalize portfolio pieces.
  • Real-world Preparations & Marketing.
  • Choosing a learning path for Year 2.
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WHY CHOOSE M3DS?

Many artists in the 3D learning journey often struggle with where to start and which software to focus on, which can lead to losing their passion for this creative industry. This can result in taking courses that do not cater to their individual needs, leading to confusion and a lack of direction. At M3DS Academy, we understand the importance of structured programs in achieving success.

Our structure programs provide a solid foundation that leads to success stories. As evidence of our success, we are proud to be ranked among the Top 10 Game Development Schools and Colleges worldwide in 2024 based on our students’ portfolios by The Rookies foundation. Join us, and let us guide you on your journey to success in 3D learning.

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Zbrush

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  • Asset sculpting

  • Weapons sculpting

  • Zmodeler detailing

  • tips and tricks

Autodesk maya

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  • Prop Retopology

  • riggings

  • Retopology

  • tips and tricks

Unreal engine

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  • Map layout

  • packed level actor

  • tips and tricks

Substance painter

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  • Custom stylized foliage

  • tips and tricks

  • Stylized hand-painting

Substance Designer

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  • Sand  material workflow

  • pebbles

  • tips and tricks

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Master your creative craft.

Unreal Engine Partner

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The Rookies Global School Rankings

#1 Ranked Online School

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Master your creative craft.

oFFICIAL mAXON ZBrush Partner

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Industry Recognized 3D Art Training

Autodesk Training Center

Recognized by Industry Leaders

Proven. Recognized. Trusted.

Our programs are backed by official partnerships, global rankings, and recognition from the companies and organizations shaping the future of digital art, game development, and entertainment.

Welcome to

CG fundamentals

Financial constraints should never hinder your access to our academy. Select a payment plan that aligns with your needs. If you’re unsure which payment method works best for you, consult with us and find the most suitable financing solution.

$0

Price for 0 installments

Enroll in this Course

Ready to take the next step? The application process is simple and our Admissions Team is happy to answer any questions you might have. Fill out the application form and we will contact you to schedule a meeting.

  1. 18
  2. 12
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  4. 06
  5. 03
  6. 01
  • $824
  • Price for 18 installments
  • $1,236
  • Price for 12 installments
  • $1,648
  • Price for 9 installments
  • $2,473
  • Price for 6 installments
  • $4,945
  • Price for 3 installments
  • $13,352
  • Price for 1 installments (-10%)

See What Our Students Create

Discover the incredible work crafted by our students — from 3D models and
animations to game environments and digital art.

Child wearing a red hat riding a green dragon with wide open mouth above fluffy clouds.Police car with flashing lights blocking entrance of dimly lit tunnel with chain-link fence and warning signs.Cartoon Spiderman with dog ears holding a wooden mallet on a blue surface with teal background.Dimly lit rustic kitchen with a fireplace, pots, wooden barrels, and clay vessels.Close-up of a terrifying monster with sharp teeth, yellow eyes, and a gaping mouth.Wooden balcony and rooftop with a rooster weather vane under blue sky with mountains in the distance.Child wearing a red hat riding a green dragon with wide open mouth above fluffy clouds.Police car with flashing lights blocking entrance of dimly lit tunnel with chain-link fence and warning signs.Cartoon Spiderman with dog ears holding a wooden mallet on a blue surface with teal background.Dimly lit rustic kitchen with a fireplace, pots, wooden barrels, and clay vessels.Close-up of a terrifying monster with sharp teeth, yellow eyes, and a gaping mouth.Wooden balcony and rooftop with a rooster weather vane under blue sky with mountains in the distance.
Three stylized characters: a muscular frog holding a pole, a small armored turtle, and a bird with keys.Fantasy character with purple hair, metallic armor, and staff with feathers on dark background.A fantasy village with timber houses, a bridge, sheep, waterfalls, and mountains under a partly cloudy sky.Close-up of ornate golden sword hilt with a red gem and Game of Thrones text below.Ancient statue of a warrior in an overgrown stone archway with sunlight shining through mist.Elderly warrior with long gray hair and beard wearing tattered armor and holding a weapon.Three stylized characters: a muscular frog holding a pole, a small armored turtle, and a bird with keys.Fantasy character with purple hair, metallic armor, and staff with feathers on dark background.A fantasy village with timber houses, a bridge, sheep, waterfalls, and mountains under a partly cloudy sky.Close-up of ornate golden sword hilt with a red gem and Game of Thrones text below.Ancient statue of a warrior in an overgrown stone archway with sunlight shining through mist.Elderly warrior with long gray hair and beard wearing tattered armor and holding a weapon.

What Our
Students Say

Hear from students who turned their passion into careers. Our hands-on training, mentorship, and real-world projects have helped them land roles at top studios worldwide.

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

M3DS Academy is an exceptional learning platform. The courses are well-structured, the instructors are knowledgeable, and the community is supportive. I've gained valuable skills and insights that have truly enriched my professional journey. Highly recommended!

Portrait of a man with a beard and glasses wearing a white shirt with a black pattern.
Mario Stojanov

2023-09-06

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

M3DS is the perfect academy for anyone interested in learning 3D design. The instructors go out of their way to help and guide you through the learning process and they're passionate about sharing their knowledge and skills with you. All of the lessons are well thought out and teach you something useful. All in all, a great place to begin your journey into the world of 3D.

Person in casual clothes walking on a sandy beach with a blue sky and dunes in the background.
Petar Cacanoski

2023-08-24

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

I have attended Academy Year 1 % 2 here and I can say the whole program was on point! The classes were all focused on important learning that I could implement in wherever my creativity took me to. The instructors were very detailed and helpful, and whenever I would hit a wall they would help me out throughout the whole year. And just to note before M3DS Academy I had no experience in the 3D world, and after I completed now I feel confident in creating fully realistic environments, game-ready characters, game assets etc... If you would like to learn and receive the best education to enter the 3D world, this is where you should go!

Purple circular icon with a white letter T in the center.
Teodor Mihajlov

2023-08-23

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

Academy Year 1 was an excellent experience. I am glad that I took part and I am recommending this to everyone. Also, a big shout out to the great instructors who take a big part of the whole learning process.

White tuning fork icon inside a teal circle on black background.
Џингов. Јане

2023-08-22

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

Outstanding academy! Expert training in 3D design and game development. Cutting-edge curriculum, and amazing hands-on experience. A top choice for aspiring 3D artists and game developers.

Dark green circle with a white uppercase letter M centered inside.
Mihail Danilovski

2023-08-22

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

It's been wonderful journey, I learned a lot here, and I'm continuing to do so!

Cartoon elf wearing green clothes and hat, smiling with hands on hips.
Nikola Temkov

2023-08-21

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

I attended Academy Couse 01 & 02. Loved every part of it. They really put everything on the lessons, on teaching, and they make sure you go through and understand every detail. It's amazing how they also encourage you to work on your own projects and give you advices on how to make everything better. I 'annoyed' them with so many questions, however, the not just answered all of them but they made sure I understand by sending even screenshots and even video where I was doing something wrong.
And since I was one of the lucky ones to attend live, the atmosphere there was so nice and they went to each student to see who is doing what and advice and help on the times when one would get stuck somewhere.
Another thing is that they give homework and they literally tell if something doesn't look right, and if you forget a homework, they write and ask for them.

I highly recommend to take the courses with M3DS Academy, and work with these guys because they are really great people.

Bekim K.

Man sitting at a laptop in a circular cutout frame on a white background.
Bekim K

2023-08-21

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

M3DS Academy is an exceptional learning platform. The courses are well-structured, the instructors are knowledgeable, and the community is supportive. I've gained valuable skills and insights that have truly enriched my professional journey. Highly recommended!

Portrait of a man with a beard and glasses wearing a white shirt with a black pattern.
Mario Stojanov

2023-09-06

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

M3DS is the perfect academy for anyone interested in learning 3D design. The instructors go out of their way to help and guide you through the learning process and they're passionate about sharing their knowledge and skills with you. All of the lessons are well thought out and teach you something useful. All in all, a great place to begin your journey into the world of 3D.

Person in casual clothes walking on a sandy beach with a blue sky and dunes in the background.
Petar Cacanoski

2023-08-24

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

I have attended Academy Year 1 % 2 here and I can say the whole program was on point! The classes were all focused on important learning that I could implement in wherever my creativity took me to. The instructors were very detailed and helpful, and whenever I would hit a wall they would help me out throughout the whole year. And just to note before M3DS Academy I had no experience in the 3D world, and after I completed now I feel confident in creating fully realistic environments, game-ready characters, game assets etc... If you would like to learn and receive the best education to enter the 3D world, this is where you should go!

Purple circular icon with a white letter T in the center.
Teodor Mihajlov

2023-08-23

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

Academy Year 1 was an excellent experience. I am glad that I took part and I am recommending this to everyone. Also, a big shout out to the great instructors who take a big part of the whole learning process.

White tuning fork icon inside a teal circle on black background.
Џингов. Јане

2023-08-22

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

Outstanding academy! Expert training in 3D design and game development. Cutting-edge curriculum, and amazing hands-on experience. A top choice for aspiring 3D artists and game developers.

Dark green circle with a white uppercase letter M centered inside.
Mihail Danilovski

2023-08-22

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

It's been wonderful journey, I learned a lot here, and I'm continuing to do so!

Cartoon elf wearing green clothes and hat, smiling with hands on hips.
Nikola Temkov

2023-08-21

Google company logo with multicolored letters.Five yellow stars rating on a transparent background.

I attended Academy Couse 01 & 02. Loved every part of it. They really put everything on the lessons, on teaching, and they make sure you go through and understand every detail. It's amazing how they also encourage you to work on your own projects and give you advices on how to make everything better. I 'annoyed' them with so many questions, however, the not just answered all of them but they made sure I understand by sending even screenshots and even video where I was doing something wrong.
And since I was one of the lucky ones to attend live, the atmosphere there was so nice and they went to each student to see who is doing what and advice and help on the times when one would get stuck somewhere.
Another thing is that they give homework and they literally tell if something doesn't look right, and if you forget a homework, they write and ask for them.

I highly recommend to take the courses with M3DS Academy, and work with these guys because they are really great people.

Bekim K.

Man sitting at a laptop in a circular cutout frame on a white background.
Bekim K

2023-08-21

Get Started

Learn from #1 academy for 3d artists & game developers

Personalized Experience
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Global Creative Community
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Stylized Environments

Individual + Mentorship

Learn how to create stunning stylized environments from scratch using industry-standard tools and professional workflows.

Starting from $640

Certificate
4 months
Intermediate
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Included in the Course
Program duration
Level (Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced)
Price
1-on-1 mentorship & feedback
Software licenses installation included
Certification
Lifetime access to the program
Discord community access
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Game Development Specialization

Academy Programs

Transform your ideas into reality and publish your first game.

Starting from $640

Certificate
12 months
Intermediate
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Included in the Course
Program duration
Level (Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced)
Price
1-on-1 mentorship & feedback
Software licenses installation included
Certification
Lifetime access to the program
Weekly meetings with customized program
Server storage & backup
Portfolio promotion
ArtStation Pro account
Discord community access
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Environment Specialization

Academy Programs

Master the art of environment creation through a specialized program built around modern workflows, industry standards, and portfolio development.

Starting from $640

Certificate
12 months
Intermediate
Explore
Included in the Course
Program duration
Level (Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced)
Price
1-on-1 mentorship & feedback
Software licenses installation included
Certification
Lifetime access to the program
Weekly meetings with customized program
Server storage & backup
Portfolio promotion
ArtStation Pro account
Discord community access
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Rigging & Animation Basic

Individual

Learn professional character rigging workflows and how to build, control, and integrate fully functionality for games and real-time engines.

Starting from $640

Certificate
2 months
Beginner
Explore
Included in the Course
Program duration
Level (Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced)
Price - 50% of the standard course price
Certification
Lifetime access to the program
Discord community access
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Substance Designer Fundamentals

Individual

Master Substance Designer and learn how to create procedural, game-ready materials using a node-based workflow.

Starting from $640

Certificate
2 months
Beginner
Explore
Included in the Course
Program duration
Level (Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced)
Price - 50% of the standard course price
Certification
Lifetime access to the program
Discord community access