CG Education
Life is about learning, from your own experiences and from helpful people along the way. Everything from a 3d tip to larger topics such as composition and color theory, this is my area to give back to the graphics community.

While several lessons deal directly with 3ds Max, I've tried to keep discussions as software unspecific as possible, so you won't have to be a Max user to get something from these lessons.

If you have any comments or find some mistakes, feel free to go to my contact page and email me.

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News
Nov 29th 2011
Did a complete redesign of my Blended Box Mapping tutorial, including a brand new method for producing a Blended Box Map that is light years ahead of the older method.

Dec 12th 2010

Chris Granados has been nice enough to write a version of cornerEdgeToVertexMap for Maya using Python, which allows you to do my Worn Edges Using A Distorted Vertex Map tutorial in Maya. Download it here!.

May 21st 2010
Added a new tutorial called Vector Displacement Map Stamps In Mudbox.

Apr 24th 2010
Alexander Yergashov again has translated a number of my lessons into russian, here's the list: Worn Edges Using A Distorted Vertex Map, Tentacles and Chains Using Path Deform, Piles Of Rubble, Mapping Complex Shapes Using Multiple Map Channels, and Enhancing Bumps Through Rake Lighting.

Jan 2nd 2010

Added some extra info to my Chipped Paint Material tutorial, giving extra info on how to use the Output map to achieve the same results as the ColorCorrect plugin.

Dec 20th 2009
Added some extra info to my Non Linear Displacement In 3dsmax tutorial, mentionning some software you can use to make Vector Displacement

Nov 20th 2009
Added a new tutorial called Fractal Noise.

Oct 27th 2009

Revised heavily my Tentacles and Chains Using Path Deform Tutorial. Alexander Yergashov again has translated a number of my lessons into russian, here's the list: Blended Box Mapping, Multiple UV Tiles, Changing A Photoshop Layer's Color To A Different Color While Keeping Transparency, Overbright Cards In Reflections, and Chipped Paint Material.

Oct 18th 2009

Added a new tutorial called Glows That Look Really Hot. Added mentalray examples to my Chrome Material Tutorial.

Oct 1st 2009

Added a new lesson, Tree Brush In Photoshop. Alexander Yergashov again has translated a number of my lessons into russian, here's the list: Ambient Occlusion Rust, Non Linear Displacement In 3dsmax, Converting A Grayscale Image To Black On Transparent, Pelt Mapping, and Reducing Memory Usage To Render A Memory Hungry Scene.

Sept 21st 2009

Added a new version of my Mudbox to Max tutorial called Converting A Mudbox 2010 Model To 3DSMax. I'll keep the 2009 one around as well for people who haven't upgraded. Also note, this tutorial still uses obj as the primary way to move the model back and forth. At some point in the near future, I'll modify the tutorial to use fbx, which will let you skip 2 or 3 minor steps. But in the meantime, this newer tutorial should give you results that look great and it covers a few changes that have occurred in Mudbox 2010.

Sept 8th 2009
Added a new lesson called Procedural Noise. Also, someone has been kind enough to figure out a way to replicate the Blended Box Map technique inside maya (using mentalray). Go here for the youtube video, and click on "More Info" to get a script that creates the shader network for you.

July 3rd 2009
My Gnomon DVD "Hard Surface Shading And Texturing" is now out. To order, or for more information, please go here.
Added a few new details to Piles Of Rubble and Replacing Scatter With PFlow.

June 11th 2009

Added a new technique to Converting A Grayscale Image To Black On Transparent. Added a new lesson Chipped Paint Material.

June 8th 2009

I have just completed an instructional DVD for The Gnomon Workshop called "Hard Surface Shading And Texturing". It contains over 5.5 hours of content. Here's the description from the website: "In this 2 DVD set, Neil introduces his pipeline for shading and texturing hard surface models. The pipeline can be used for any highres models, such as models for photoreal fx work, animated feature films, ride films or videogame cinematics. In Part 1, he discusses reference gathering, how to make a visual details list, and common shaders. Then he outlines all of the major methods for placing patterns on your surface, their advantages and disadvantages, and ways of creating patterns, including procedurals, photo manipulation, and hand painting. He breaks up the lecture with practical demonstrations in Adobe photoshop and 3dstudio max using the Scanline, Brazil and mentalray renderers, and stresses how the theory can be applicable to your 3d application and renderer of choice. In Part 2, he uses the theory and pipeline from Part 1 to shade and texture a 2000+ object robot character and simple environment using 3ds Max, Photoshop and Brazil. With a focus on texturing thousands of objects fast and efficiently and theory that is useful in any 3d app or renderer, this intermediate level course is sure to add many new tricks to your personal arsenal." The DVD should be out July 1st 2009, go here for more info, including a sneak peak at the final robot (more images to follow when the DVD is released). Added a new pic in my Enhancing Bumps Through Rake Lighting lesson. Added more pics to my Flat Metallic Surfaces lesson. And lastly, a big thanks to everyone who came to my talks in Utrecht last week, we had a fantastic time.

May 18th 2009
First off, I updated my Chrome Material lesson with some extra info on the difference between polished, blurred and glossy reflections. Alexander Yergashov again has translated a number of my lessons into russian, here's the list: A White Plane That Fades Into A White Background, Spun Pattern, Dust Material, Replacing Scatter With PFlow, Towels, Carpet Or Grass Material Using Displacement, and Offset Filter To Make Tileable Textures. And one last reminder that I will be in Utrecht next week giving 2 presentations for the "End User Event 2009". Can't wait to see everyone there!



These tutorials will always be free to the public, but if you've found the materials here useful, a small donation will help pay to keep my website online and up-to-date with new material. Whether you donate or not, I thank you for visiting and hope you've found something helpful.


Online Lessons
DVDs

The Gnomon Workshop
Hard Surface Shading And Texturing With Neil Blevins
"In this DVD, Neil introduces his pipeline for shading and texturing hard surface models. The pipeline can be used for any highres models, such as models for photoreal fx work, animated feature films, ride films or videogame cinematics. In Part 1, he discusses reference gathering, how to make a visual details list, and common shaders. Then he outlines all of the major methods for placing patterns on your surface, their advantages and disadvantages, and ways of creating patterns, including procedurals, photo manipulation, and hand painting. He breaks up the lecture with practical demonstrations in Adobe photoshop and 3dstudio max using the Scanline, Brazil and mentalray renderers, and stresses how the theory can be applicable to your 3d application and renderer of choice. In Part 2, he uses the theory and pipeline from Part 1 to shade and texture a 2000+ object robot character and simple environment using 3ds Max, Photoshop and Brazil. With a focus on texturing thousands of objects fast and efficiently and theory that is useful in any 3d app or renderer, this intermediate level course is sure to add many new tricks to your personal arsenal."
Go here to order.
Go here to see the addendum, which has extra information not included on the DVD.

Lectures

  • (07.29.03) Oregon3d Brazil Class 2003
  • (07.30.03) Siggraph 2003 Discreet Booth Brazil Talk
  • (08.13.08) Autodesk Master Class, Shading Talk 2008
  • (05.28.09) "The Sets Of Wall-e: Trash Planet" End User Event 2009 in Utrecht
  • (05.29.09) "Shading And Texturing Hard Surface Models" End User Event 2009 in Utrecht

Books

I contributed one chapter to "Digital Art Masters Vol 3"
  • (Pages 218-221) Mouths To Feed III
In this article I discuss how I went about creating the image, including reference material, early modeling WIPs and various modeling / photoshop tips and tricks. Check it out at Amazon.com
I contributed 3 chapters to "3DStudio Max 3 Magic". The chapters are...
  • (4) Mixing Maps To Create Complex Materials
  • (6) Lighting Effects: Rim Lighting and Diffuse Glows
  • (9) Shaders And Highlights
Other authors in the book include Brandon Davis, Eni Oken, etc. Check it out at Amazon.com
For "Inside 3dsmax4" I did one chapter...
  • (22) Scripting In A Production Environment
This tutorial discusses how to create complex scripts, as well as tips for approaching writing a script, how to organize your ideas, etc. The rest of the book deals with how to light, model, etc from real production professionals in the film and game industry. 

Other authors in the book include Kim Lee, Brandon Davis, Ian Christie, etc. Check it out at Amazon.com



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