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3D Visualization Foundations

Become a 3D artist in the creative industries with mentoring from industry experts

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Overview

Bring Your Creative Vision to Life with 3D Visualization Industry Training

Turn your ideas, sketches, and blueprints into stunning 3D models under the mentorship of a V-Ray-authorized instructor. Learn to create realistic representations of buildings, sets, and product designs, allowing you to visualize projects before they’re built.

Why Study 3D Visualization at CG Spectrum?

  • Official Chaos Academic Partner: Master industry-standard tools like V-Ray
  • Unreal Authorized Training Center: Learn from an Unreal Academic Partner
  • Mentorship from Industry Experts: Receive personalized guidance from experienced pros
  • Career-Focused Curriculum: Develop the skills employers value most
  • Small Classes: Choose private 1-on-1 or small group sessions (max. 4 students)

Prepare for a career in architecture visualization (archviz), product design, industrial visualization, film, or gaming. Graduate with professional-quality 3D renders that highlight your skills and set you apart in the job market.

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Our Difference

Master Your Skills. Master Your Future.

Our mission is to ensure graduates are the best trained and best prepared for a successful career in their chosen field.

badge_mentor_bronze Industry Mentors Learn from the best! Our instructors are seasoned industry pros and bring real-world knowledge to the classroom, ensuring you're equipped with the skills that studios demand.  
badge_mastery_bronze Outcomes Our goal is to make you job-ready. You'll graduate with technical skills and a deep understanding of the animation industry, making you a valuable asset to any studio.  
badge_community_bronze Community Join an active community and network with peers, mentors, and industry professionals. Our strong industry connections can help you access job opportunities post-graduation.  
Course Information

Everything You Need To Know

Quick Overview
Course Structure
What You'll Learn
Tuition & Payment
certificate-bronze-03 Qualification Industry certificate  
trimesters-bronze-02 Study Load

20hrs/week

  
calendar-bronze Program Length

12 months

  
online-bronze-01 Delivery Mode Online live classes
Custom video lectures
Personalised mentor feedback  
tuition-bronze-01 Skill Level

Beginner - Intermediate
No entry requirements

  
start-date-bronze-02 Start Dates
January 6, 2025 February 3, 2025 March 3, 2025
  

Your pathway to the industry

This course has been designed to prepare you for a career in the industry. You'll start with the essentials before moving on to more complex projects. Graduate with a polished portfolio you can proudly show prospective employers.

foundations-12-months-career-track-1

 

Term 1: 12 weeks

Foundations 1: Essentials of 3D Visualization

In this introductory course, you'll learn the fundamentals of industry software 3ds Max and V-Ray, building 3D modeling and 3D rendering skills. You'll get to model, texture, and light digital kitchen items, blocking them out in a 3D virtual scene using physical cameras, and adjusting focal lengths to achieve better results.

What You'll Learn
  • How to use essential 3ds Max and V-Ray features
  • Basic modeling and texturing skills
  • Scene planning and composition
  • Overview of 3D visualization production pipelines
Weekly Breakdown
  1. Introduction to 3D Visualization
  2. Introduction to 3D Modeling
  3. Lighting and Rendering Fundamentals
  4. Material and Shader Basics
  5. Understanding Procedural Textures
  6. Texture Projection Methods
  7. Decals, Enmesh and IPR Rendering
  8. Splines For Architectural Visualization
  9. Hard Surface Modeling
  10. Blockout and Planning
  11. Introduction to Production Workflows
  12. Production Workflows Continued
Term 2: 12 weeks

Foundations 2: Core 3D Visualization Principles

This part of the Foundations of 3D Visualization Course will explore adding detail to your 3D scene to achieve a more interesting and photoreal finish, using surface imperfections, compositing, and atmospheric effects. You'll also dive deeper into texturing, shading, lighting, and rendering and learn Photoshop fundamentals.

What You'll Learn
  • Creating cinematic lighting and adding atmospheric effects
  • Using texturing and shading to add detail
  • Photoshop basics
  • 3D rendering and troubleshooting
Weekly Breakdown
  1. Materials/Shaders
  2. Unwrapping
  3. Textures and Surface Imperfections
  4. Scattering Systems
  5. Achieving better compositions
  6. Lighting/Gobos/Lightmix/Atmospheric Effects
  7. Photoshop Fundamentals
  8. Post Processing (VFB)
  9. MtlWrapper/Shadow Catcher
  10. Lighting Integration
  11. Render Element/Render Engine 
  12. Back to Beauty Compositing
  13.  
Term 3: 12 weeks

Foundations 3: Professional Real-time Visualization

This term looks at how to create 3D visualizations in Unreal Engine (UE). Learn how to plan out a shot in Unreal Engine and build impressive scenes with your own assets as well as Quixel's Megascans library. You'll also explore how to fully utilize the Lumen and Nanite features of UE5 and animation to achieve photorealistic real-time projects.

What You'll Learn
  • How to navigate Unreal Engine
  • Importing Megascans assets into your scene
  • Basic animation (keyframe)
  • Using Lumen and Nanite features in UE5
Weekly Breakdown
  1. Introduction to Unreal Engine
  2. Asset preparation, and Datasmith
  3. UV Coordinate Controls
  4. Materials and Shaders
  5. Lighting and Post Process Volume
  6. Planning Your Shot
  7. Making an Interior Scene
  8. Foliage System and Landscaping 
  9. Making an Exterior Scene
  10. Blueprint Control
  11. Substrate and Procedural Content 
  12. How to Continue to Develop Your UE Skills
Term 4: 12 weeks

Mentored Studio: 3D Visualization

This final term is dedicated to getting you job-ready! With your mentor’s guidance, you’ll polish your best pieces for your portfolio and learn how to develop your competitive edge, market yourself, and make the best possible impression in front of employers.

Students in this course receive additional 1-on-1 career support, portfolio reviews, and industry insights from CG Spectrum's Career Coach.

What You'll Learn
  • Polish your portfolio to impress employers
  • Be more confident with negotiation
  • Network & self-promote effectively
  • Tap into the hidden job market 
Weekly Breakdown
  1. Introduction to Unreal Engine
  2. Asset preparation, and Datasmith
  3. UV Coordinate Controls
  4. Materials and Shaders
  5. Lighting and Post Process Volume
  6. Planning Your Shot
  7. Making an Interior Scene
  8. Foliage System and Landscaping 
  9. Making an Exterior Scene
  10. Blueprint Control
  11. Substrate and Procedural Content 
  12. How to Continue to Develop Your UE Skills

Download the Course Guide

Your creative journey begins here! Download our comprehensive course guide and discover the exciting educational opportunities that await you.
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Monthly
Upfront
SAVE 10%

Group Class

$1,222 USD/mo
$13,333 USD
CG Spectrum’s small group classes provide an ideal learning environment for aspiring artists to grow their skills and connect with peers. With a maximum of 4 students per class, the intimate setting ensures personalized attention from experienced industry mentors.

  4 students max class size

  Students are assigned mentor

  Group interaction & collaboration

Private 1:1

$1,711 USD/mo
$18,667 USD
Learning 1-on-1 with CG Spectrum provides personalized guidance from industry experts, tailored feedback, and flexible scheduling. This focused approach helps students master skills, build competitive portfolios, and prepare for careers in games, film, and animation.

  Private dedicated mentor

  Students choose their mentor


  More dedicated time per week

Don't Put Your Future On Hold

Financing shouldn't stand in the way of pursuing your dream career. No matter where you are in your creative learning journey, our financing options have been designed with you in mind.
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Mentors

Learn Directly From Film & Game Mentors

To be the best, it helps to learn from the best. All game design classes are taught by professional game designers with years of experience.

Nicklas Byriel's Work
Firas Hosn
Nicklas Byriel

A certified V-Ray instructor, Nicklas is a 3D generalist/TD with over a decade of experience in 3D visualization, including running his own company Negative Black.

Known for Founder of Chaos Theory

Teodor Vladov's Work
Firas Hosn
Teodor Vladov

After earning his Masters in Architecture from the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart, Teodor established Helldoor Visual Studio and has been working in 3D visualization for over a decade.

Known for Architectural Visualization

Ioanna Ivanova's Work
Firas Hosn
Ioanna Ivanova

Ioanna graduated with a degree in Computer Visualisation & Animation from Bournemouth University. She began her career at INK, a creative studio based in London, where she worked with clients ...

Known for Product Visualization

Wessel Huizenga's Work
Firas Hosn
Wessel Huizenga

Combining his interests in architectural visualization and game development, Wessel works as a real-time architectural visualization artist to create courses with Epic games for their ArtStation ...

Known for Architectural Visualization

Anastasia Edwards-Morel's Work
Firas Hosn
Anastasia Edwards-Morel

Anastasia holds a masters degree in Fashion Design from FIT, where she focused on 3D. She has led design at various startups, and currently serves as Head of Design at  ICONIQ AI.

Known for Digital Fashion

Student Testimonials

Get The Education Your Deserve

3d-visualization-poster

"My mentorship at CG Spectrum had a profound impact on my career path.

What really made a difference for me was the structured environment and the direct access to experienced mentors at CG Spectrum. It provided the clarity and guidance I needed at that time."

 

gizem-cetin-goktekin 
Gizem G  |  3D Visualization


 

  
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Join Our Alumni at World Class Studios

Our mission is to train highly skilled graduates ensuring they are prepared for a successful career.  Take the first step towards joining our alumni at world-class studios creating work that inspires.

FAQ's

Questions? We Have Answers

What are the prerequisites for the 3D Visualization Essentials course?

Age Minimum
The general minimum age to be able to enroll in our industry certificate courses is 16. We require parent or guardian consent during the enrollment process for applicants under 18.

Students under 16 will require a further assessment before they can officially enrol. This may include an interview with a course advisor and the creation of a study plan to ensure they have considered how they will manage a college-level workload.

English Proficiency
We expect our students to have a good understanding of written and spoken English. There’s no specific ’level'; however, you must be able to understand video tutorials in English (no subtitles) and speak with your mentor in English during your live Q&A session.

Computer Literacy
To be successful in this program, you will need basic computer skills and a computer that meets the minimum specifications (see next question).
What are the 3D visualization software and hardware requirements?

Software:

This course requires you to purchase an educational license of 3ds Max and Chaos V-Ray. Instructions for how to obtain an educational license for the required software will be provided upon enrollment.

You will also need to purchase a Photoshop subscription (photography plan only) for term 2.

Term 3 requires Unreal Engine, which is free to download and use.

Hardware:

Students will need a dedicated graphics card and a computer that meets the minimum requirements for Autodesk 3ds Max, Chaos V-Ray, Photoshop, and Unreal Engine.
Is a background in architecture required?

The software and skills you will be learning in this course do not require a background in architecture.

What we teach you can definitely be applied to architecture, if you desire, and can help you work towards a career in architectural visualization (archviz) if that is your goal.
I have basic knowledge of 3ds Max, and/or V-Ray—could I skip through the initial weeks and focus more on other parts?

If you choose the 1-on-1 private mentorship option, then yes, you can decide to skip and adjust the pacing with your mentor.
I have studied and/or work in 3D modeling—is this course suitable for me?

Yes! 3D modeling is a significant part of 3D visualization, and we welcome modelers to our course.

If you have previous 3D modeling experience, you may not need to take the first term and could move straight into term 2. However, the first term may still be beneficial if you are unfamiliar with the software we teach (3ds Max and V-Ray).

To skip term 1, you must be able to demonstrate a fundamental understanding of how 3ds Max works and basic lighting and rendering skills through a portfolio demonstrating your experience and an accompanying resume.
What careers can I explore post-graduation?

3D visualization processes are employed across myriad industries—from building and construction to film and video games to product design and VR—making 3D visualization artists in demand.

The course covers more complex techniques and includes an entire term dedicated to career development and portfolio preparation to get you industry-ready.

Some of the areas within 3d visualization you could explore after completing the full study pathway include: 

  • Architectural visualization
  • Product visualization
  • 3D visualization
  • Digital fashion
  • Video games
  • Architecture and construction
  • Engineering
  • Film and television
  • Video games
  • Product design

Discover more about this career path, tips, and salary expectations on our careers page:
Discover More

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