Start Here! Character Pipeline and Rendering Course (Rules, Details)

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Character Pipeline and Rendering – with Pixomondo’s Omar Hesham
Sponsored by RebusFarm
Oct 1 - Nov 30, 2019 (extended)

RebusFarm_2028x430(80lv)

Learn how to use quick builds to create a complete 3D character with props, and win some prizes along the way! :gift:
CGSociety is teaming up with RebusFarm to offer you this free course to teach you how to use a pipeline to create your character and show you how to and render it effortlessly with RebusFarm. Brought to you by RebusFarm, XP-Pen, CG Master Academy, and 80 Level .

RebusFarm is a render service that supports a wide range of 3D applications, including the host applications, as well as secondary rendering applications. With the new RebusFarm 3.0 Software, users can export render jobs directly from the individual 3D application and manage all jobs from all their devices with ease. Today RebusFarm is the market leader in terms of capacity, price, reliability and delivery speed, while continuously developing and researching new technologies to improve the service even further.

Omar Hesham specializes in character/creature art. Modeling, texturing, look-dev, and shot lighting. He is currently working at Pixomondo in Los Angeles. Check out his CGSociety profile here.

This course will explore the working through the pipeline for a quick build, as well as rendering using RebusFarm. Omar will be covering topics such as blocking, sculpting, polypaint, topology, UVs, texturing, lookdev, lighting, hair & grooming, shading, and how rendering in RebusFarm allows all these different elements to work together in a full scene. Every new user of RebusFarm gets 25 render points for free, so be sure to sign up with RebusFarm for your free 25 render points ($27+ USD value).

Each week starting Oct 1 there will be a pre-recorded lecture video demonstrating a specific technique or principle, followed by a short assignment, and finally a live Q&A webinar session with the instructor at the end of the week. Learn some new skills, create an awesome scene, & win some prizes.

Did we mention it’s all free?

At the end of the four weeks, we’ll be giving away RebusFarm render points, XP-Pen tablets, and CGMA class/discounts to three winners based on participation and excellence. Are you ready?

Course Outline:

Week 1: Model block in and prep
Blocking in the major parts of the model. We’ll be discussing Zbrush sculpting, poly paint during sculpting, cloth simulation with marvelous designer, topology, UVs and posing.

Week 2: Texturing and LookDev
Texture skin using polypaint and Mari. Texture props/cloth in Substance Painter. LookDev in Vray.

Week 3: Hair grooming and continued LookDev
Create the hair groom in Xgen. Continue to refine the shading for various materials like skin, eyes, metals, cloth, and gemstones.

Week 4: Lighting and Rendering
Final lighting and rendering in Vray for presentation.

To Sign Up/Register:
Make sure you’re logged in to your account or create an account, and introduce yourselves here.

REGISTER

To View the Q&A:
The Week 1 webinar will be on Sunday, October 6th @ 7pm PST. Please sign up for the webinar here! Following webinar dates may change.

General Rules:
The course is international. You can participate and contribute from any part of the world, however due to high shipping costs, winners residing in the following areas will be required to pay 50% of shipping costs and fees in order to receive the physical tablet prizes: South America, Africa, Middle East, India, Mexico.

Images containing violence, pornography or any other inappropriate or offensive content may be disqualified and removed from the challenge. The CGSociety administration and the judges of the challenge reserve the right to decide whether your submissions follow the rules.

For best chances in winning, participate in as many WIP/homework assignments as possible. JPG images are fine for homework assignments.
Must be logged in to participate & view the course content: lectures and Q&A sessions.

By registering for this course, you agree to receive emails from CGSociety and RebusFarm. Your information will not be shared with any additional third parties.

Submissions:
Only 1 final entry per person and no group entries or collaborations are allowed this time. All entries must be new and created for this particular challenge; no re-working of older pieces.
Final entry must be included in your portfolio to be considered for a prize.

Prize winners will be selected based on excellence of final submission and ability to follow direction.
You are required to post WIP/assignment images as you go along, so your fellow artists (and possibly the instructor on select assignments for the Q&A) can give feedback or/and learn from your techniques.
To be eligible to win prizes you will need to be registered with RebusFarm and use their service for rendering your final submission. See their supported software here: https://us.rebusfarm.net/en/lets-go/render-farm-specs/

There will be a forum topic for this course, including a thread for each week’s assignments, an introduction thread, and the final piece submissions thread. Post your WIPs into the assignments thread for the appropriate week.

If you post your work into the final thread without showing WIPs you may be ineligible for prizes.
A thread for submitting final work will be created closer to the deadline.

Final image resolution: 1200px minimum please. JPG format preferred. If you wish to submit a video, please supply the Youtube/Vimeo link to the video.

Duration (extended):
October 1st – November 30th, 2019. Follow along with the bi-weekly course lectures, assignments, and feedback to plan, create, and polish an impressive work of art.

Final Submission Deadline (extended):
23:59 Pacific Standard Time, November 30th (SATURDAY), 2019

Winners will be announced Wednesday, December 4th, 2019!

Judges:
Omar Hesham, Instructor
RebusFarm Representative
Manny Fragelus, CGMA

Prizes:
1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

REGISTER

Questions?
Drop us a line in the Help section. Thanks!

About our Sponsors:

RebusFarm:
RebusFarm is a render service that supports a wide range of 3D applications, including the host applications, as well as secondary rendering applications. With the new RebusFarm 3.0 Software, users can export render jobs directly from the individual 3D application and manage all jobs from all their devices with ease. Today RebusFarm is the market leader in terms of capacity, price, reliability and delivery speed, while continuously developing and researching new technologies to improve the service even further.
More info: https://us.rebusfarm.net/en/

XP-Pen
XP-Pen is the graphics tablet brand in the market for over 10 years, who are dedicated to research, design, production, and marketing. Their product line including graphics tablets, pen display monitors, stylus pens and etc, with sales to more than 100 countries and regions around the world. XP-Pen is committed to endless innovation with the goal of bringing every artist into the digital age with tools and technology to suit their individual needs.
More info: https://www.xp-pen.com

CG Master Academy
CGMA was created for everyone: from 2D and 3D artists looking to supplement their college studies to industry professionals looking to stay up to date on emerging trends and techniques in the field. CGMA offers a wealth of creative opportunities for artists of all types and all levels. Through interaction with industry-trained and experienced instructors, our students receive the very best and most current instruction. CGMA’s master artists have years of experience and collectively have worked for most major studios.
More info: https://www.cgmasteracademy.com/

80 Level
80 LEVEL is an industry-leading platform for game developers, digital artists, animators, video game enthusiasts, CGI and VFX specialists. Join us to learn about new workflows, discuss new tools and share your work.
More info: https://80.lv/

Week 1: RebusFarm WIP / Homework Submissions
Registration & Introductions - Meet your instructor, Omar Hesham