This video class will teach you fundamental skills needed to integrate Blender - an industry standard, and free, 3D software - into your 2D workflow. The lectures are broken up into three chapters:

Chapter 1: Blender Essentials. Marco will introduce and explain all the 3D tools necessary to follow the tutorials. A great way to introduce yourself to the software!

Chapter 2: A project that combines elements made with basic 3D modeling, grease pencil, texturing, lighting and rendering, with digitally hand-painted 2D scenery and characters. The result is a 2D digital painting aesthetic, but with real 3D depth.

Chapter 3: A project using a modern day Hollywood '2.5D' matte painting technique. Slightly more advanced 3D modeling (still suitable for beginners), combined with sophisticated camera projection mapping UV tools and digital painting to create a unique and dazzling cinematic blend of 2D and 3D.

Course features:

Great for beginner users of Blender, or beginners to 3D in general!

Course uses Blender 2.8 - the latest release of the software

Using Blender's grease pencil as a bridge from 3D over to the realm of 2D illustration and digital painting

Preparing elements in 3D with basic UV texture mapping and rendering

Node and shader construction in Blender

Bringing your painting together in Photoshop with regular digital painting techniques. Full painting process shown, on two separate paintings, with discussions of fundamentals (light, color, value, composition, etc.) used throughout the process, as well as many other related thoughts along the way

Using digital brushwork to eliminate the sterile '3D look'

Using 3D ambient occlusion and shadow passes to aid painting

Using layers to help keep your process organized

Compositing elements back together for a final, striking image - all within Blender

All project files are included

Digital brushpack included