3D Modeler Specialization

This course requires the successful completion of the 3D Modeling Foundations career track or a portfolio submission and an accompanying reel/resume.

Your portfolio should demonstrate experience or education working in Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter, and evidence that you have modeled a humanoid character and an entire environment.

If you are unsure if your skills are sufficient, send us your portfolio when you apply, and we'll arrange for the department head to review it and, depending on the circumstances, a student interview.

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

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).

Software:

This course requires you to sign up for an educational license for Autodesk Maya and Substance Painter and download Houdini Apprentice, which is free.

Instructions for how to obtain an educational license for this software will be provided upon enrollment.

Hardware:

You will need a dedicated graphics card and a computer that meets the minimum requirements for Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter, and Houdini Apprentice. A minimum of 32GB RAM for your computer is ideal.

You will also require a compatible graphics tablet with a stylus (see Digital Art Equipment for some recommendations).

Please note: as the software we use is regularly updated, please check the specs against the latest available version at the time of enroling.

This 3D Modeler Specialization builds upon the skills offered in the 3D Modeling Foundations course and completes our career track offering. Students who are serious about pursuing a career in 3D modeling have an opportunity to explore the world of asset creation more deeply and progress further with 3D character and 3D environment modeling.

The Specialization course also offers an entire term dedicated to getting students career-ready. This includes building necessary job skills while working on your professional portfolio, with support and feedback from your mentor every step of the way.

Developing the following knowledge/skills before embarking on this advanced 3D modeling course will be highly advantageous to your studies:

• Good understanding of human anatomy and musculature
• Solid box modeling skills
• Solid UV mapping skills
• Solid knowledge of 3D geometry: points, edges, vertices, UVs, faces, and surface normals
• Intermediate knowledge of lighting and rendering
• Intermediate knowledge of texturing and materials
• Introductory knowledge of the working of Houdini (very beginner level)  

On completion of the 3D Modeler Specialization course, you will have greater confidence in your technical and creative abilities and a polished portfolio to show prospective employers. 

You will also have access to our career coach and personalized career services (including interview preparation, CV/resume assistance, and portfolio reviews), which can help when applying for junior 3D modeling jobs such as:

• Character artist
• Environment artist
• Asset artist
• Texture artist
• Look dev artist

The CG Spectrum community is another great resource. Through graduates and mentors already working in the industry, you can network and learn about relevant job vacancies. 

Discover more about these 3D modeling jobs, tips, and salary expectations on our careers page:

While CG Spectrum's advanced students have a high job success rate, we cannot offer guaranteed employment. The film and game industry is competitive, and there is no way of knowing what the market will demand in terms of 3D modeling.

The students who experience the greatest success are those who take responsibility for their careers, put in the hard work to raise their skills to industry standards, leverage their mentor's invaluable expertise, and take advantage of every opportunity to excel.

Taking an advanced 3D modeling course not only keeps students focused while they grow as artists and build their portfolios, but it also increases their social scope as they make more contacts with more time and work, a key component in securing a job. 

To help students find employment, we have a range of career services and a dedicated career coach who regularly hosts exclusive career-focused webinars, Q&As, artist interviews, and workshops for CG Spectrum students and graduates and is available to answer career-related questions.

The Specialization course also dedicates a full term to career and industry preparation. With your mentor's guidance, you'll refine your professional portfolio, build essential job skills, and learn how to market yourself.

If you have any questions about our career services as they relate to your personal career goals, please don't hesitate to get in touch.