Real-time 3D Essentials
Learn the basics of real-time 3D online with support from industry artists
Learn 3D essentials with this beginner's real-time 3D course. Your industry mentor will introduce you to the core principles of 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, rigging, and animation using Unreal Engine, Maya, and Substance Painter.
Benefits of studying with us:
- Unreal Academic Partner & Unreal Authorized Training Center
- Mentorship from industry pros
- Job-focused curriculum and 100% online
- Private 1-on-1 or small group classes (max 4 students)
This course is the perfect launching pad into the expansive world of digital art and design. It equips you with the fundamental skills necessary for mastering the art of creating stunning 3D visuals.
Master Your Skills. Master Your Future.
Whether straight out of high school, changing careers, or upgrading skills, our career-focused virtual film making courses help you build practical job skills that are required in the industry.
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.
Outcomes
Our goal is to make you job-ready. You'll graduate with technical skills and a deep understanding of the industry, making you a valuable asset to any studio.
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.
Group Class
Learn in a small group led by a working professional, with everyone's work reviewed every week the way a studio team operates. You grow alongside people chasing the same goals, sharpening your eye on their work as well as your own, and keep the momentum that comes from not working alone.
WHO IS THIS FOR
- Students who learn better in collaborative, social environments
- Career changers who want structure and accountability while they transition
- Recent school leavers looking for an alternative to a traditional university degree
Addison DeBolt
Addison DeBolt has spent 14 years working on AAA shooters and real-time pipelines at EA, Sledgehammer, Infinity Ward, Activision, Niantic, and Fox VFX. Her credits run from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Ghosts, and Infinite Warfare to Dead Space, Avowed, and Assassin's Creed Nexus. She mentors CGSI Real-time 3D students with the production rigour that comes from shipping at scale.
Known for Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Akintayo Adewole
Akintayo Adewole has spent eight years working in virtual production and real-time 3D at Epic Games, Verrex, OVFX Studio, and DRKR Pixels, with shorts and commercials across his portfolio. He mentors CGSI Virtual Production students through the Unreal-driven workflows now powering film, episodic, and live broadcast.
Known for Unreal Fellowship: Animation
Carl Shedd
Carl has worked in the industry professionally for over 17 years. He started his career at Gearbox Software and is currently a World Building Director at Gearbox Software.
Known for Borderlands franchise
Cesar Maestre
Cesar Maestre has spent 11 years working in real-time 3D and virtual production at Epic Games, the studio behind Unreal Engine. He mentors CGSI Virtual Production students from inside the toolchain that drives modern film, broadcast, and game production.
Known for Unreal Authorized Instructor
David Gruwier
David Gruwier brings 14 years of VFX experience from Ghost VFX, the Copenhagen studio with credits across major streaming and theatrical productions. He mentors CGSI students on the production-grade workflows behind modern post pipelines.
Known for Star Trek: Picard
Erica Penk
Erica Penk is a Gold Unreal Authorized Instructor who has been working in real-time 3D since 2015. She founded Ericana Productions and previously held the Technical Manager role at Trick 3D, where she contributed to Zayden's Wish, the first virtual reality experience produced by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She mentors CGSI Real-time 3D students alongside her work with the Unreal Fellowships, specialising in previsualisation, technical animation, and Blueprints.
Known for Zayden's Wish
Ivan Leon
Ivan Leon has spent 14 years working in real-time 3D across Ubisoft, Epic Games, Star Atlas, and Next/Now. He mentors CGSI Virtual Production students with a perspective shaped by both AAA games and the new wave of Unreal-driven cinematic and interactive work.
Known for XDefiant
Jon Robins
Jon currently works as a Lead Character Technical Artist at Striking Distance Studios where he loves solving problems and helping teams in as many ways as he can.
Known for Marvel's Avengers
Karim Yasser
Karim Yasser has spent 10 years building real-time worlds and FX, with credits including Gears of War: E-Day, Dune Awakening, Off The Grid, and Echoes of the End at studios such as People Can Fly, Gunzilla Games, and Myrkur Games. He mentors CGSI Virtual Production students through the Unreal-driven workflows now powering games and live virtual sets.
Known for Gears of War: E-Day
Lightfoot Buckeyne
Lightfoot Buckeyne brings 11 years of real-time 3D experience from Cubic Corporation and Endava Games, with credits on Immortals of Aveum, Payday 3, and Alien. He mentors CGSI Real-Time 3D students on the engine workflows and shipping discipline behind modern Unreal-driven projects.
Known for Immortals of Aveum
Lucas Esposito
Lucas Esposito brings six years of real-time 3D and virtual production experience from Zakazane Studio, with credits including Gwent: The Witcher Card Game. He mentors CGSI Virtual Production students from inside the Unreal-driven workflows now defining the field.
Known for Gwent: The Witcher Card Game
Michael Parker
Michael Parker mentors CGSI students across the foundational craft and production discipline that underpins every specialisation.
Known for Avengers: Infinity War
Nicholas Taylor
Nicholas Taylor mentors CGSI students through the production-grade habits and craft that shape industry-ready portfolios.
Known for Real-time 3D
Nida Arshia
Nida Arshia has spent 11 years across real-time 3D and visual effects at MediaMonks and Epic Games, with credits including Detective Pikachu, Cats, Dolittle, Dark Phoenix, and Predator. She mentors CGSI Real-Time 3D students on the visual storytelling that translates film thinking into Unreal-driven production.
Known for Visual storytelling
Paul Eliasz
Paul is an Unreal Engine Specialist and CTO of UMEWE COLLECTIVE, working in game development, VR, and Virtual Production. He’s consulted for top companies, including Bentley and Netflix, and mentors creatives globally.
Known for Bentley
Simon Warwick
Simon has been working in the game industry since 2005, and was credited as the only technical cinematic animator for Batman: Arkham City at Rocksteady Studios.
Known for Batman: Arkham Knight
Victoria Lyons
Victoria Lyons has spent eight years working in real-time 3D, with credits across Splash Damage's Project Astrid, Star Wars: Kenobi, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Rebel Moon, and Palia. She mentors CGSI Real-Time 3D students on the Unreal-driven workflows now bridging film and game production.
Known for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Yuri Perrini
Yuri is a 3D Animator and Rigger who has worked across film, TV, commercials, video games, and mixed reality AR-VR, for clients such as Jim Henson, Stan Lee, Gatorade, and the 2018 World Cup.
Known for The Cleansing Hour
Get The Education Your Deserve
"One of the best decisions I've ever made for my career.
I've learned and grown so much throughout this program and I loved the resources in the CG Spectrum community, such as finding new job opportunities and meeting other students and mentors. I took advantage of everything CG Spectrum had to offer and as a result, I landed my dream job at my dream company (Dreamworks). Thank you CG Spectrum!"
Tiffany L | 3D Animation
"The career program was invaluable!
I knew changing careers would have included things such as resumes, applications, networking, etc. The biggest thing I needed to understand was the nuances of the animation industry, etiquette for approaching recruiters, and what type of roles there were. These sessions really helped guide me, and explained how to approach my showreel and the subsequent application processes."
James B | 3D Animation
"I’d take the course again if I could!
I can’t praise CG Spectrum enough for the quality of teaching and dedication to their students. Mark was by far the best mentor I’ve ever had. He really took the time to help design the course around what it is that I wanted to get out of it. I’ve studied other animation courses in the past, but none even come close to the depth and speed of development as CG Spectrum."
Ned C | 3D Animation
"To better understand the industry, I enrolled at CG Spectrum.
There I was able to create a demo reel and build connections with professionals that ultimately led me to my first opportunity as an animator at Sony Imageworks. I have to give a HUGE shout-out to CG Spectrum’s Career Development Manager. She was the person who guided me through the entire application process. I honestly believe I would not have gotten this opportunity without her help."
Jasmeet S | 3D Animation
"CG Spectrum has been an instrumental part of my growth.
CG Spectrum has helped me sharpen my skills, acquire new ones and strengthen my character animation abilities. This is an invaluable experience for anyone looking to take their skills to the next level."
Phil M | 3D Animation
"It's been extremely helpful for my portfolio and my confidence as an artist!
I've learned so much about not only animation, but the thought process an artist goes through when creating a piece."
Shravani K | 3D Animation
"Getting access to industry mentors is huge.
There's a world of information out there, but nothing compared to talking to someone in the know. CG Spectrum was one of those places. I really liked the 1-on-1 format. It was the first time I had an experienced animator open my scene file. It was what I needed to get over some technical hurdles."
Kyle D | 3D Animation
"I learned more in 9 months than other students do in 2 years.
The level of education I have received is unlike any other school I've come across. What separates CG Spectrum from other schools is that the mentors are not only talented professionals in their own right, but they also care about your success as an artist both in school and after you graduate. CG Spectrum is incredible, I cannot recommend it enough."
David N | 3D Animation
Get The Education You Deserve
"The CG Spectrum training solidified my skills using Unreal Engine.
Having used it briefly before, and feeling overwhelmed by how big the range is of what you can do using the engine, the training taught me the areas I would need for virtual production very well. I now feel confident with the skills I have gained."
Simran M | Real-Time 3D & Virtual Production
"Having a mentor definitely helped! It was awesome to have someone I could reach out to when I was stuck.
Getting the weekly feedback also helped in terms of what to improve and what to focus on next. In Term 3, we learned Unreal Engine; I implemented the knowledge I gained in that course to my Advanced 3D Modeling Course to create some additional renders that demonstrated my understanding of using and integrating game-ready assets into an actual game engine.
Benjamin O | 3D Modeling
"Hands down the best decision I've made for my career.
The learning material and staff were great, and having an industry mentor was an invaluable asset that really helped me get my break in the VFX industry."
Alan R | VFX Compositing
"My experience at CG Spectrum was second to none, and taught me so much more than I initially anticipated.
My mentor took me from being barely computer literate to an animator working at a studio in only a year and a half. The information and level of teaching at CG Spectrum will absolutely not be found anywhere else."
Kieran | Animation
"I have never experienced such an explosive evolution in my art since attending CG Spectrum.
I have learnt an incredible amount, not only from my amazing mentor Eric Wilkerson but from the entire CGS community. Being part of such an amazing program has opened my eyes to techniques that have streamlined my process and increased my confidence tenfold."
Oliver H | Concept Art & Illustration
"CG Spectrum seemed too good to be true. Looking back, it was the best decision.
Every mentor and staff member has been so hands-on and directly involved in my learning. Co-Directors of top box office movies and supervisors of major Netflix TV shows are giving me feedback on my projects. Students also have access to a strong community, and an awesome career class to prepare you for your dream job."
Stephanie S | 3D Modeling
"CG Spectrum is the perfect place to gain focus, understanding, an encouragement for your journey.
If you are looking for a supportive place to gain or hone skills in game design or other verticals, CGS is a fantastic and worthy place to dive in."
Shaul H | Game Design
"I highly recommend signing up with CG Spectrum!
I was looking for a final push to bump my skills and finally start applying for jobs as an artist. Shortly after finishing my Advanced 3D Modeling Course I landed my first job as Junior Environment Artist, which was my dream!"
Kasia P | 3D Modeling
"I got a job offer at a major feature film studio before even graduating!
Studying at CG Spectrum gave me the opportunity to network with industry artists while I was learning, and coupled with the amazing course, I was able to secure a position in the industry. Now I'm working on amazing projects in my dream job!"
Andi E | 3D Modeling
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