LIVE ONLINE COURSE

TECHNICAL ART

Name: Technical Art
Price: On-demand USD

DATES: 6 JUN 2024 - 8 AUG 2024

DURATION: 8 WEEKSMONDAYS & THURSDAYS5 PM PST / 8 PM EST

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AARON AIKMAN
BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT

LIVE ONLINE COURSE

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From enhancing visuals to creating immersive effects, seamlessly merge art and technology in game development.

Our stellar instructor Aaron Aikman, Blizzard’s Lead Technical Artist, will take his decade of experience in games and share the secrets with you.

THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU, IF...

YOU WANT TO GET INTO TECH ART FROM THE GROUND UP

The gaming industry is the place to be. As it evolves, so do its opportunities, welcoming new roles like technical artist. We’ll delve into the core essentials — problem-solving, Python, VFX, basic blueprints, Unreal Engine 5, and shaders — and expand upon these topics in comprehensive detail.
YOU WANT TO GET YOUR FEET WET IN TECHNICAL ART

Interested in trying yourself out in a new field? Whether you’re an entry-level game designer, FX artist, lightning artist, UX/UI, or graphic designer, this course provides a curated pathway to explore without having to drown in the sea of information online.
YOU WANT TO ENHANCE YOUR TECH ART SKILLS

Tailored for both aspiring tech artists and mid-level specialists, this course not only fortifies fundamental skills but also offers the flexibility to delve deeper into specific areas, aligning with your evolving interests or professional responsibilities.

Bridge art and tech for creative solutions.

Master Python for problem-solving, Unreal Engine 5 for blueprint scripting and shader development, and unlock the secrets of creating captivating visual effects.

Level up your skills in real-time.

Use all the advantages of live sessions for interactive learning, instant Q&A, and the vibrant energy of a dynamic online classroom.

LOTS OF PRACTICE

Practice hands-on, from crafting Python scripts for vector calculations to applying ghostly shaders to radio blueprint. Gain insight from demos on effects, light setups, and more.

WORKSHOPS & CASE STUDIES

Break down the Fibonacci sequence and automate tedious tasks in class. Learn from iconic games like God of War and Elden Ring, exploring wind dynamics, VFX, and vertex animation.

FINAL COURSE PROJECT

Your journey culminates in a massive portfolio boost. Craft a hero tool, shader, or effect, showcasing your skills and decisions. It's not just a showstopping project – it's your spotlight moment!

AARON
AIKMAN LINKEDIN PROFILE

PORTFOLIO
Lead Technical Artist, Blizzard Entertainment
Has 10+ years of expertise across AAA games, indie games, films, television, and even amusement park rides.
Shaped experiences in Diablo IV and major films like War for the Planet of the Apes and X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
Fueled by a passion for shaders, tools, procedural art, prototyping, look development, problem-solving, and team empowerment.
Finds joy in basketball, board games, and dancing beyond the realms of game development.

INSTRUCTOR'S WORKS

DIABLO IV

MARVEL AVENGERS

WARCRAFT III: REFORGED

WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES

THE CALL OF THE WILD

THE MEG

LOGAN

THE ORVILLE

DARK PHOENIX

View Aaron's full portfolio

SYLLABUS

THU (6/6), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Introduction to Technical Art

In the dynamic world of game development, the identity of a technical artist evolves uniquely with each studio's vision. Let’s dive into the various roles they play, understand basic version control systems, and get an overview of this course.

Responsibilities of a technical artist
Specializations within technical art
Overview of the game development pipeline
Version control systems (Git, Perforce)

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MON (6/10), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Problem-solving and Python

Practice writing clean code and work with variables, inputs, and functions in Python. Acquire a foundational understanding of Python basics and essential problem-solving techniques for diverse applications.

Algorithmic thinking
Abstraction & decomposition
Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
Demo: Using Python for math (using VS Code and Python)

Assignment #1: Create a Python script that calculates the length of a vector.

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THU (6/13), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Functional Programming

The primary aim is to empower you to craft more resilient Python scripts. Grasp the intricacies of flow control and delve into advanced calculations using Python. We’ll jump into nested conditionals, scopes, for loops, and more.

Conditional statements (if-else, switch-case)
Logical operators (AND, OR, NOT)
Try & except
Workshop 1: Fibonacci sequence
Break down the elements of calculating the Fibonacci sequence

Optional Assignment #2: Calculate the sum of odd numbers in the Fibonacci sequence lower than one million using Python.

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MON (6/24), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Editing Files

Decrease time by improving streamlined processes. How? Leverage automation by identifying inefficiencies and creating time-saving solutions that benefit team members. Let’s master the art of file management and task automation using Python.

Imports (os and sys)
Reading and writing files
Debugging
Workshop 2: Automation
Discuss something tedious you’ve had to work on and how you could automate it.

Assignment #3: Create a batch renamer Python script.

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THU (6/27), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Object-Oriented Programming

Uncover the practical applications and significance of object-oriented programming (OOP) within the context of game development. Gain a fundamental understanding of OOP concepts, their benefits, and when to use them.

Classes
Inheritance
Pros & cons of functional programming vs. OOP
Workshop 3: Object-oriented breakdown
Pick a topic and organize it into “parents” and “children” components.

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MON (7/1), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

User Interface + Guest Speaker

Explore the realm of user interface (UI) design and its impact on tool accessibility. Understand how to effectively apply Python knowledge to enhance customer engagement through thoughtful UI/UX integration. Get ready to hear from a pipeline tech artist as today’s guest speaker.

UI/UX
QtDesigner & importing UI files
Connecting buttons to functions
Checkboxes, reading & updating fields
Demo: Using QtDesigner to create a UI for Python scripts
Case Study: God of War wind tool in Maya

Assignment #4: Give your batch renamer a GUI.

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MON (7/8), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Introduction to Unreal Engine 5

Dive into the fundamentals and discover the latest features of one of the gaming industry's leading engines, Unreal Engine 5. Familiarize yourself with its interface, essential features, and the integration of Git for effective collaboration.

Interface & asset types
Blueprints
Nanite & Lumen
Using Git in Unreal

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THU (7/11), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Game Engines Scripting

Uncover the transformative power of node-based scripting through Blueprints to enhance your prototyping capabilities and tool development. Embrace the versatility offered by this approach to address uncharted needs, making the workflow smoother for your team.

More Blueprints
Scripting in Unreal
Demo: Creating a three-light setup (using Unreal Engine 5)

Assignment #5: Create a radio blueprint

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MON (7/15), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Introduction to Shaders

Examine the world of pixel shader manipulation. Understand that shaders are the backbone of everything you see on your screen, responsible for captivating visual effects. Build the foundation for crafting stunning visual experiences.

Texture samples and UVs
Lerp
Sine and cosine
Demo: Create a lerping shader (using Unreal Engine 5)

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THU (7/18), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Shaders and 3D Math

It’s not as complicated as you think. Simplify the complexities of shader functionality by grasping key concepts and explore the practical side of 3D mathematics to create captivating visual effects.

3D vectors
Dot product
Fresnel
Demo: Creating a Fresnel shader (using Unreal Engine 5)
Case study: Shaders in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Assignment #6: Create a ghostly shader

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MON (7/22), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Rendering and Performance

Understand the intricate process of rendering a frame to the screen and delve into performance considerations for games. Gain insight into the underlying mechanisms of rendering, bridging communication gaps.

Render architecture overview
Geometry buffers & spaces
Vertices and pixels
Profiling & bottlenecks
Workshop 4: Performance issues
Discuss a time when you’ve seen performance issues in a game and what you think might have caused it.

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THU (7/25), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Introduction to Visual Effects

Discover the essentials of creating eye-catching visual effects in Unreal Engine 5. Delve into the technical and artistic aspects of VFX, bringing magic to your game development.

Niagra
Particles, ribbons & decals
Timing & payloads
Principles of color
Demo: Creating an aura effect (using Unreal Engine 5)
Case Study: VFX in Horizon: Forbidden West

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MON (7/29), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Vertex Shaders

Learn the art of vertex manipulation to breathe life into dynamic animations. Experience the excitement of creating flowing animations, such as lava or water, through vertex shaders.

World position offset
3D noise
Interpolation
Demo: Making a lava shader (using Unreal Engine 5)
Case Study: Vertex animation in Elden Ring

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THU (8/1), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Visual Effects Continued + Guest Speaker

Explore the advanced realm of visual effects and prepare for the final project. Delve into GPU particles, beams, and potential insights from a VFX Artist, whetting your appetite for industry insights.

GPU particles
Beams and lights
Guest Speaker - VFX Artist
Paired or peer final project review

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MON (8/5), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Tooling in Unreal Engine

Unlock the potential of automation within Unreal Engine, applying Blueprint and Python knowledge to streamline development processes and assist other teams.

Blutilities
Python
Batch-processing

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THU (8/8), 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

Professional Development for Technical Artists

Prepare for career growth and success beyond this course. Learn the art of building a standout portfolio, acing interviews, and presenting your work effectively.