RenderMan® Fundamentals

Official introductory training for Pixar's flagship renderer.

Artwork by Eugene Riecansky

Materials

Learn about making photorealistic materials with Pixar and ILM shaders

  • Overview

    This lesson will give you a fundamental overview of the amazing Uber shader that ships with RenderMan, PxrSurface

  • Diffuse

    In this lesson, we'll explore how to correctly use the Diffuse lobe within the PxrSurface material and when to linearize your ACEScg or sRGB texture maps.

  • Artistic Specular

    The first of two lessons about the Specular lobes in the PxrSurface. This lesson guides you through how to work in Artistic mode.

  • Physical Specular

    In the second lesson about the Specular lobes in the PxrSurface, we will be taking a look at the Physical mode and how you can use scientific values to create realistic metals.

  • Conductors & Dielectrics

    Understanding the difference between Conductive and Dielectric materials is important in creating beautiful and realistic shaders. This lesson will give you all the fundamentals you need to know to get started.

  • Iridescence

    In this lesson, we'll explore the Iridescence parameter and all the interesting ways you can use it

  • Fabric Velvet & Fuzz

    Learn how to apply realism to your fabrics, plus using Fuzz to add dust and fine powder to your assets.

  • Glass

    In this first Glass lesson, you’ll learn all the fundamental parameters within the Glass lobe.

  • Glow

    This lesson is all about Glow and how you can use it within your scenes.

  • Subsurface Scattering

    This lesson will introduce you to Subsurface Scattering in RenderMan and the various SSS models that ship with PxrSurface. Make sure you follow along with the project file!

  • Layering Materials

    In this lesson, learn the basics of creating sophisticated layered materials with the versatile PxrLayerSurface material system. Make sure you download the Midnight Rebel Maya project to follow along!

MaterialX Lama

Get started with MaterialX Lama, a production ready material layering system developed by Industrial Light & Magic.

  • MaterialX Lama Intro

    This intro will give you an overview of the forthcoming lessons on Industrial Light & Magic's cutting-edge layered material system.

  • Lama Surface

    In this lesson, we'll be taking a first look at the MaterialX Lama Surface node and how it should be used as the base of all your Lama layered materials.

  • Lama Surface - Two sided

    Expanding on the first lesson, we'll learn to create two sided Lama layered materials.

  • Lama Diffuse

    Learn how to use this fundamental building block for Lama material networks.

  • Lama Dielectric

    Create glass, plastics, diamonds, and other materials using Lama Dielectric.

  • Lama Emission

    Learn the basics of using material emission with MaterialX Lama.

  • Lama Sheen

    This lesson will introduce you to the LamaSheen node, typically used to simulate cloth, velvet, or layers of dust.

  • Lama Conductor

    In this lesson you'll learn the fundamentals of the Lama Conductor node and how it can be used to create beautiful and realistic metals.

  • Lama Subsurface Scattering

    In this lesson, you'll learn the basics of the LamaSSS and LamaTriColor nodes for simulating subsurface scattering, an effect needed for candles, chocolate, skin, and other surfaces which scatter light.

  • Lama Layer

    In this lesson you'll learn how to use the Lama Layer node as the building blocks to your Material X Lama materials.

Volumes

Introduction to Pixar's volume material, which can be used for homogeneous and volumetric effects.

  • Volumes

    In this first lesson, we'll be exploring the basics of the PxrVolume material and how you can use this Pixar shader to create volumetric fog inside of Houdini.

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