Tutorials
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RenderMan Fundamentals
November 11, 2021
Learn how to get the best out of Pixar’s RenderMan and take your VFX, animation, and motion graphics projects to the next level, in this new series of Official RenderMan Training.
This educational series will not only give you the confidence to apply the practical fundamentals of RenderMan, including materials and lights, but will also approach topics in a creative manner. The aim of this course, presented by award-winning artist and director Eugene Riecansky, is to give your projects extra visual edge and creativity, while inspiring you to become a more creative 3D artist.
This introduction gives you a glimpse into the forthcoming lessons on the amazing XPU render technology.
This intro will give you an overview of the forthcoming lessons on Industrial Light & Magic's cutting-edge layered material system.
Learn how to set up RenderMan for Houdini and check if everything is working correctly.
Jump in and explore the basics of the Aces color management suite in RenderMan, and what makes OpenColorIO the new industry color standard.
Learn about Pixar's secret sauce for rendering micro surface details.
This intro will give you a glimpse into some exciting forthcoming lessons on Hex Tiling, Phasor Noise, and many other new patterns in RenderMan 24.
An introduction to the new RenderMan for Blender plugin. Details include rendering to RIS and XPU, the amazing Bump to Roughness node, PBR Metallic Workflow, and much more !
Installation of the Non-Commercial version of RenderMan and getting up to speed with a RenderMan KickStarter, including how to create your own RenderMan shading and lighting libraries with the Preset Browser and using those across your projects, studio, and DCCs.
This lesson is all about installing the NCR version of RenderMan and getting it up and running inside of Maya.
Learn how to get up and running with RenderMan inside of Katana.
Learn how to set up RenderMan for Houdini and check if everything is working correctly.
Let’s explore all the options within the RenderMan Shelf inside of Maya.
In this lesson, I'll be walking you through the various options within the RenderMan menu.
It's time to get some rendering going with this kickstarter. I’ll take you through the process of starting with a base scene, adding some shaders, dropping in some lights, and introducing you to the preset browser. We’ll finish it off with a final render.
In this first lesson, you'll learn the basics of the RenderMan Preset Browser and how to create your own shader libraries to use across multiple projects, share with others, and also across RenderMan DCCs.
In this second lesson about the RenderMan Preset Browser, I’ll be demonstrating how to create your own RenderMan shader and lighting libraries.
Learn how to use RenderMan’s Image Tool, or IT, and fire up your interactive rendering sessions.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to get up and running with RenderMan’s interactive viewport within Maya for your look-development work.
If you prefer to work within Maya’s RenderView window, then this lesson will get you up and rendering.
Introduction to Pixar Surface, a comprehensive uber-shader used for all productions at Pixar Animation Studios.
This lesson will give you a fundamental overview of the amazing Uber shader that ships with RenderMan, PxrSurface
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.
The first of two lessons about the Specular lobes in the PxrSurface. This lesson guides you through how to work in Artistic mode.
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.
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.
In this lesson, we'll explore the Iridescence parameter and all the interesting ways you can use it
Learn how to apply realism to your fabrics, plus using Fuzz to add dust and fine powder to your assets.
In this first Glass lesson, you’ll learn all the fundamental parameters within the Glass lobe.
This lesson is all about Glow and how you can use it within your scenes.
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!
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!
Introduction to Pixar Patterns, which allow you to expand photorealism and stylization through the use of procedural nodes and textures.
In this lesson you’ll learn how to correctly use Bump and Normal maps within RenderMan. We’ll look at using the flexible per-lobe bump parameters for added creative possibilities.
In this lesson, you'll learn how to harness the amazing power of Pixar's Bump Roughness, which allows users to render micro detail efficiently and automatically.
OpenColorIO and the ACES color space are cutting-edge standards for improving every artist’s creative toolset. This lesson demonstrates the visual benefits of ACES and shows you how to get setup and rendering with ACEScg in RenderMan.
In this lesson, we're going to take a look at the incredibly versatile PxrVary node and how you can use it to add randomization to your materials. Download the Houdini file to follow along!
In this lesson, learn how to create realistic procedural dirt, dust, and grime using the PxrDirt & PxrCurvature nodes.
This lesson is all about using the PxrRemap & PxrThreshold nodes to adjust your textures and masks.
This lesson will give you the fundamental understanding of how to get beautiful and seamless texture maps on your models by using the PxrRoundCube & PxrMultiTexture nodes.
Learn how the PxrTee node is capable of outputting any pattern to an AOV and the advantages it brings to your compositing and look-dev workflow.
Introduction to MaterialX Lama, a production ready material layering system developed by Industrial Light & Magic.
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.
Expanding on the first lesson, we'll learn to create two sided Lama layered materials.
Learn how to use this fundamental building block for Lama material networks.
Create glass, plastics, diamonds, and other materials using Lama Dielectric.
Learn the basics of using material emission with MaterialX Lama.
This lesson will introduce you to the LamaSheen node, typically used to simulate cloth, velvet, or layers of dust.
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.
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.
In this lesson you'll learn how to use the Lama Layer node as the building blocks to your Material X Lama materials.
Introduction to Pixar's volume material, which can be used for homogeneous and t volumetric effects.
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.
Pixar Lights and lighting techniques
Learn the basics of the Pixar Lights and how you can use real world reference to help craft and light your CG shots. You’ll learn how to wrangle your lights as though they were real, through to creative and inspiring lighting setups.
Camera
Learn to treat your CG camera like a real camera, with practical on set examples and how you can apply those within RenderMan and your next project. You’ll learn everything from rendering beautiful DOF through to digital cinematography techniques which will bring your scenes to life.
Rendering
Being able to deliver your work on time is vital and understanding how RenderMan works is important to being able to render the very best shots you can. Learn the basics of the Render Settings, AOVs, and Sample & Display Filters. We’ll also learn how to harness the power of Denoising and Checkpointing.
After 28 years of creating films, motion gfx and CG for brands such as Red Bull, Pixar Animation Studios, Jim Carrey, Massive Attack, Maxon, Vivienne Westwood, The Prodigy & Madonna, Eugene has now turned his focus to inspiring and mentoring like minded creatives by helping them achieve their creative goals & ambitions.
Eugene has worked closely with Pixar Animation Studios to channel his wealth of knowledge in this exciting and inspiring official training series, RenderMan Fundamentals, with the lessons being released in regular installments, so stay tuned for more coming soon!
These assets are property of Pixar. By downloading the project files you agree to the terms of use as defined in the EULA for RenderMan Models.
