Visual effects, or VFX, is a field that involves creating computer-generated imagery to enhance or modify live-action footage. This is a constantly evolving industry, with new technology and techniques emerging all the time. If you’re interested in a career in VFX, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and tools. Here are the top 5 VFX courses to consider in 2023:
1) VFX: Complete Houdini Bootcamp (Udemy)
Specs: Rating: 4.6 | Duration: 19 hours on-demand video | Level: Beginner
Houdini is a VFX application that is used in VFX, 3D animation, and game studios. This software helps you to create high-quality effects like fire, water, explosions, and sand. At the end of this VFX online training, you will learn how to use it for making games and graphics in game engines like Unreal engine or Unity
.
Key topics:
- Learn how to create professional explosions.
- Solid knowledge on how to use Houdini.
- Learn how to create realistic oceans.
- How to use flip fluid solver inside Houdini.
- Learn how to make a rain effect.
Features:
- 14 articles
- 31 downloadable resources
- Full lifetime access
- Access on mobile and TV
- Certificate of completion
2) Fundamentals of VFX (Udemy)
Specs: Rating: 4.1 | Duration: 3 hours on-demand video | Level: Beginner
Fundamentals of VFX is a course that sets the bar extremely high for visual effects artists. It is not easy to drop a 3D model into your composition, adjust the contrast, and change colors effectively. By learning this VFX training online class, you will be able to create realistic visual effects that take a lot of time to create.
Key topics:
- Understanding of how Visual Effects are created.
- You will learn what is needed to create photorealistic effects.
- Learn about advanced VFX techniques like 3D Camera Projection, Deep Compositing, Planar Tracking.
Features:
- 13 downloadable resources
- Full lifetime access
- Access on mobile and TV
- Digital Certificate on completion
3) VFX Techniques: Creating Particle Effects (Linkedin)
Specs: Duration: 2 Hours 50 Minutes | Price/Fee: 1-Month Free Trial
VFX Techniques is a new course on particle effects for creating realistic situations like smoke, fire, explosions, and other natural phenomena.
The course designer Lanier teaches you Harry Potter movie-style special effects. This VFX class also explains how to develop particles with After Effect’s built-in plugins, adjust your appearance, and color the scene to create a particular magical mood.
Key topics:
- Breakdown of final comps
- Prepping and Repairing the Plate
- Working with particles
- Relighting the Scene
- Motion Tracking Damage
- Creating Smoke, Sparks, Blasts
- Working with Green Screen and Clean Plates
Features:
- 1 project file
- Access to tablet and phone
- Digital certificate on completion
4) After Effects CC: Beginner’s Guide to VFX Visual Effects (Udemy)
Specs: Rating: 4.9 | Duration: 4.5 hours on-demand video | Level: Beginner
After Effects CC: Beginner’s Guide to VFX Visual Effects offers you a complete guide for each perspective effect of VFX. It emphasizes exploring and understanding the effects. The methods in this course help you to get better results from an effect.
This special effect course helps you to become a master of visual effects. You will also gain the knowledge and skills to tackle and work with many visual effects. All the examples and techniques about this course are researched and explained in detail.
Key topics:
- Understand the concepts behind Visual Effects in After Effects
- Work and Animate the Perspective Visual Effects Group
- Create full Projects Using Various Effects, Videos, and Graphics
- How to create awesome Visual Effects Animations/Cinemas
Features:
- 14 articles
- 13 downloadable resources
- Full lifetime access
- Access to mobile and TV
5) VFX Keying: Master Course (Linkedin)
VFX keying course offers the most comprehensive and detailed VFX training ever produced on keying, covering every aspect of the VFX keying. You can follow along with NUKE software. The designer of this Visual FX tutorial Steve Wright introduces various types of compositing workflows and numerous tips, tricks, and different types of techniques.
Key topics:
- Keying Workflow
- How to process the Green Screen
- Work with other types of keys
- How to build the Uber key
- Spill Suppression
- How to do color correcting
- Workflow Examples
- Fixing Edge Problems
Features:
- Unlimited library access
- Certificate on completion
