Look Development for Stylized Characters with Greg Hettinger
Look Development is the process of creating a final appearance for your 3D models via textures, materials, hair/fur and lighting. In this course, you will learn the technical and creative techniques to creating production ready look development, focusing primarily on stylized characters seen in animated features or games.
By the end of the class, you will have an impressive portfolio piece that captures accurate yet stylistic details that will blow your clients away.
By the end of the class, you will have an impressive portfolio piece that captures accurate yet stylistic details that will blow your clients away.
Online Class Details
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Live Q&A time: To Be Announced
* Please note that attendance is not mandatory. Sessions will be recorded for later viewing.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced Maya or similar package (Max, Modo, etc.)
What you need:
* The instructor will be teaching how to use Maya to apply technical processes yet the lessons learned can be applied in most 3D software rendering packages.
Live Q&A time: To Be Announced
* Please note that attendance is not mandatory. Sessions will be recorded for later viewing.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced Maya or similar package (Max, Modo, etc.)
What you need:
- High speed internet connection
- Substance Painter Student License is available.
- Maya (or similar package for shader, lighting and UV work)* Educational License is available.
- We are using Arnold renderer for this class (available in Maya 2017 and newer versions)
- We highly encourage you to bring your own character model to work on in class, however, a generic character model will be provided.
* The instructor will be teaching how to use Maya to apply technical processes yet the lessons learned can be applied in most 3D software rendering packages.
What You Get
Q&A's |
Portfolio |
Video Lectures |
Weekly, live online sessions
with the instructor and the class. Ask questions and learn in a group setting. CommunityLifetime access to the private class Facebook group. Learn, network and share with your peers.
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Project Based Homework resulting with one solid portfolio piece by the end
of the course. Teacher Feedback Every student receives personalized recorded video critiques on their homework assignment every week.
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8 lecture videos you can watch online at your convenience with 1 year access. Filmed in 1080 HD quality.
CertificateStudents receive a certificate of completion,
available upon request. Must have completed 6 out of the 8 assignments to qualify. |
What You Will Learn
FundamentalsLearn the key fundamentals of what makes great look development. We'll also cover how to best use reference photos and inspiration when designing your look.
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UV CreationYou will learn a variety of methods to creating UVs for your meshes.
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Getting Started in Substance PainterLearn texture and 3D painting techniques using the very popular and amazing Substance Painter software.
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Texture DetailingWe'll teach you advanced topics in texture creation by learning how to apply realistic and stylized details using Substance Painter.
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EyesYou will learn how to create appealing and convincing stylized eyes using a variety of look development techniques that will bring life to your characters.
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ClothingLearn how to create realistic looks for cloth and fabrics
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Hair & FurYou will learn how to use Maya's Xgen to create everything from peach fuzz, eyebrows and hair.
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Working with ShadersWe'll teach you how to leverage shader to achieve industry standard physically based realistic results.
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Creating Appeal Learn how to bring life into your character renders to achieve a level of professional look as seen in your favorite animated films and games.
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Rendering & LightingLearn how to create simple yet effective lighting setups using Arnold to make your shader and texture work sing.
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Meet Your Instructor

Greg Hettinger is a Senior Surfacing Artist at DreamWorks Animation. He began his career in 2009 working on the animated feature film Kung Fu Panda 2 followed by Puss in Boots, How To Train Your Dragon 2, a few of short films, a handful of other movies that never got released (we call these the dark times), then How To Train Your Dragon 3, Trolls World Tour, The Croods 2, Boss Baby 2, and most recently on the new feature film from Dreamworks titled The Bad Guys.
In another life, Greg used to be a video editor and storyboard artist. He interned at EA Games during the summer before graduating from the Ringling College of Art and Design. He has worked with Substance, Mari, Houdini, Zbrush, Maya, Xgen, Photoshop, and a bunch of other industry programs that make cool things possible.
He is both a character artist and environment artist, but enjoys a good prop now and again as well. Greg has an unhealthy knowledge of Transformers and GI Joe and you will probably hear about it in this class. As a child of the 80's he learned that Goonies never say die.
In another life, Greg used to be a video editor and storyboard artist. He interned at EA Games during the summer before graduating from the Ringling College of Art and Design. He has worked with Substance, Mari, Houdini, Zbrush, Maya, Xgen, Photoshop, and a bunch of other industry programs that make cool things possible.
He is both a character artist and environment artist, but enjoys a good prop now and again as well. Greg has an unhealthy knowledge of Transformers and GI Joe and you will probably hear about it in this class. As a child of the 80's he learned that Goonies never say die.
Class Outline |
Take This Class If : |
Week 1: Art Fundamentals and Reference Materials
Week 2: UV Toolkit Week 3: Substance Painter (Part 1) Week 4: Substance Painter (Part 2) Week 5: Substance Painter (Part 3) Week 6: Arnold Shaders in Maya Week 7: XGen Interactive Groom Week 8: XGen Grooming |
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Questions about this class? Contact us here