Realistic CGI Compositions – Create a Sci-Fi Scene

Learn to create a cinematic scene by creating shapes, lights, textures, and atmospheric effects in Cinema 4D and Octane Render
Computer-generated imagery, or CGI, is the digital magic that has created countless realistic visual effects for film, television, video games, and other media. Timo Noack is a 3D artist and art director who specializes in CG-based cinematic imagery for the entertainment, music, sports, and advertising industries.

In this course, he teaches you how to make immersive, cinematic compositions using Cinema 4D and Octane Render. Learn how to create striking atmospheric effects from scratch and bring an original CGI composition to life.

What will you learn in this online course?
Start by getting to know Timo, a 3D artist and art director from Frankfurt, Germany. He shares with you how his passion for photography and film led him to a career in CGI and digital art. Then hear about his influences and his sources of inspiration.

Since every great scene started with the idea, Timo encourages you to start with whatever idea comes to mind. From that idea, learn how to create a mind map to expand and build on it. Then create a mood board with cinematic references or concept art as inspiration. Get an overview of Cinema 4D, Octane, and Photoshop, and discover the functions of each software that will help you create your 3D scene.

Enter the production phase by sketching then modeling your idea directly in Cinema 4D. Learn how to build a composition by seeing how to arrange the previously modeled objects. Timo then takes you step by step to create realistic shaders in Octane. Give your scene a realistic feel by creating texture and adding detail. Jump back into Cinema 4D and learn how to add light to your scene to create atmospheric effects.

Next, start generating the final image by rendering the 3D scene in Octane. Dive into the post-processing stage in Photoshop, where you can adjust, extend, and finalize your scene. Wrap up the course by taking the final steps to format and export your scene.

What is this course’s project?
Create a cinematic sci-fi scene of a computer terminal from scratch by applying texture, lighting, and rendering.

Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone curious about exploring the 3D and CGI world.

Requirements and materials
Basic knowledge in Cinema 4D and Octane is nice to have, but not essential.

To take this course, you need access to Photoshop (or similar), Cinema 4D, and Octane Render.