World Building in Unreal Engine 5 Just Got Real — Now's Your Turn to Master the Virtual Universe

Fast-track your World Building skills and elevate your career with our LIVE 8-week interactive course, designed to propel your creative passion into limitless possibilities.

 

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Want to create immersive, photorealistic worlds in Unreal Engine but find the process complex and challenging? 

We've all been there, haven't we? Sitting at our desks, furiously sketching out our vision of an extraordinary world. It’s got epic landscapes, stunning buildings, intricate details, and stunning aesthetics.

Now, you just have to bring it to life, — translate them into an immersive, interactive, and visually mind-blowing digital world.

But the problem is…

… navigating the maze of world-building with Unreal Engine can feel like trying to understand quantum physics on a Monday morning.

You've got this kickass vision, but the road to making it a reality is as clear as mud.

It’s frustrating — we get it. You’ve got this powerful tool at your disposal and the creative passion to build breathtaking worlds, but there’s this invisible barrier in the way.

You’ve probably scoured the web for help and spent countless hours piecing together YouTube tutorials, trying to grasp the complex concept, and troubleshooting that one problem only to find they don’t quite hit the spot.

Your grand vision, impressive ambition, and magnificent world are all within sight, but just out of reach. 

But what if we told you there's another way? A step-by-step guide to get you away from this foggy maze.

That’s where we come in. With our comprehensive course, we'll be your co-pilot, your co-driver, your Captain Kirk in this intergalactic journey of the virtual world creation.

We're going to walk you through every nook and cranny, every twist and turn of Unreal Engine — providing you with the practical, hands-on skills to create your own world. 

And not just any world, but a breathtaking final reel showpiece to wow your peers and future employers.

We're ready to take you from "Huh?" to "Hell yeah!"

Ready to transform your creative ideas into dynamic virtual worlds? It’s warp time!

Beam up your knowledge and master the complexities of Unreal Engine 

Unlock your potential and set your phasers to create extraordinary virtual worlds

Gain exclusive insights and guidance to reach new frontiers in your creative journey.

Want more info? Schedule your Free Discovery to learn if this course is right for you

Schedule my discovery call!

Interested? Click to fill out the form.

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Introducing…

World Building in Unreal Engine 5 Course

A LIVE 8-week comprehensive journey that’ll evolve your understanding and artistic skills of world-building tools in Unreal Engine — brought to life by two titans of Virtual Production, CG Pro and Narwhal Studios.

 

CG Pro, the premier online school, joins together with Narwhal Studios, the Virtual Art Department (VAD) studio behind cutting-edge Virtual Productions including The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Black Adam, and Antman and The Wasp: Quantumania.

 

Learn from the BEST to transform your skills in real-time visualization, photorealistic environment creation, and advanced Unreal Engine tools. Whether you’re looking to explore world-building, expand your skills, aspire to work in an Art Department, VAD, or just for your own projects — This course is for you!

Want more info? Schedule your Free Discovery to learn if this course is right for you

Schedule my discovery call!

Interested? Click to fill out the form.

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Student Sizzle reel

 

 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
Course Outline

 Week 01

Foundations of Art Dept Workflow, Levels, Blocking

First things first, let's lay the groundwork for your epic creations! Learn how to structure your projects (from the initial concept to the mind-blowing details), build levels like a pro, and master blocking scenes

 Week 02

Blocking, Scouting and Critique, Cameras

It's time to take a cinematic approach to your creations. You’ll discover the secrets of setting up jaw-dropping camera shots, scout the perfect virtual location and angle, and set the most visually stunning stages.

 Week 03

Materials in Depth, Pre-Light

Bring your environments to life with textures and materials. Dive deep into the art of creating realistic surfaces, master their manipulation, and harness the power of pre-lighting to set the mood and ambiance.

 Week 04

Addressing Layout Notes, Asset Management, and Photogrammetry

Attention to detail is the name of the game. We’ll show you how to tackle layout notes and manage your assets with ease. Plus, get ready to explore Photogrammetry, where real-world objects become the elements of your virtual universe.

 Week 05

Finessing Your Environments

Now that you've laid the groundwork, it's time to polish your creations to perfection. From tiny tweaks to awe-inspiring overhauls, you'll learn how to finesse your environments until they're jaw-droppingly fantastic!

 Week 06

Lighting in Depth, Lumen, Baked, the Dos and Don'ts

Let there be light! This week we’ll play with lights and shadow techniques. We'll cover everything from how to control Lumen, understand baked lightning, and walk through the dos and don'ts that'll elevate your virtual worlds to the next level of realism.

 Week 07

Prep for a Shoot, Simulated Shoot, Environment Run-Throughs

It's Showtime! Prepare your world for the ultimate show — your simulated shoot. Get hands-on experience as you run through your environments and ensure they're ready to shine in the spotlight. This is where the magic happens!

 Week 08

Rendering, Post and Project Wrap, Environment Run-Throughs

Let there be light! This week we’ll play with lights and shadow techniques. We'll cover everything from how to control Lumen, understand baked lightning, and we’ll walk through the dos and don'ts that'll elevate your virtual worlds to the next level of realism.

Each week brings you closer to mastering the fascinating world of Virtual Production and World Building in Unreal Engine.

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty — virtually, of course? There's a whole world out there, waiting to be built by YOU! Let's take this fun, thrilling, and enriching journey together, and let's build something amazing.

Want more info? Schedule your Free Discovery to learn if this course is right for you

Schedule my discovery call!

Interested? Click to fill out the form.

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By the end of the course, you’ll be able to…

  • Use workflows and pipelines and gain the technical and artistic skills to create worlds — optimized for In Camera Visual Effects (ICVFX), Virtual Art Departments (VAD), Design Visualization, Broadcast, Simulation, and more!
  • Understand the NEW tools and features in Unreal Engine 5 and how they can be utilized to build easy, beautiful worlds.
  • Create natural phenomena like water, atmosphere, and weather.
  • Learn the differences between World Partition and Levels and how they’ll impact your projects.
  • Harness Photogrammetry and Lidar — and how they affect your world when creating photo-realistic scenes, whether for a volume or not.
  • Develop EXTENSIVE procedural and optimized scenes for your various projects in different industries.
  • Combine the science and the art of world-building to create stunning and effective imagery.
  • Build and light worlds from existing assets.
  • Use collaborative tools to work with a team, through Remote Sessions, Perforce, VR Scouting, and more. 
When you enroll in our course, you’re not just signing up for lessons — you’re signing up for a real-time experience.

We’re talking about…

  •  40+ hours of 100% LIVE, engaging mentorship spread across 8 weeks including…

    Interactive teaching every Saturday (9:00 am to 12:30 pm PT)
    Lab hours for Q&As, review of work, and feedback every Thursday (6:30 pm to 8:30 pm PT)

  •  Multiple lead instructors from different backgrounds sharing their expert tips and wisdom and guest speakers who are creating beautiful projects both in studios and in the Indie world.

  • Micro-credentials and certification from CG Pro validated through our partnership with Epic Games.

  • Access to course recordings, slides, and projects associated with the course.

  • Access to the CG PRO private community group.

  • Post-graduation placement support to help you take the next steps in your exciting career. 

Hear from Our Course Graduates

Over the years, we've witnessed countless success stories of individuals like you who’ve taken the leap and transformed their lives. Take Tim Main, for example, a recent graduate of the Unreal for Filmmakers Connectors program who landed his dream job working on the next Mad Max movie. It's never too late to learn, and achieving your goals is within your reach. This introductory workshop is your first step towards an exciting future in VFX and filmmaking.

 

“I have absolutely loved diving into the world of VFX and specially world building! I recently completed CG Pro's first world building course and I couldn't be happier with the experience. Thank you Edward Dawson-Taylor, Jacqueline Cooper! I’ve learned so much in these last two months and have loved not only the experience of working and learning, but the community you both are building as well. Dallas Drapeau thank you for your expertise in this course, I felt like I was learning a years worth of information in the span of eight weeks, but never felt overwhelming! Special thank you to Daniel Langhjelm and Franco Vilanova as well for always answering my 2:00 am questions" ”

- Nicholas V.

“…With barely any experience in 3d or VFX, I spent countless hours on tutorials, and unfinished test projects before finding some solid guidance through the school CG Pro.”

- Byron Q.

“I’ve been selected for the Unreal Fellowship Animation training program. For the next 3 weeks I’m going to be studying under the top Epic instructors alongside some of the best visual effects artists in the country… Thank you everyone at CG Pro for all that you’ve done to make this possible for me.”

- Greg E.

Who’s This Perfect For?

Individuals from various industries like VFX, Game Development, or Architecture who want to get into world-building

Filmmakers who want to dive into and get hands-on with Virtual Production

Supervisors wanting to understand how to better engage with their real-time team and Art Departments

Anyone eager to break into the virtual production workforce and scale their career

VAD artists, layout artists, and Unreal Engine environment artists at associate to intermediate levels looking to boost their portfolios

All you need is a basic knowledge of Unreal Engine 5 and a computer with the latest version of UE 5 installed. See the complete specs for more information.

Meet your Instructor [CG Pro]

Edward Dawson-Taylor:

Edward has deep hands-on experience in the CG world. He has worked for ILM, Disney, and Digital Domain on blockbuster films – Jurassic World, The Lion King, and Jungle Book. Widely recognized as a cutting-edge technologist, he has led teams of developers in architecting and enhancing VFX related software.  He has also done innovative work with simulation and pipelines in the worlds of visual design and automotive industries. As co-founder of CG Pro, he creates and teaches dynamic courses focused on Unreal Engine, VFX tools and the emerging world of Virtual Production.

Meet your Instructor [Narwhal Studios]

Dallas Drapeau:

With a passion for world-building, real-time visualization, and virtual production, Dallas Drapeau has made a name for himself as a Senior Environment Artist at Narwhal Studios. Combining his creative and technical abilities Dallas is a master at creating truly remarkable environments. What sets Dallas apart is that he is entirely self-taught. With 10 years of experience in Unreal Engine, real-time rendering, and environment creation, Dallas has developed a broad skill set that includes lighting, cinematography, texturing, look development, color theory, and composition. Through his work on major productions such as The Mandalorian, Book of Boba Fett, and Avatar: The Last Airbender, Dallas has had the opportunity to work with some of the industry's leading experts and gain valuable experience in directing, production design, art direction, and more.

Guest Instructor [CG Pro]

Daniel Langhjelm:

From Vancouver British Columbia, and originally from the Game Industry, Daniel transferred to Virtual Production in 2021 as an Unreal Engine Technical Artist. Currently a Lighting artist at Bron Digital he is an instructor at Vancouver Film School and a teaching assistant for Epic Games’ American-based fellowships as well as CG Pro. "I absolutely love learning more about unreal engines, both as an artist and developer"

Daniel specializes in lighting, cinematics, and environment art in Unreal Engine.

Guest Speaker [Narwhal Studios]

Safari Sosebee:

CCO and Co-Founder of Narwhal Studios, Safari Sosebee has been working in the VFX and Virtual Production industry for over a decade. His passions are environment and character design, cinematography, and lighting. Safari has had the opportunity to work on some incredible projects, including supervising the Virtual Art Department (VAD) for Lucasfilm's The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, both of which went on to win Emmys for Outstanding Visual Effects.

"We're excited to take on new challenges and push the boundaries of virtual production even further."

FAQs

Any questions we didn’t answer, drop us an email

Student work examples

  1. Tamara Abas
  2. Joerg Schodl

Get Professional-Level Instruction, Learn Insider Techniques, and Ignite Your Career in Virtual Production!

Join the World Building in Unreal Engine 5 Course today and step into a future of limitless creative possibilities! Starting on October 28, 2023. Spots are limited, so secure your spot now.

Want more info? Schedule your Free Discovery to learn if this course is right for you

Schedule my discovery call!

Interested? Click to fill out the form.

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