Environment Art is TOUGH.
From Gamer to Game Maker đŽâ¨
Every gamer dreams of creating their own world, but turning that dream into reality can feel impossible. Tutorials are overwhelming, tools are confusing, and figuring out where to start is a game in itself.
Thatâs where The Environment Artistâs Survival Kit 2.0 comes in.
This course is designed to take you, the gamer, and transform you into a game maker. With step-by-step guidance, you'll learn to create breathtaking environments in Unreal Engine and other industry-standard toolsâno experience required.
Say goodbye to confusion and hello to creation. Itâs time to go from playing the game to making it. đŽâ¨
đĽThis Is The Ultimate Unreal Engine 5 MasterclassđĽ
This isnât your average tutorial. This is a full-throttle Unreal Engine 5 deep dive, led by an industry pro whoâs been there, done that, and built some jaw-dropping worlds along the way. From start to finish, youâll master the entire workflowâfrom crafting environments that make jaws drop to perfecting the details that bring your scenes to life.
Whether youâre aiming to level up your hobby or take your career to pro status, this masterclass gives you the skills, tricks, and behind-the-scenes insights to make Unreal magic happen.
â ď¸ Warning: You might become addicted to creating epic worlds.
What you're about to unlock:
Module 1: Substance Designer 101 đ¨
Ever wonder how game worlds get those realistic, jaw-dropping terrains? Meet Substance Designerâa powerful, node-based tool used by the biggest studios to create stunning textures for games. And this module is your crash course into its magic.
Starting as a complete beginner, youâll learn to craft materials that bring your environments to life. Think vibrant grass, rugged dirt, and detailed stoneâall blended into one seamless terrain, just like the pros in AAA games.
Hereâs what youâll unlock:
- The skills to create game-ready materials using Substance Designer.
- A complete understanding of nodes and how to use them to build layered, dynamic textures.
- The secret to blending grass, dirt, and stone into a cohesive terrain for your game.
Whether youâre building an indie game or starting your portfolio, this module transforms you from a gamer into a game maker.
And if you hit a snag? Our community forum has your back. Get feedback, ask questions, and grow alongside fellow creators. đ¨â¨
Module 2: Grass Masterclass đž
Say goodbye to flat, lifeless terrain and hello to fields of lush, dynamic grass that look straight out of a AAA game. In this module, youâll learn everything about creating, styling, and implementing realistic grass textures and assets. From swaying blades to intricate color variations, youâll make nature come alive.
By the end of this module, youâll know how to:
- Sculpt and texture believable grass using advanced techniques.
- Create shaders that bring grass to life with movement and light.
- Blend grass seamlessly with other textures like dirt and stone for picture-perfect landscapes.
Whether youâre building an epic open world or just adding charm to your next environment piece, this masterclass ensures your grass is always greener (and way cooler).
Module 3: Water Deep Dive đŚ
Make wavesâliterally! This module dives into the art and science of creating jaw-dropping water in Unreal Engine 5. Whether itâs serene ponds, rushing rivers, or dramatic ocean waves, youâll learn how to craft water that doesnât just look stunning but feels alive.
Hereâs what youâll master:
- Create realistic water shaders with reflections, ripples, and transparency.
- Simulate natural water movements, from gentle currents to crashing waves.
- Blend water seamlessly with surrounding landscapes for immersive environments.
By the end of this module, your water creations will rival the best in the business, whether youâre building a tranquil forest stream or a high-stakes open-world ocean.
Module 4: Everything you NEED to know about Plants & Foliage đąđż
Transform your environments into lush, vibrant worlds with this deep dive into plants and foliage. From delicate flowers to dense bushes, this module covers everything you need to bring your landscapes to life.
Hereâs what youâll grow:
- Craft beautiful bushes, flowers, and foliage from scratch using Unreal Engine 5.
- Learn techniques for optimizing plant assets to keep performance smooth.
- Explore tips and tricks for making your foliage feel natural and immersive in any environment.
Whether youâre building a serene forest, a magical garden, or a post-apocalyptic wasteland, this workshop gives you the tools to create plants that look and feel alive.
Module 5: How to Make Trees đłđ´
Ready to add the ultimate touch to your 3D environments? This module takes you on a deep dive into all things trees. From bark textures to birch trees, weâve got every angle covered to bring your virtual forests to life.
Hereâs what youâll grow:
- đł Custom tree card textures: Paint and design your own in Photoshop for pro-level realism.
- 𪾠Beautiful birch trees: Learn step-by-step modeling techniques in TreeIt.
- đ¨ Detailed bark materials: Create textures in Substance Designer that look and feel organic.
- đż Masterful tree setups: Set-dress and optimize your branches and foliage for any scene.
Whether youâre creating a dense jungle, a serene forest, or the perfect park scene, this workshop gives you all the tools to craft trees that elevate your environment to a whole new level.
đ By the end, youâll be the master of the trees, capable of crafting stunning foliage thatâs both realistic and optimized!
Module 6: How to Build Landscapes for Games đ¨
In this module, you'll transform your environments into jaw-dropping terrains worthy of any AAA game. From sculpting detailed cliffs to designing immersive landscapes, this step-by-step guide will give you everything you need to create natural, breathtaking scenery for your games.
What youâll master:
- Sculpting Realistic Cliffs: Learn the art of cliff modeling using Blender and ZBrush, from initial blockouts to polished, textured designs.
- UV Mapping Made Easy: Streamline your workflow with clear lessons on mapping your cliffs for seamless texturing.
- Creating Cliff Materials: Dive into Substance Designer and Substance Painter to craft professional-grade materials for your cliffs.
- Bringing Landscapes to Life: Learn to integrate your cliffs into vibrant landscapes, complete with lush details and optimized performance.
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Unreal Engine Integration: Finish strong by creating cliff shaders and blending it all together in Unreal Engine 5 for stunning, playable results.
Module 7: Architecture Creation 101 đĄ
Bring your environments to life with stunning architectural assets in this in-depth module. From texturing wooden beams to modeling intricate details in Blender, you'll master every step of creating immersive, game-ready structures.
Hereâs what youâll build:
- Design Authentic Textures: Create wooden, metal, and stone materials that look straight out of AAA games.
- Model Like a Pro: Learn step-by-step techniques to craft buildings and props, from initial blockouts to detailed structures.
- Optimize for Performance: Discover UV mapping and other best practices to make your assets efficient and ready for Unreal Engine.
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Blend Seamlessly: Develop vertex paint shaders and use set-dressing techniques to integrate your architecture flawlessly into your scenes.
Module 8: Making Clouds and Other Environment VFX â
đ
Get ready to elevate your scenes to the stratosphere with this module dedicated to crafting breathtaking clouds and stunning VFX. Whether it's the wispy clouds of a serene landscape or dynamic particle systems for atmospheric depth, this module covers it all.
What youâll create:
- Paint intricate FX textures in Photoshop to bring your visuals to life.
- Model and texture cloud cards and materials to give your environments depth and realism.
- Create custom particle sprite materials and cascade systems in Unreal Engine.
- Master essential techniques for crafting believable environmental effects.
Why itâs awesome:
This module combines artistic creativity with technical precision, ensuring your VFX skills are as polished as the environments you design. Whether you're creating calm, cloudy skies or an atmospheric masterpiece, your projects will soar above the competition.
đ By the end, youâll have a portfolio-ready set of environmental effects and the skills to tackle any VFX challenge.
BONUS: How Pros take their scenes to The Next Level đĽ
This is where the magic happens. Itâs not just about creating; itâs about crafting scenes that feel alive. This final module transforms your work from impressive to unforgettable, teaching you the pro-level techniques that separate good artists from the greats.
Hereâs what youâll master:
- Scene Lighting: Learn to finalize your lighting in Unreal Engine to create atmosphere, emotion, and that âwowâ factor.
- Post-Processing & Polish: Dive into Unrealâs post-processing tools to add cinematic polish and finesse to your work.
- The Final Touches: Wrap everything up with a cohesive, professional finish that ties your entire scene together.
Why itâs unmissable:
This module isnât just about tweaking settingsâitâs about understanding the why behind every choice, elevating your work from amateur to pro. Whether you're aiming for a portfolio that lands jobs or a project that wows audiences, this is the ultimate step to mastery.
EXTRA BONUS: NEW EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FORUM đ¤
Weâve just launched something Iâm really excited about: a brand-new community forum, and itâs made with you in mind.
This is more than just a place to post your workâitâs a space to connect with other artists and developers who share your passion. Whether youâre looking for honest feedback, a second pair of eyes on your latest project, or just a place to chat about game development, youâll find it here.
Hereâs why I think youâll love it:
- Be Part of the Start: Join early and help shape the community into something truly special.
- Get Feedback Without the Fluff: Honest, helpful critiques from people who get it.
- Your Ideas Matter: Suggest lessons, videos, or topics you want to see covered next.
- Find Your People: Collaborate, share ideas, or just geek out over the things you love.
Itâs a brand-new project, and Iâd love for you to be part of it. Letâs build something awesome together.
Meet your Instructor
Meet Justin Wallace, the creative powerhouse behind some of the most stunning 3D environments youâve ever seen. With years of industry experience under his belt, Justin has honed his craft working on jaw-dropping projects that blend artistic vision with technical precision.
As an expert in Unreal Engine, Blender, Substance Painter, and more, Justin is here to share his insider knowledge, empowering you to bring your own creative visions to life. Known for his ability to break down complex workflows into easy-to-follow steps, heâs the mentor every aspiring artist needs.
Whether youâre just starting out or leveling up, Justinâs passion for teaching and his approachable style make every lesson engaging, fun, and packed with actionable insights. Get ready to learn from a true pro whoâs not only insanely talented but also genuinely invested in your success. đ¨â¨
Check out his portfolio here: https://www.artstation.com/shingidora
đ Course Curriculum
- 02_02 Substance Designer Introduction (14:23)
- 02_01 Discussing Materials & Artstyle (6:39)
- 02_03 Creating the Grass Material (27:10)
- 02_04 Creating the Dirt Material (17:23)
- 02_05 Creating the Path Material (19:32)
- 02_06 The First Material Functions in Unreal (15:45)
- 02_07 Creating the Landscape Shader in Unreal (30:10)
- 07_01 Creating a Cliff Material in Designer (16:13)
- 07_02 Blockout Cliff Modeling in Blender (10:35)
- 07_03 Sculpting a Cliff in Zbrush (Part 1) (30:43)
- 07_04 Sculpting a Cliff in Zbrush (Part 2) (32:01)
- 07_05 Second Cliff Sculpt (Timelapse) (33:16)
- 07_06 Third Cliff Sculpt (Timelapse) (28:39)
- 07_07 UV Mapping a Cliff in Blender (21:08)
- 07_08 UV Mapping other Cliffs in Blender (Timelapse) (13:44)
- 07_09 Preparing the Cliffs for Texturing (10:36)
- 07_10 Texturing the Cliffs in Substance Painter (20:34)
- 07_11 Creating the Cliff Shader in Unreal (32:22)
- 08_01 Quick Set-dressing Breakdown in Unreal (15:14)
- 08_02 Creating Wooden Materials in Designer (16:34)
- 08_03 Creating an Emissive Window in Designer (10:27)
- 08_04 Creating Stone & Metal in Designer (25:26)
- 08_05 Architecture Modeling in Blender (Part 1) (18:50)
- 08_06 Architecture Modeling in Blender (Part 2) (27:38)
- 08_07 Architecture Modeling in Blender (Part 3) (21:49)
- 08_08 Architecture Modeling in Blender (Part 4) (19:53)
- 08_09 UV Mapping the Architecture (Part 1) (28:01)
- 08_10 UV Mapping the Architecture (Part 2) (23:07)
- 08_11 Creating a Vertex Paint Blend Shader in Unreal (24:10)
- 08_12 Architecture Materials & Set-Dressing in Unreal (18:56)
Donât Miss Outďťż!
This special launch pricing wonât last forever. Secure your earlybird spot before the price increases and start creating amazing worlds today.
Level Up from Gamer to Game Developer
Your membership isnât just a subscriptionâitâs your all-access pass to building the game worlds youâve always dreamed of.
From creating stunning 3D environments to crafting next-level water shaders and mastering intricate handpainted textures, this is where your journey begins.
With a growing library of courses, exclusive project files, and detailed guides, youâll gain the tools to go from hobbyist to game-making pro.
Whether youâre curious about making your first game or leveling up your dev skills, this is your home for creativity and growth.
Learn, create, and transform your passion into playable art. đŽâ¨