Week 1-2: Introduction to 3D Design & Real-Time Rendering

• Introduction to 3D modeling and real-time rendering
• Understanding the 3D pipeline: from concept to final output
• Introduction to software: Blender, Maya, ZBrush
• Basic modeling, lighting, and texturing techniques

Week 3-4: 3D Modeling Techniques

• 3D environment and prop modeling
• Character modeling: organic vs. hard surface
• Working with polygons, NURBS, and subdivision surfaces
• Introduction to UV mapping and unwrapping

Week 5-6: Texturing & Shading

• PBR (Physically Based Rendering) workflow
• Working with Substance Painter & Photoshop for textures
• Bump maps, normal maps, and displacement maps
• Shading and material creation for real-time applications

Week 7-8: Rigging and Animation

• Basic rigging techniques for characters and objects
• Creating and applying bone structures
• Animating 3D objects for interactive applications
• Introduction to Unity/Unreal Engine animation integration

Week 9-10: Real-Time Rendering with Unreal Engine

• Introduction to Unreal Engine 5
• Setting up environments and lighting for real-time rendering
• Understanding LOD (Level of Detail) and optimization for real-time use
• Working with physics and particle systems in Unreal Engine

Week 11-12: Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Development

• Basics of VR/AR: design considerations and tools
• Integrating 3D models into VR/AR platforms
• Optimizing for immersive environments
• Unity/Unreal Engine VR integration techniques

Week 13-14: Game Environment Design

• Designing interactive game environments
• Optimizing 3D models for game engines
• World-building and creating a game level
• Understanding performance bottlenecks and optimization strategies

Week 15-16: Advanced Real-Time Rendering & Optimization

• Advanced rendering techniques for high-quality real-time graphics
• Real-time global illumination and reflections
• Texture optimization and baking for real-time use
• Creating realistic materials and shaders

Week 17-20: Capstone Project & Portfolio Development

• Developing a fully functional real-time 3D environment or game level
• Integrating character models, environments, and animations
• Portfolio building: showcasing your best work
• Preparing for job opportunities and freelance projects