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technical art for games and vfx 

Technical Art for Games and VFX short course

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Course Details

Location

London campus or live online

Start date

24th February 2025

Duration

14 or 21 weeks

Contact time

2.5 days per week

Entry requirements

  • Be over 18

  • Have a good understanding of written and spoken English

  • Feel comfortable using a computer

Fees

14 weeks - London campus: £7,845

14 weeks - Live online: £6,100

21 weeks - London campus: £11,080

21 weeks - Live online: £8,590

Apply now

February 2025:

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Course overview

Our full-time courses give you the opportunity to study the first 14 or 21 weeks of our MSc Technical Art for Games and VFX degree. This option is suited to students who want intensive training without academic qualifications. You’ll complete the first 2-3 modules of the programme and develop specialist skills in Realtime FX, programming for Games and VFX production and proceduralism for 2D and 3D.

Our Technical Art for Games and VFX courses focus on digital content creation for industries such as games, animation and film, as well as allowing specialism in areas such as proceduralism, character control and coding.

Technical Artists are the bridge between code and art. They innovate solutions, write scripts, use code and maths in software packages and game engines that enable artists to make great graphics, or ensure FX simulations not only look amazing, but are efficient.

Why choose this course

  • Designed with industry - this course has been created with industry professionals.

  • Learn from expert Tutor, Stuart Batchelor, who's collaborated with clients such as Framestore, Barbican, Tate, Samsung, Ford, IMAX, V&A Museum, Google, and BMW.

  • Get to grips with the software used in industry, including Houdini, Unreal Engine, Python, Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter and Substance Designer.

  • Receive feedback from industry professionals - an opportunity to level-up your work and build connections, ready to embark on your creative career.

  • Benefit from our AfterCare package - we'll help you polish your showreel and find the right job, with access to our studios and showreel clinics for 12 months.

Meet your tutor, Stuart Batchelor

Stuart Batchelor is a Technical Artist and Creative Technologist based in London. With a background in computer graphics, his work spans real-time installations, immersive web/VR, and generative fine art. He has collaborated with prominent clients such as Framestore, Barbican, Tate, Samsung, Ford, IMAX, V&A Museum, Google, and BMW.

Stuart's experience includes directing technical teams across XR projects, leading the development of real-time graphics for interactive installations and working as a fine artist specializing in code-based art. He has exhibited in shows and been published by SIGGRAPH and the British Computing Society, where he has authored papers on the intersection of art and technology.

Please note tutors are subject to change.

Course modules

These modules are common with the first 14-21 weeks of our MSc Technical Art for Games and VFX.

In Depth exploration of Realtime FX for Simulations, Materials and optimisation

  • Introduction to Particles

  • Simulations

  • Material FX

  • Materials

  • Culling / loading / memory

  • Vertex animation

  • Profiling

  • Efficiency in Real-time

  • In-engine Animation

  • Reference use

  • Overview of Simulation in the Entertainment Industries

Project - Create a performant FX simulation based upon a range of examples provided

Foundations in 3D approaches and Design.

  • Variable Types

  • Loops

  • Condition Statements

  • DCC API/Commands

  • Functions

  • Arguments

  • Creating tools

  • Best practice in project structures and tool building

  • Best practice in Collaborative Coding

  • Python advanced

  • Visual Studio

  • HLSL

  • Math and Logic

  • Blueprint In UE5

Project - Create a tool or Shader, create supporting document, test with peers and feedback

A deep exploration of Proceduralism in Houdini.

Substance Designer as Pipeline tool / introduction to Proceduralism in 2D texturing (1 week)

  • Tiling materials / Trim sheets

  • Baking

  • Image processing

  • 3d volumes / noises

Introduction to Houdini (7 weeks)

  • Procedural placement ,

  • Building generation,

  • simulations,

  • Rules based placement,

  • Destruction

  • Particles

  • Creating tools in Houdini for cross platform

  • VOPs (node based approaches in Houdini)

  • VEX (programming language for Houdini)

  • Houdini as Pipeline tool SideFX labs tools

Project - Create a procedural asset or tool in Houdini to be used in a Pre-rendered or Realtime pipeline.

For more details about modules, see the programme and module specifications.

More Information

Minimum requirements

We welcome and encourage applications from students with a variety of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

To study this short course, you must:

  • Be over 18

  • Have a good understanding of written and spoken English

  • Feel comfortable using a computer.

If you’d like to discuss your circumstances before applying, contact us!

Non-UK students

We accept international students for our short courses, with no difference in course fees or administration costs. 

The Standard Visitor visa allows students to come to the UK to study for a course of up to six months at an accredited institution. Depending on your nationality, you may need to apply for a standard visitor visa prior to departure from your home country. For more information visit:  

Contact us on admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk or +44 (0) 204 570 5091 for any questions.

We can provide remote access to our workstations during teaching time. Due to availability restrictions, we highly advise you to have your own set up at home to study in your own time.

More things you’ll need:

  • A strong internet connection

  • Cloud storage or external hard drive to back up your work, 1TB+ recommended

  • A three-button mouse or graphics tablet. Please note, the Wacom Intuos Pro range of tablets have the best support for our remote desktop software and provide the best experience.

  • A computer microphone (and optionally a webcam)

  • Note-taking materials.

If you have any questions about learning online or if you need help with what to buy, get in touch at hello@escapestudios.ac.uk.

To apply, complete the relevant online application form linked below.

February 2025:

Our Admissions Team will get in touch to take you through the next steps.

If you have any questions about your application, your portfolio or our entry requirements, get in touch!

As part of the application process, you will need to agree to our terms and conditions for your place on the course to be secured.

Fees 

14 weeks - London campus: £7,845

14 weeks - Live online: £6,100

21 weeks - London campus: £11,080

21 weeks - Live online: £8,590

Payment plans

We offer payment plan options for all courses. Following an initial deposit at registration stage, your chosen payment plan will break down your remaining fees into up to three instalments, to be paid before the end of the course.

Visit our admissions page for any questions about fees, funding and payment plans.

  • Houdini,

  • Unreal Engine,

  • Python,

  • Maya,

  • ZBrush,

  • Substance Painter

  • Substance Designer.

This course was created in response to the industry demand for new creative talent and is focused on developing and nurturing your skills and creativity in preparation for a career as a Technical Artist.

You’ll leave with an Escape Studios Certificate of Completion, along with strong creative and technical skills and some great pieces of work for your portfolio, which you can add to with help from our Aftercare programme. Ready to apply for jobs in the industry!

Check out our Careers Guide for more information about career opportunities and progression routes.

Why Escape Studios?

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