REGULAR PROGRAMS
CAMPUS / ONLINE
Explore CG, VFX, 3D animation, AI, games, and commercial production at SF Film School.
Start with the fundamentals and build your skills through hands-on projects, guided by instructors with industry experience.
Learn the production process in your chosen field as you build your portfolio and prepare for a career in the industry.
SFFS Signature Class Structure:
Students at different stages of the curriculum are taught in separate classes.
3D MOTION GRAPHIC
Motion graphics are what make brands move, titles come alive, and ideas hit harder than words alone.
This program covers the full 3D motion pipeline, from concept and animation through to final compositing,
with a focus on the commercial and broadcast work that's always in demand.
You'll build a reel that works across advertising, film titles, and digital media.
MAYA
Autodesk Maya is the industry standard for 3D production —
the software behind character animation, visual effects, and environments in film, TV, and games worldwide.
At SFFS, Maya is the foundation of the pipeline.
From modeling and rigging to lighting and rendering,
you'll build the kind of fluency that studios expect from day one.
Duration
6
Months
Class Capacity
8 ~ 12
Class Hours
2
H
Including Breaks
BASIC MODELING
<Maya Basics for First-Time Learners>
Learn Maya’s interface and 3D space, progressing step by step from basic modeling to hard-surface modeling.
Basics → Modeling → Final Object
UV & Texture
<Adding Color and Materials to Bring 3D Models to Life>
Learn UV mapping, V-Ray materials, subdivision, and texturing to add realistic colors and materials to 3D models.
Modeling → Materials → Final Details
Shading & Lighting
<Creating Realistic 3D Scenes>
Learn basic shading and lighting, advanced texturing, and how to recreate the characteristics of different materials. Explore light and shadow by placing and adjusting lights in 3D space, then use physical and IES lighting to create natural illumination.
Build a complete scene by controlling materials, light, and shadow.
Camera & Render Pass
<Turning a 3D Space into a Finished Image>
Learn basic camera techniques to create the desired composition and perspective, and understand how cameras frame a scene. Use Render Passes to separate light, shadow, and reflections, then combine them through compositing to create a polished final image.
Go beyond building a 3D space and complete the final image through camera work and compositing.
Rigging & Animation
<Bringing Movement and Life to 3D Models>
Learn rigging by building skeletons and controllers for natural character and object movement. Start with keyframe animation, then use Constraints, Set Driven Keys, Motion Paths, and Expressions to control various movements and apply motion capture data to create realistic character animation.
Turn static 3D models into animated content and design the movements you want.
SUBSTANCE PAINTER
The difference between a 3D model that looks real
and one that doesn't usually comes down to texturing
— and Substance Painter is the industry's tool of choice for getting it right.
Working directly on the 3D surface, students apply materials,fine details,
and weathering effects using a layer-based workflow built around real-time PBR rendering.
At SFFS, Substance Painter is taught as part of the full asset pipeline,
seamlessly integrated with Maya and industry-standard renderers.
Duration
2
Months
Class Capacity
8 ~ 12
Class Hours
2
H
Including Breaks
Basic & PBR Workflow
<3D Texturing Basics for First-Time Learners>
Learn the Substance 3D Painter interface, project setup, layers, materials, and essential tools. Understand the PBR workflow and use color, metallic, and roughness properties to create a variety of realistic materials for 3D models.
Basics → PBR → Materials
UV & Baking
<UV and Baking for Accurate Texturing>
Learn the basics of UV layout and mapping to properly unwrap and organize 3D surfaces. Bake Normal and AO maps to capture shape and detail for texturing.
UV → Baking → Texturing
Smart Materials & Texturing
<Creating Realistic Materials and Surface Details>
Learn to use Smart Materials, Masks, and Layers to create and refine different materials. Add scratches, dirt, and wear, then adjust Roughness and Metallic values for realistic surfaces.
Materials → Details → Realistic Textures
Export & Pipeline Integration
<From Textures to Final CG>
Learn to export texture maps and apply them in Maya, renderers, and game engines. Practice applying textures, checking rendered results, and completing the final output through hands-on projects.
Export → Apply → Final
AFTER EFFECTS
After Effects is where motion and storytelling meet
— the industry standard for motion graphics, compositing,
and visual effects in broadcast, advertising, and film post-production.
At SFFS, students learn After Effects as a practical finishing tool,
developing the skills to animate, composite,
and bring a final piece together in a way that's ready to be seen.
Basic Effects
<Motion & Compositing>
Learn keyframe interpolation, Time Remapping, text animation, blending modes, Alpha and Luma Matte. Explore 3D layers, cameras, Element 3D, and Camera Tracking to create dynamic motion and composites.
Animation → Compositing → 3D Motion
Motion Graphics
<Tracking & Effects>
Learn blue screen compositing, 2D tracking, and motion techniques using Expressions and Strokes. Create titles with Gradient Wipes and enhance scenes using Universe, Keylight, and SteadyMove.
Tracking → Motion → Effects