10 Skills You Might Need to Become a VFX Artist!

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

💥I decided to compile the 10 most important skills that make up a great VFX Artist, but don't feel overwhelmed by them!💥 They are mostly from my personal experience/journey and from what I see lacking in some of my students. Take this with a grain of salt, as I know there are many outstanding VFX Artist out there who don’t even need some of the skills mentioned on this list.

[@jaeyeonlee2294]

I didn't even realize how much I loved doing VFX until my 3rd year in art school. Thank you for the insight!

[@Paintopia_VR]

Cool video, I am working as a 3D artist and personally I would say the only thing you need is the ability to learn and use a wide range of creative software which will evolve as time goes on. Do not just learn one set of software but instead learn approaches to problems that you can apply to any new software.

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

I totally agree with you. At a certain point of your career or learning journey, softwares no longer become the obstacle, specially if you keep yourself active and learn new stuff.

[@fleity]

As a technical / vfx artists I agree you kind of just have to learn.. Everything.. because any vfx can be approached from multiple directions and the way to make them will widely vary based on one's personal skillset as will the specific results.

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

True. You are on point.

[@notlaw1567]

Thanks for uploading this video! I got inspired and I'll try my best to follow and understand those steps.

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

Wish you the best of luck! 💪

[@AlXstudios]

i think i know most of the things on the list thanks to being a motion graphic designer but the aproach i've been using varys alot from a real time vfx artist practicing these skills may help me become a game vfx artist one day

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

Those are great basis to start in visual effects. Many designers and 3D artists don't realize they already have some of the foundations required to make visual effects. I'm sure you will notice it once you get started. Good luck 👍

[@kooky74]

I'm an old software engineer in 3d and IA. My skill is mostly developing engines for industry on PC and embedded systems from scratch often. When I see what VFX artists can do with an engine, I always think : "God! They are good". Now I understand why 😂. All the skills we have, you need to have to. Thx for the video

[@Blightbulb]

Such a solid list. Recently came across your channel and am really enjoying the content. Well done!

[@antoineberkani9747]

Small tip specifically for texture creation : AI can do this wonderfully. There are some stable diffusion models that specialize in texture creation and do great jobs, either for tiles in your game world, or textures to use in vfx.

[@ИлонМаск-р9у]

please tell me how to fix it so that you can repeat the effects after you? The Visual Effect Graph is supported in the High Definition Render Pipeline (HARP) and the Universal Render Pipeline (URP). Please assign your chosen Render Pipeline Asset in the Graphics Settings to use it.

[@ateucrismado]

The thing I struggle most with it is coding. Not that I don't have a long way in several other areas since I'm trying to jump from illustration to VFX. But coding gets into all the wrong sides of my neurodivergency

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

Coding can be a b**** at first but it gets cooler.

[@ateucrismado]

@@GabrielAguiarProd I think some pointers to what to learn about coding to jump start our VFX skills would be amazing.

[@pop2147]

I start with blender but more interested to do animation in unity. Becoz of realtime technology. Your tips is good to reflect what I have done. I realise I’m still missing some key factor to be a good vfx artist. Thank you for heads up.

[@wwezombiegod]

Slowly trying to learn how to VFX as my friend keeps suggesting it to me. Good I know about half of those, just annoying the ones I don't know are the far more artistic ones

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

Just keep pushing 💪

[@TheAsimmughal2000]

very nice 🙂

[@brenoaugustodasilvamoreno6044]

Hi! I would like to ask you guys about how important the drawing (not digitally) really is? I'm currently a software engineer and my drawing skills are missing rs.

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

It's important.

[@brenoaugustodasilvamoreno6044]

Cool, can you give any example on How do you use It on tour daily tasks? Thanks for answering.

[@nyn2k259]

Nice video, I want to create vfx character skills that attacks an enemy or summons a beast to breath fire etc how can I create this? what software etc? assets? Thanks.

[@PerionTermia]

Vfx always interested me but I kinda never specialized in it. Now I finally started learning it. I'm thinking about specializing in it and go for becoming a VFX artist. Before that I was thinking about specializing in Concept Art or 3d modeling/sculpting and so for the past 2 years I practiced digital art and modelling (which is great since I need them for VFX), but I kinda tend more towards VFX. Might just be because it's new for me now but who knows... will definitely focus on that for the next time and see how I like it 😄. Btw a question about VFX in Unity: currently I'm just working with the standard particle system and not with the VFX Graph. Should I rather go for the graph, because maybe it's more common to use that nowadays or? The only differences I know is that the vfx graph can render more particles because it's GPU based and it also has more features to create more interesting particle effects compared to the normal particle system. But the particle system can use collissions which the graph can't do. So I'm not sure which one I should focus more on eventhough I'll learn both? Cheers!

[@Kikimacia]

VFX graph gives more freedom, but it's less user friendly. There is also less tutorials rn for it if you're looking for something specific so you'll have to be brave. But the fact that it's nodal is why I'd say it's clever to start with it. A lot of other particle stuffs work kinda the same way, and particle system is so easy to understand that when you learn vfx graph you'll learn what you need to understand particle system very fast if needed. Just my opinion tho, but for what it's worth I use both at my work so it's not coming from nowhere. Good luck :v

[@grizeldiSLO]

Junior VFX in a big mobile studio here. Personally I find the skills very transferable from shuriken to VFX graph and vice versa. VFX graph gives you more control, especially for dynamically calculating values of properties, but as a result can be a bit overwhelming. Personally I'd recommend starting with shuriken, for the simple reason of getting used to where is what, as unlike VFX graph, you can't simply search for the field you need in shuriken. When I was starting out I spent so much time searching where is the field I needed to change, which in VFX graph would have been a simple search away. Regarding what is actually used in the industry: depends on the target platform. VFX graph is primarily locked to URP/HDRP, which means that it isn't suitable for use cases where performance is a priority (=mobile). It's kinda the same situation as with shader graph. It works, but it doesn't perform nearly as well as custom written shaderlab shaders. I was told by our devs that there are ways to get VFX graph working on custom render pipelines, but at that point you'd have to explain really well to the devs why exactly you can't get the effects done with shuriken. Hope this helps somewhat.

[@PerionTermia]

@@grizeldiSLOthanks a lot! I worked with shuriken for around 2weeks now and got a basic understanding of it. Now I'm trying to learn VFX graph. It is definitely more complicated to learn but also pretty interesting what you can do with it. So far it's really fun doing some VFX, although I struggle a lot and sometimes I get really frustrated when I don't understand how I can achieve what I'm trying to do 😅

[@PerionTermia]

@@Kikimacia thanks for sharing this!

[@Kikimacia]

@@PerionTermia Np, good luck bro

[@karikakahuate]

Thanks so much for the video! That list is great to know for the newbies like me. I am a graphic designer, 2 years ago I started to change my path to videogames, and I knew a little bit of everything rigth now, but masters no one 😢, my question is, what would be your advice to emphasize in order to get a job as a vfx or technical artist? Thanks again for the videos for people like me that want so much to be a vfx artist but doesn't have the money to pay for a school ❤️ you are amazing!!

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

Well mastering a skill is always useful, perhaps it's time to master one. My advice is always to create a portfolio of VFX and make it public (either in Artstation, Twitter, KZbin or Insta, or all of this). Perhaps learning the ins and outs of a particle system is priority, that combined with drawing/texture creation is very powerful. Then eventually learn shaders. Wish you the best of luck 👍

[@EthanGameStudio]

Why is there Mario on the thumbnail? Have you participated to the movie's creation? Anyway, your videos will really help me on my project! I love you style!

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

No particular reason. It’s just catchy.

[@EthanGameStudio]

​@@GabrielAguiarProd Well, it catched me! Thanks for responding!

[@Aye_Sid]

Hello Gabriel awesome video like always. I want to buy your vfx course for unity game development but confused as which course to buy first as I'm beginner. Please help. 😅🙌🏻

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

Sure I can give you a recommend list. I always advise to start with the Particle System and then move on to VFX Graph (which is the most recent particle system from Unity): 1) Start with the first course I made, this oldie is full of rich theory and practice: www.udemy.com/course/vfx-for-games-in-unity-beginner-to-intermediate/?couponCode=18.99_UNTIL_20-05 2) Then you could do a couple of my old tutorials, like the Orb, Healing, Teleport, they are all in order here and are small videos: kzbin.info/aero/PLpPd_BKEUoYh40LeJXTgA6E53gCMPq3MX 3) And then I would recommend the Stylized Explosion Course, which is my most recent course and very solid stuff is shown here: www.udemy.com/course/visual-effects-for-games-in-unity-stylized-explosion/?couponCode=17.99_UNTIL_20-05 4) From here you could start learning VFX Graph from this playlist, maybe do the Orb, the Impacts and Stylized Fire: kzbin.info/aero/PLpPd_BKEUoYhN8CiOoNLTSVh-7U5yjg3n 5) Once you have done a couple of those tutorial then maybe check this beginner course I made with VFX Graph: www.udemy.com/course/unity-visual-effect-graph-beginner-to-intermediate/?couponCode=17.99_UNTIL_20-05 6) And eventually there's this advanced course with VFX Graph where we create an abilities set for a MOBA character called Thunderlord: www.udemy.com/course/unity-vfx-graph-thunderlord-magic-effects/?couponCode=29.99_UNTIL_20-05 7) From here you should feel comfortable with VFX Graph and the Particle System, with VFX in general, so I would recommend you to do more of my tutorials but at the same time, try to recreate effects you enjoy from other games. Hope this helps you point in the right direction! Good luck!

[@Aye_Sid]

Thanks Gabriel. 🙂🙌🏻

[@knowercoder]

Hi Gabriel, With the arrival of AI, should we really care about learning 3D modelling, as AI has the potential to create any kind of art?

[@odo432]

Step 1. Know how to draw. I'll just show myself out the door. There are some talents I've never been able to master.

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

Psssst hey, you don't need to master it, just know the basics 👌 If this is a big roadblock for you, come back later to it. 👍

[@foozle1up9]

first.....where's my medal?

[@luluskuy]

🥇First commenter, congrats!

[@foozle1up9]

@@luluskuy thanks 💎

[@junaid4914]

You don't need to learn how to draw to make VFX. You don't need to learn Digital Painting. You don't have to be a 3D generalist, just basic modeling and UVs is enough. You don't need to learn how to code. Just pick up an engine, start playing around with particle systems, learn fundamentals of animation (timing, etc) and start making shit. If you can scribble in photoshop, you have the skills to make VFX. Don't feel gatekept by these, please.

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

It's true, you don't need half of this to get started. But eventually they are nice skills to pick up and will boost one ability to create special effects. Even if people don't master each one, at least they have some insights and will probably make there life easier as vfx artist or even tech artist.

[@junaid4914]

@@GabrielAguiarProd So you're saying that don't really *need* these skills to become an FX artist, as implied by the title and the contents of the video then? :P I feel like this will just overwhelm new people trying to get into the industry.

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

What I'm saying is, this 10 skills are great to become a VFX Artist! As in, hey this will help you become a better vfx artist, it will improve you as an artist and a person, so if you are missing something perhaps one of this skills will help. I'm not saying, hey this is how you get started in VFX. That would involve a much much longer talk :D To get started, it's fine to start with less. As your skills and confidence grow, learning other areas will definitely help.

[@jorgeelskizo2017]

@@GabrielAguiarProd I'm learning vfx and I'm afraid I'll have to learn how to draw. I have tried since I was young but I have never known, I am terrible and I gave up on learning. Is it really necessary?

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

I personally find it very useful. But maybe you get along without it. There are tools to create textures, like Material Maker for example, which is free, and can procedurally generate textures.

[@SovereignVis]

I have just about all of these skills. Mostly just lacking in coding. 😅

[@GabrielAguiarProd]

Ah don't worry much about coding, it's like a nice plus, but not a barrier to become a great vfx artist :D

[@SovereignVis]

@@GabrielAguiarProd Yeah, everyone seems to like all the effects I have made so far. 😅