3D rendering is an art form. The artist creates a full-blown visualization from nothing just with their own skills. But to become one, you need to invest lots of time and hard work. Luckily, there are many ways to get the necessary knowledge to learn how to use rendering software.

That doesn’t necessarily require formal education. There are a lot of people that work as rendering artists and don’t have a college degree associated with this field. Simply put, it’s not about having a degree, but having the necessary skills to create lifelike visualizations.

There are tons of resources online for learning 3D rendering design. No matter which rendering software you want to learn how to use, you can follow a similar path to get the knowledge you need. So let’s see how you can do this.

Free lessons

It’s important to understand that there are many reliable resources you can find online for free. No, you don’t have to waste a lot of money on various courses and books to get the knowledge you need. Of course, there are great books and courses out there, but they aren’t essential.

Just because something is free doesn’t mean it’s bad. Many artists are willing to share their knowledge and teach people how to do this. With a bit of digging and research, you will find lots of good sources for learning.

Here are some of the main things you should focus on.

1.      YouTube tutorials

YouTube is one of the most valuable platforms when it comes to learning. There are a lot of educational and instructional videos you can find there. Almost every rendering software company has its own instructional videos that teach new users how to find their way around their platform.

YouTube is a great place to see actual examples of how steps and different actions are done. On top of that, people will give voice overs that can guide you further and explain what’s going on screen. If you are looking for practically applicable tutorials and examples, this is the best place to look for them.

2.      Free software

Have you ever heard the phrase “learn by doing?” Yes, it applies to learning 3D rendering as well. Almost all of the most popular rendering software come with trial periods. Some of them give you the option to use them completely for free, but you won’t be able to export your project or “render it.”

We suggest that you always learn while having a software tool open, and take it step by step. First of all, learn the basic options in the software you are using, its layout, uses, and functions. Then test out all of those things and get acquainted with the program.

Once you have finished that work on creating a simple render, find some examples or a tutorial and try to execute it from start to finish. What’s even better is that lots of rendering programs come with large databases of tutorials that can help you develop your skills.

3.      Forums

Forums are an old thing, but they are still useful places where people share valuable information focused on a certain topic. Before you start using forums, you need to find the right platform for your needs. Look for architecture and rendering based on where people talk about many different subjects.

See if the official website of the software you are using has a forum of its own. It’s probably a good place to look for advice, guides, issues, and solutions. You can find random pieces of knowledge on forums that can be very valuable.

Users will often link to other resources and share their conclusions. When you have specific issues, you can look for solutions on a forum. If there aren’t existing ones, you can post a question to get the answers you need from other members.

Books

Yes, there are many books through which you can learn about rendering, but in most cases, these are ebooks, meaning they come in an electronic format. These books are either written by experts who have lots of knowledge and have established themselves as artists or by the companies that develop rendering software.

Either way, you will get a lot of valuable information that can help you develop as a rendering artist. In most cases, these books come with practical examples, great tricks for saving time, and proper approaches that can help you establish a structured approach to your work.

Yes, books are one of the oldest ways to acquire knowledge, but they are very effective. If you like reading books and you have no issues with this learning approach, go for it. They contain large volumes of information, they aren’t expensive, and passively help you develop your creative ability.

Courses

Apart from books, the most traditional approach to learning rendering is to get in on a course. If you like this way of learning and need a teacher present at all times, go for it. There’s nothing wrong with going on a course and following a program day by day.

Still, if you are a bit more independent and like to have your own approach to learning, this probably isn’t the best option. Luckily, there are many courses out there offered by people who have experience in different programs.

Still, before you sign up, you need to check the credibility of the teachers. There are a lot of “teachers” who don’t have a single rendering project on their portfolio. Simply put, this means that they only have book knowledge and won’t be able to give you extensive guidance that comes through years of experience and hard work.

Online courses

Online learning is no longer a taboo. If you want to follow a course and don’t want to dig around for information on your own but you don’t like sitting in a classroom with other people, you can go for an online course.

If you are learning 3D rendering on the side while doing another job, you probably have a hectic schedule. You can’t easily adjust to a course and skip work for it. However, with online courses, you can take the course lessons anytime you want.

Whenever you have extra spare time, you can do it. However, make sure that you don’t take too long breaks between your lessons. You need to have continuity to absorb the desired knowledge.

At the same time, you can find online courses that offer more flexibility and are focused on different software, aspects of rendering, different approaches, and so on. Go through some of the best online course platforms and see what courses are currently available. Here's a great resource we've found.

Practice, practice, practice

Yes, practice is very important. 3D rendering is about art, but it’s equally about hard work. You need to learn everything about the software you are using, its strength, weaknesses, and how to get from point A to B in the most efficient way possible.

At the same time, you need to learn about some of the essential visualization concepts. Yes, practice and doing while learning is a good approach. But when you come to a certain point on your path, you will need to learn more advanced concepts that you can put to work.

That’s the only way to make your visualizations exceptional, immersive, and lifelike. You will spend a lot of time learning how to do these techniques, but once you have, they will be the foundation for all of your future work.

Seeking out a tutor

You can get a tutor from the very start to help you learn how to use a certain rendering software. However, if you don’t really have to go through this on your own. Why? Well, simply because you can learn all of the basic things on your own.

There is a lot of available information out there, and you can get it for yourself. A tutor is a good idea when you are at an advanced stage and need some more extensive knowledge. That’s where you can make the most out of their knowledge and experience.

Remember, not all tutors are that good. Try and find someone with a relevant background and experience of doing 3D rendering projects. You want to learn from someone who has been in the industry and can give you practical advice for your future career.

Seeking out a mentor

An important part of learning is to have someone that can guide you. Who knows, if you find a good tutor, they might become your mentor. However, if you don’t go with a tutor, how can you find someone who can give you valuable advice on your path to becoming a rendering artist?

Simple, you can start networking and meeting people. Go to conventions, forums, platforms, and other communities where you can find 3D rendering artists. Talk to people and meet them. You never know who you might meet and where your conversation will take you.

At the same time, some of the best 3D artists are very active online. They have profiles on Behance, blogs, and even YouTube channels you can follow. Through these resources, you can find your role model and a mentor. Get valuable information from them and try talking to them if possible.

Do you need a degree?

Not necessarily. When it comes to architectural rendering or any other kind of rendering work, it’s all about what skills you have and nothing else. Of course, if you have a degree that’s related to the work you are doing and you can complement your skills through it to expand your range, this will be a big bonus.

But it’s not a decisive factor whatsoever. In fact, there is still a small number of official college courses that can teach you rendering directly. At least, not in the required volumes, you would need to become a 3D artist.

So if you’ve already finished college, don’t worry, you can learn 3D rendering and find a job. Learn to recognize your talents and weaknesses. Always try to make the most of your talents and pursue your specialty. At the same time, work on your weaknesses and don’t allow them to be a vulnerability.

What job opportunities do rendering professionals have?

3d artists, or renderers, work on creating digital models. Depending on the type of work, the required models can be 2D or 3D. However, 3D artists can also create visual effects for games, movies, TV, create animation, visualizations, and so on.

You can find jobs in many different industries ranging from entertainment, architecture, IT sector, manufacturing, car industry, and much more. Simply put, 3D artists are much desired in different industries, and there aren’t many of them.

That’s why pursuing a career as a renderer is a good choice. There are many different directions you can go as a render. The current climate of the industry is very innovative, meaning that there is always something new to learn or improved approaches to get better results.

It’s certainly a very exciting field to be in. However, you will need to work on your creative capacities and be hard-working to stay competitive in the job market.

Conclusion

We hope this post has cleared some things on how you can become rendered and learn to use modern design software. Start small and see how it goes. See if you have the talent and interest in this kind of work. If you find it boring, we suggest trying out something else. Good luck!