Week 7 · 3D Look Development

Project 2 · 3D Product / Logo Reveal — Weeks 6–8

Today's new skill: 3D Look Development

In class

Apply and animate Substance materials, set environment/HDRI lighting, enable 'Accepts Lights', and dial in shadows and reflections.

In-class exercise

Exercise 6 · Materials, HDRI & Shadows — Apply Substance materials, HDRI/environment lighting, Accepts Lights and believable shadows.

Work through this ~60-minute drill in class to rehearse today's skill before you apply it to your project. Full step-by-step: see the Exercise 6 · Materials, HDRI & Shadows page.

Homework this week

Substance materials + HDRI lighting Push your 3D Product / Logo Reveal forward with today's skill. See the Assignment · Project 2 page for the full brief.

Helpful links

3D Look Development

• All the New AE 2026 Features — SonduckFilm
• 2026 Breakdown: materials & lighting — VFXer
• 1,300+ free Substance materials — No Film School

Key terms: see the Vocabulary page. All links: see the Tutorial Links page.