Sci-Fi Scenes in 3D with Cinema 4D and OctaneRender
A course by Fabian Oberhammer3D Artist
A course by Fabian Oberhammer, 3D Artist
Learn to design 3D scenes by creating an image of a city with a futuristic atmosphere filled with fog, light, and realistic textures
Ever imagined creating neon-drenched urban scenes with a dystopian, surrealist edge? Fabian Oberhammer, better known as The Dizzy Viper, experiments with all kinds of genres, from cyberpunk and sci-fi to fantasy and abandoned landscapes. His craft involves immersing himself in the world of 3D to transform new ideas into stunning renders. This is how he captivated clients from the automotive sector, such as Maserati, McLaren, and West Coast Customs, and the music industry, like Excision, Skrillex, and Meek Mill, for whom he has designed stage visuals.
In this course, discover how to create impressive images in Cinema 4D and OctaneRender. For the final project, bring an urban scene to life with realistic details, people, neon signs, cars, and puddles. With Fabian's help, learn to modify existing models and textures however you like, adding depth and atmosphere to your piece with the perfect composition and lighting.
What will you learn in this online course?
13 lessons & 13 downloads
preparation and inspiration
5 minutes, 54 seconds
models and textures
5 minutes, 50 seconds
Rough positioning of the road and material
20 minutes, 7 seconds
Rough positioning of the assets and the camera
19 minutes, 31 seconds
Lighting with textures: night sky and windows
17 minutes, 42 seconds
Lighting with textures: neon signs
19 minutes, 23 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start the course by getting to know 3D artist Fabian Oberhammer (The Dizzy Viper) a little better. He tells you about his background and the artists who have inspired him both personally and in his creations.
Next, take a look at his preparation process, as well as some tricks and tips he's developed to work as quickly and efficiently as possible. Choose which elements and colors to use, search through different sources for 3D models and textures, then distribute them throughout your scene in Cinema 4D. Decide on the camera position to get just the right view of your image.
It's time to hone in on the details! Through trial and error, gradually work out the perfect combination of lights and finishes. Make some small adjustments to the textures and add natural and artificial lights to create the desired atmosphere. Liven up the scene with passing cars, pedestrians, and streetlights.
Finally, Fabian teaches you how to render your images correctly, as well as how to retouch and correct them in Photoshop.
To round off the course, prep your renders to share on Instagram and find the right hashtags for your project.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create a compelling urban scene set at night, featuring neon signs, cars, pedestrians, puddles, and realistic textures, as well as an object or person as the protagonist.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Cinema 4D and OctaneRender novices who wish to expand their knowledge of scene composition and lighting.
Requirements and materials
You need basic knowledge of Cinema 4D and OctaneRender to take this course.
As for materials, you need a computer with access to both of these programs and Photoshop. A subscription to Quixel is also useful, but not essential.
Reviews
- 1 year ago
god course
- 2 years ago
¡Buenísimo!, un mundo extraordinario.
- 2 years ago
Für jemanden wie mich, der sich sehr für 3D Rendering Artworks interessiert und soweit nur in Blender gearbeitet hat, ist dieser Kurs genau das richtige, was man braucht um in der Zukunft eigene Artworks in C4D mithilfe von Octane auf die Beine stellen zu können. Auch wenn 3D bisschen "pay to win" sein kann, nennt Fabian gute Alternativen die entweder kostenlos oder kostengünstig sind um immernoch ein starkes Bild zu kreieren.
- 2 years ago
Buen
- 3 years ago
Buen profesor, me encantaron sus referencias.
It was through music that he found his way into 3D design; while looking for album art for his work, he decided to create his own. For several years now, he has continued to hone his skills and composes renders from start to finish on a daily basis. Thanks to his projects Abandoned Supercar and DRFT, as well as his YouTube tutorials, his popularity in the industry has been constantly growing. The puddles he created are now used by well-renowned figures such as Sarper Baran, Tom Coben, Clint Jones, Corridor Crew, and Mograph.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About me
- Inspiration
- U2
First steps
- preparation and inspiration
- models and textures
- Rough positioning of the road and material
- Rough positioning of the assets and the camera
- U3
lighting and atmosphere
- Lighting with textures: night sky and windows
- Lighting with textures: neon signs
- Bring the scene to life
- Lighting with Fake Lights and Fog
- details
- U4
Rendering and Post-Production
- camera and rendering
- Post production in Photoshop
- FP
Final project
- Set construction and lighting - Cinema 4d + Octane
What to expect from a Domestika course
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FAQs
This course is aimed at advanced beginners and users with basic 3D software skills who want to deepen their abilities in scene building and rendering of urban, atmospheric environments.
Basic knowledge of Cinema 4D or similar 3D software is helpful. Some experience with rendering and texturing makes getting started easier but isn’t required.
The course mainly covers Cinema 4D, Octane Render, and complementary tools like Photoshop, PureRef, Quixel, and Poliigon.
You’ll learn how to create realistic street scenes using Cinema 4D and Octane Render, apply textures and shaders, control lighting and fog, build moodboards, and professionally polish your renderings.
While the focus is on Cinema 4D and Octane Render, many techniques can be adapted to Blender. However, specific steps are demonstrated using Cinema 4D.
You’ll discover how to combine different texture types and shaders in Octane, using puddle maps and mixed material setups to create convincing wet surfaces.
The course teaches how to use fake lights, area lights, and fog volumes strategically to add depth and atmosphere to urban night scenes.