Notch Essentials

Updated: 28 May 2025

Introduction #

If you are new to Notch, this is the course for you. You’ll learn how to navigate the Builder UI, how to create effects, work with 3D objects and export your work. This course serves as the foundation for the Intermediate and Advanced courses and is a requirement to attend them in the future.

In this course, we’ll be using version 1.0.0.095 of Notch Builder. Make sure you are on the same or higher version when you start the course.

Throughout the course, we will also be using a resource pack we have prepared for you. You need to download (see above button) and unzip this pack on your computer before you continue with the course.

What you will learn #

Introduction to Builder: an in-depth walkthrough of the UI and workflow tools.
Video Compositing & VFX: adjusting the viewport, working with post-FX nodes, video nulls and green screen keying.
Lights: working with basic lights, deferred rendering, shadow casting, area lights, environment maps, volumetric lighting, using skyboxes and working with reflections.
Materials: basic material understanding, using separate material nodes, texture mapping and material editing inside of Builder.
Modifiers: workshop showcasing the use of math and continuous Modifiers, including some nice tips, tricks and best practices.
Particles: workshop teaching you how to set up a particle scene using Emitters, Affectors, 3D particle trails, IMAG emitting and post-FX.
File formats: we will explore the various 3D file formats and showcase the differences and benefits of each supported format (like .c4d, .fbx, .abc, .obj and .lwo)
Exporting: learning how to export videos (and the various options available), setting up a project for standalone EXE export, exporting to media servers for use as blocks, and network editing.

Chapters #

01 UI and Navigation

Learn how to navigate the 3D viewport, how to use the node graph (including changing node properties), and the basics of the timeline animation.

02 PostFX and Video Compositing

Learn how to add effects to videos. Build both simple and more advanced post-effect processing chains, and stack them together in more complex chains.

03 Rendering, Lights, and Materials

Learn about the renderers in Notch and how to properly set up lights and materials.

04 Modifiers

Learn how to animate properties and objects in Notch.

05 Particles

Learn how to use the powerful Notch particle system. See how you can emit, control and render particles for both 2D and 3D work.

06 Imports

Learn how to import different types of assets into Notch and how to work with them once imported.

07 Exports

Learn how to export and control exposed content in Notch Blocks and standalone EXE exports.