Notch Notch
2026.2 2026.1 0.9.23
AI MCP
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Notch Fundamentals

Notch Fundamentals

Updated: 4 Nov 2026

Download Course Resource Pack

Introduction #

New to Notch? This is where you start. Armin, our lead trainer, takes you through the interface, video effects, 3D, animation and exporting, building the foundations for everything else you’ll do in Notch.

This course uses Notch 2026.2. Make sure you’re using the latest official build.
Throughout the course, you’ll use a resource pack of DFX project files. Download it (see the button above) and unzip it on your computer before you continue.

What you will learn #

  • UI and navigation: the interface, node graph and viewport, working with nodes and properties, keyframing, the timeline and cameras.

  • Post FX and video compositing: stacking post effects, Image 2D and Image Plane, video nulls, Composite Sources, alpha masks and colour grading with LUTs.

  • Rendering, lights and materials: the four NURA renderers, skylights and HDRs, spot, omni and area lights, volumetrics, texture maps and displacement, Substance and glass materials, global illumination and texture optimisation.

  • Modifiers: math, continuous and value modifiers, switching nodes with Select Child, live control with MIDI, remapping values with Range Remap, and audio-reactive animation.

  • Imports: the key 3D formats and when to use each, including Cinema 4D, FBX, Alembic, PLY (Gaussian splats) and VDB, plus kitbash scenes.

  • Exports: video and stills, the render queue, exposed parameters, standalone apps, Notch Blocks for media servers, the Block Verifier, network editing and Notch Remote.

More chapters are on the way. We’ll add them here as they’re released.

Chapters #

01 UI and Navigation01 UI and Navigation

Learn how to navigate the 3D viewport, use the node graph (including changing node properties), set up cameras and get to grips with the basics of timeline animation.

02 Post-FX & Video Compositing02 Post-FX & Video Compositing

Learn how to add effects to video, stack them and fine-tune the look you’re after. Then go further by combining and masking multiple video sources.

03 Rendering, Lights and Materials03 Rendering, Lights and Materials

Start working in 3D. Learn which Notch renderer to use when, how to light a scene, and how to give your objects their look with materials and textures.

04 Modifiers04 Modifiers

Bring your scenes to life. Learn how modifiers drive animation in Notch, then take live control with MIDI and make your visuals react to sound.

05 Imports05 Imports

Learn which 3D formats you can bring into Notch, what each one is good for, and how to set them up once they’re in.

06 Exports06 Exports

Get your work out of Notch. Learn how to render video and stills, build standalone apps and Notch Blocks for media servers, and control them once they’re running.