Design and Modeling of a 3D Sci-Fi Ship
A course by Juan Novelletto , 3D Artist and Concept Artist

Learn to create a futuristic vehicle with ZBrush, Maya, and Substance Painter
Beyond the ships that Tesla or NASA may be developing today, in the world of science fiction there are thousands of vehicles both in video games and in movies, which stand out for their level of detail and design realism. Juan Noveletto—3D artist and concept artist—specializes in the creation of science fiction characters and vehicles. Recognized for his work on the video games Master of Orion, Element Space, and Injustice 2, as well as the movie The Vast of Night, in this online course he teaches you his professional process so that you can make your 3D sci-fi ship a reality.
Learn the workflow and professional tools that Juan Camilo uses to develop a futuristic 3D vehicle, with a realism and a cinematographic look that will surprise any viewer.
What will you learn in this online course?
27 lessons & 19 downloads
- 98% positive reviews (122)
- 2,718 students
- 27 lessons (5h 43m)
- 19 additional resources (9 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Design, model, and render a sci-fi vehicle to obtain several images for your portfolio.

Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Designers, illustrators, and anyone interested in creating futuristic vehicles for different projects such as video games, movies, or commercials, among other things.
Requirements and materials
To take this course, you need basic knowledge of Photoshop, ZBrush, and Maya.
For materials, you need a computer installed with Photoshop, ZBrush, Maya, Substance Painter, and Marmoset Toolbag, as well as a graphics tablet.

Reviews

Juan Novelletto
A course by Juan Novelletto
Juan Novelletto has more than six years of experience in the entertainment industry. Specialized in the creation of characters and vehicles, both in 2D and 3D, he has worked on video games of AAA titles, Master of Orion, Element Space, and Injustice 2, and movies including The Vast of Night.
Passionate about science fiction, he considers this area his greatest strength and seeks to reflect his story in each of his creations.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Presentation
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Influences
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Project Presentation
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U2
2D sketch
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Search for references and preparation of the board reference
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Thumbnails Generation
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Selection and refinement of a thumbnail
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U3
3D vehicle modeling
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Main forms I
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Main Forms II
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Secondary forms I
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Secondary forms II
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Tertiary forms I
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Tertiary forms II
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Tertiary Forms III
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Tertiary forms IV
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Use of Alphas I
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Use of Alphas II
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Kitbashing
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U4
3D vehicle texturing
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Prepared the Low model in Maya
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UV Coordinates I
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UV coordinates II
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Textured base in Substance Painter
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Final texturing in Substance Painter I
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Final texturing in Substance Painter II
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U5
Presentation of our vehicle
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Render in Toolbag
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Retouching in Photoshop I
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Retouching in Photoshop II
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Tips for your portfolio
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FP
Final project
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Design and modeling of your 3D sci-fi ship
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
This course teaches you how to design, model, texture, and render sci-fi spaceships, combining reference research, concept art techniques, 3D modeling in ZBrush and Blender, texturing in Substance Painter, and professional portfolio presentation.
Yes, the course is designed for students with prior knowledge of digital art and 3D modeling who want to refine their skills and learn professional workflows for sci-fi spaceship design.
You’ll need a graphics tablet (like a Wacom), access to ZBrush, Blender, Substance Painter, Photoshop, Marmoset Toolbag, and PureRef, plus basic familiarity with these tools.
You’ll learn how to gather references, create 2D sketches, develop silhouettes, model in 3D, texture, and render spaceships, as well as organize and present your project in a professional portfolio.
Basic experience with ZBrush or Blender is recommended since the course covers intermediate to advanced modeling techniques, geometry editing, and 3D project organization.
The course teaches you how to find, categorize, and organize reference images in PureRef, helping you make informed design choices and maintain aesthetic and functional consistency in your projects.
Realism and functionality are key, as the course emphasizes researching real and industrial ships to create believable designs, applying industrial design principles and architectural references.




El profesor es muy diestro en el uso de la herramienta de modelado.
Me encanta! no tan solo estoy aprendiendo sobre hardsurface, sino que también puedo crear mi nave espacial soñada como una del juego No Man's Sky 🤩
Easy to follow with English subtitles
Con este curso estoy aprendiendo fácilmente hardsurface modeling. Moy contento.
Easy to follow and it works fine to follow along with english subtitles :)
Biggest plus in my opinion is the nice UI config file the teacher shares!