Time Well Spent

Years ago, when I was learning Zbrush, I watched a series of videos by a guy named Michael Pavlovich. They were super helpful, and I really enjoyed them.

Of course, even then, I could have found all of that information on YouTube, or by poking around on the Pixologic forums. But that would have taken a lot longer than simply watching these two-hour courses.

But more importantly, the real benefit I gained from the paid training was that it was extremely well-structured. It walked me through the steps in the right order, from foundational principles to hands-on practice.

Same with Rich Hurrey's Master Rigging Course for Modo. My favourite aspect of that training was that it started with short foundational videos that explained the absolute basics. It was only after watching those that the later step-by-step sections were clear. Because I understood the basics, the practical demonstrations made sense to me.

Of course anyone can just go to YouTube, and learn almost anything. My next-door neighbour restores vintage sports cars, and he uploads how-to videos on YouTube, some of which get thousands of views. It's an incredible resource, and we are so lucky that people from all over the world can share their knowledge like this.

So why would anyone spend $35 on a training course when you can just head over to YouTube.com and get similar information for free?

Well, I know that when I've faced that choice, I've happily decided to spend the 35 bucks to watch a course by an instructor I like.

Maybe it's the instructor's style or narration, or maybe they explain things very clearly. Each one has their own thing.

But most importantly it's because paid training tends to be well-structured and consistent. You're paying an expert to walk you through a process which they have already figured out before you. A good course is going to flow in a logical order, and make an expert out of you, too.

And that's what I got from all those courses that I watched in the past. I became proficient in Zbrush because I followed courses by Michael Pavlovich. It was $35 well spent.

And the stuff I liked from those courses rubbed off on me. I stole lots of ideas from the tutorials I watched over the years - and I have always aimed to make my training as valuable and useful as they were.

Of course, with time, you might be able to piece together the knowledge yourself with the help of YouTube and Google. But it won't happen as quickly, or as smoothly.

In two short hours, for example, you could become proficient at shading and texturing Blender. Two hours of your time, in exchange for a lifetime of knowledge.