Software Tutorials and Guides

A range of links to useful online content for improving your software skills.
Our Maker Spaces staff have compiled a list of useful tutorials and guides for software, that may help you in refining your skills or learning a new software. The guides here are for software regularly used in the Maker Spaces, and the content is geared towards getting the most out of our services. 
The university has provided students access to ArchiStar Academy, a learning package that provides tutorials and guides for most of the software used in the Maker Spaces. We have curated a few of our favourites along with other useful guides in the lists below, but definitely check out their massive list for yourself. Click here to find out how to connect ArchiStar Academy.
Tips for using tutorials
Tutorials are a really great way to get information about a software, see how other people might tackle  similar issues to you, or just be introduced to something new. However, anyone who has used a tutorial has probably had the experience of being overloaded with information and the endless possibilities for software tools and not really remembering much at the end.
A great way to combat this is to work on a project alongside the tutorial. A project can be anything meaningful to you, from an assignment for class, to working on your portfolio, to designing something for your house. Using a project to guide your learning of a new software is super useful because it allows you to focus on the tools that are useful to that project without worrying about needing to remember everything they try to teach you (remember, you can always watch them again!). Typically this allows you to become familiar with the UI and processes of the program, whilst also coming out with a tangible result. Next time you try to learn a new software, give it a try!
3D Modelling Software
Rhino
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/rhino-essentials​
Intermediate
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/rhino-designer​
Advanced
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/rhino-advanced​
Laser Cutting Basics
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/laser-cutting-essentials​
Grasshopper
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/grasshopper-essentials​
Intermediate
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/grasshopper-designer​
Advanced
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/grasshopper-advanced​
Revit
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/revit-essentials​
Intermediate
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/revit-designer​
Advanced
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/revit-advanced​
Maya
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/maya-essentials​
Beginner Series
​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJLo6MafPVM​
AutoCAD
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/autocad-essentials​
Sketch Up
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/sketchup-essentials​
Beginner Series
​https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/collection/36e1fa0d054a15eecc725c514c21d975/Self-paced-Tutorials​
3Ds Max
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=10&v=YM9spHSNPpM&feature=emb_logo​
Example walkthroughs
​https://www.tutorialboneyard.com/3ds-max-modeling-beginner-tutorials/​
Rendering Software
Vray
Info
Link
Interior Rendering
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/photorealistic-interior-rendering​
Exterior Rendering
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/rendering-commercial-exterior-night​
Landscapes
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/rendering-landscapes-for-competitions-with-vray-and-rhino​
Lumion
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://www.archdaily.com/911559/tutorials-for-architecture-visualization-in-lumion​
VR Software
Unreal
Info
Link
Basic VR setup
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/advanced-vr-in-unreal-engine-4​
Unity
Info
Link
Unity Basics
​https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/create-your-first-unity-project​
VR Basics
​https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/getting-started-with-vr​
Adobe Suite
The Adobe Suite is a fantastic set of software for improving the design, aesthetics, and clarity of your project. The Suite has an extensive list of software, all with their own quirks and benefits for working on a design. The Adobe website has a great resource of tutorials and guides to look through, especially for beginners. 
Illustrator
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/adobe-photoshop-and-illustrator-cc​
Create an icon
​https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/how-to/create-an-icon.html?playlist=/services/playlist.helpx/products:SG_ILLUSTRATOR_1_1/set-header:illustrator-projects/playlist:topic/learn-path:key-techniques/en_us.json&ref=helpx.adobe.com​
InDesign
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/adobe-indesign-cc​
Page Layout
​https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/how-to.html/aem_id~'playlist/indesign/graphic-design/page-layout-course'​
Photoshop
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://academy.archistar.ai/courses/adobe-photoshop-and-illustrator-cc​
Editing
​https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/how-to/photo-editor.html?playlist=/services/playlist.helpx/products:SG_PHOTOSHOP_1_1/learn-path:key-techniques/playlist:topic/set-header:quick-starts/en_us.json&ref=helpx.adobe.com​
Premiere Pro
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/how-to/create-project-import-media.html?playlist=/services/playlist.helpx/products:SG_PREMIEREPRO_1_1/learn-path:get-started/set-header:ccx-designer/playlist:ccl-get-started-1/en_us.json&ref=helpx.adobe.com​
Light Room
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-cc/how-to/get-started-lightroom-cc.html?playlist=/services/playlist.helpx/products:SG_LIGHTROOM_1_1~cc/learn-path:get-started/set-header:ccx-photographer/playlist:ccl-get-started-1/en_us.json&ref=helpx.adobe.com​
After Effects
Info
Link
Beginner
​https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/how-to/getting-started-after-effects.html​
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