Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Create a cinematic space scene from scratch with Blender using simple geometry, procedural textures, and intentional lighting, no complex models required.
This is a previously released CG Cookie course lesson. It was recorded in an earlier version of Blender, but the techniques shown, lighting, composition, procedural workflows, and rendering principles, apply across modern Blender versions
In this real-time project, Kent Trammell walks through a complete “quick session” workflow: blocking a planet and ring system from spheres and curves, shaping dramatic gradients with lighting, building procedural materials, and polishing the final image with subtle compositing effects. The goal is impact and mood, not complexity.
This project is designed to show how much you can achieve with minimal ingredients—and how fast you can move once you focus on fundamentals like composition, value, and light.
What you’ll learn:
- Cinematic composition using thirds and value gradients
- Procedural materials for planets, rings, and stars
- Fast lighting setups for dramatic rim light
- Using Eevee efficiently for high-quality renders
- Simple compositing techniques for glow, vignette, and film grain
This lesson is part of CG Cookie’s Sessions series, short, focused projects meant to warm up your creativity and reinforce core 3D concepts.
_________
→ Go deeper with guided learning, feedback, and a supportive Blender community at CG Cookie
b3d.cgcookie.com/planeta
→ Want just the Sessions content? Purchase the courses à la carte on Superhive
b3d.superhivemarket.com/blender-sessions-vol-1
Create a cinematic space scene from scratch with Blender using simple geometry, procedural textures, and intentional lighting, no complex models required.
This is a previously released CG Cookie course lesson. It was recorded in an earlier version of Blender, but the techniques shown, lighting, composition, procedural workflows, and rendering principles, apply across modern Blender versions
In this real-time project, Kent Trammell walks through a complete “quick session” workflow: blocking a planet and ring system from spheres and curves, shaping dramatic gradients with lighting, building procedural materials, and polishing the final image with subtle compositing effects. The goal is impact and mood, not complexity.
This project is designed to show how much you can achieve with minimal ingredients—and how fast you can move once you focus on fundamentals like composition, value, and light.
What you’ll learn:
- Cinematic composition using thirds and value gradients
- Procedural materials for planets, rings, and stars
- Fast lighting setups for dramatic rim light
- Using Eevee efficiently for high-quality renders
- Simple compositing techniques for glow, vignette, and film grain
This lesson is part of CG Cookie’s Sessions series, short, focused projects meant to warm up your creativity and reinforce core 3D concepts.
_________
→ Go deeper with guided learning, feedback, and a supportive Blender community at CG Cookie
b3d.cgcookie.com/planeta
→ Want just the Sessions content? Purchase the courses à la carte on Superhive
b3d.superhivemarket.com/blender-sessions-vol-1
