Pixel Fondue: Saving You from Your KeyShot Struggles in 60 Seconds or Less

Extra fast, and especially helpful: That’s the flavor of the Pixel Fondue training videos that provide uber-useful KeyShot tips in one minute or less.

These videos are created by William Vaughan, who has worked in 3D and animation since the ‘90s, back when those skills were primarily found in the entertainment industry. William himself has worked on toys, games, films and more, including work for Pixar and Nickelodeon. He also spent time teaching, including as a consultant for New Balance, training the product designers who needed to learn 3D visualization and KeyShot. His role as trainer turned into a full-time job, and he has worked as New Balance’s Director of 3D Visualization for the last several years.

Even with a full-time job he enjoys, William still makes time to create free Pixel Fondue training videos. He’ll create one during his lunch break, another after the workday ends. This is volunteer work that he isn’t compensated for, other than the satisfaction from knowing he’s helping designers.

“While there’s a lot of great content out there that teaches people and makes life easier, I found there was a gap in training material,” he said. “Most people in design production work for a living. Often, when you’re working on a project, you just want to know how to do one small thing, but you go online and find a 40-minute video that you must weed through to find that one little instruction you’re looking for.”

We’ve all been there. It’s frustrating and interrupts your creative flow. But what if you could find a super-quick how-to that gives you exactly what you need?

That was the impetus behind William’s “Vaughan in 60 seconds” KeyShot videos for Pixel Fondue, which is a hub for learning 3D modeling software, including MODO, Plasticity, Houdini, ZBrush, and more. “It’s as if you’re working alongside a more experienced designer and you can just ask them how to do something real quick.”

William stresses that his short videos are among the many learning options available. “This is just another resource,” he said. “It doesn’t replace longer tutorials or manuals.” When he first learned 3D design and animation, he couldn’t refer to YouTube or online forums – he was in the dark, feeling like he was “walking uphill both ways” just to learn the basics.

He doesn’t want other designers to feel that way, so he’s especially happy about the ample positive feedback he’s received for his KeyShot videos. All of his Vaughan in 60 Second videos can be found on the Pixel Fondue YouTube channel, and his MODO training videos are also available on Kitestring, an online learning platform.

You can find William’s KeyShot videos via the Pixel Fondue website, Twitter, YouTube and a new KeyShot playlist that features tutorials from trusted teaching partners.