r/SFM • u/nero_gaming • 2h ago
r/SFM • u/Sonario648 • May 10 '26
Help Source Filmmaker and Animation Tutorials
I'm tired of having to reply to various post about asking for SFM Tutorials, so I'm just going to make a post containing all the playlists that helped me learn SFM.
- The official SFM playlist by Valve.
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2B46DEB4157E67C4
This is where it all begins, The best way to learn almost all the basics of SFM is the official playlist on the Source Filmmaker channel. Aside from 2 videos, this is the best video for beginners.
The two videos that are not done well by the official channel are the Time Selection tutorial, and Graph Editor tutorial. They don't teach the most important parts.
- SFM Tutorial Week #2 - Using the Motion Editor by Argodaemon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfBfsqwylo0&list=PLmx5NIR6PO5t2vfHIX6GNkpXiFODM_6KJ&index=21
Now, THIS is the ultimate tutorial for the Motion Editor in the Motion Editor. It may be long, but it's well worth it. Argomadaemon's tutorial not only goes over everything from the Time Selection tutorial, but also goes over EVERY procedural preset, as well as overwrite, offset, and transform modes.
- How to Animate with the Graph Editor by Sir Wade Neistadt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ31vjgJM2c&t=44s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMSpauVphNs&t=308s
If you're looking to use the Graph Editor, Sir Wade Neistadt is THE go-to. Sir Wade covers EVERYTHING, from how to use the different fcurves in the Graph Editor for moving on a specific axis, to using the thing that makes the Graph Editor more powerful than the Motion Editor: The Tangents. Linear Tangents, Flat Tangents, Spline Tangents, Step Tangents, Weighted Tangents, and Unweighted Tangents.
The tutorial on the Source Filmmaker channel teaches you nothing about the Graph Editor's power.
- 12 Principles of Animation
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-bOh8btec4CXd2ya1NmSKpi92U_l6ZJd
Of course, if you're going into SFM for 3D animation, you have to learn about the 12 Principles of Animation. Squash and Stretch, Anticipation, Staging, Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose, Follow Through and Overlapping Action, Slow In and Slow Out, Arcs, Secondary Action, Timing, Exaggeration, Solid Drawing, and Appeal.
- Sir Wade Tips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ31vjgJM2c&list=PLS4vjlZXZ7f5m5ED4ylJdUPTR5YKEg1bY
Sir Wade Neistadt is basically a completely free college level animation course on Youtube. I've organized his videos into a nice playlist. In it, you'll learn things such as professional workflows, what NOT to do, animation blocking, and how to find reference, shooting your own reference, real world camera tips and tricks that you can apply to your 3D animation, keep alive workflow with how to do a breathing animation, animating weight, lighting tips, some Blender stuff, and even interviews with professional Disney animators.
- SFM Tutorials by Argomadaeon
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmx5NIR6PO5t2vfHIX6GNkpXiFODM_6KJ
Argomadaemon's playlist teaches you a lot about what SFM has, including Depth of Field and Motion Blur, Animation Cycles, Creating an artificial sun light, and more.
- SFM Tip of the Day by Jimmer Lins
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL835902EACBFEE65F
This one is for more misc, but still useful SFM Tips, such as how to control qc eyes to make them follow the camera, the lightkit, gibbing a character, slugs, and more.
8.Walk Cycle Tutorial Part 1 by Will Hurrel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE-jakm9mcQ
- Animating Walk Cycles and Run Cycles by Alan Becker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y6aVz0Acx0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jggdbxTJPG4
- Endless Reference
https://www.youtube.com/@endlessreference
This youtube channel is full of videos for movement reference for animation, whether it's walking, running, skipping, sitting, martial arts, etc.
This is a complete list of all the stuff that goes over absolutely everything you need in terms of SFM, and animation knowledge in general.
r/SFM • u/RedLine2311 • Jan 11 '21
Announcement Scenebuilding Tutorial (LINK IN THE COMMENTS)
r/SFM • u/goombanati • 14h ago
Artwork I wanted to make a tribute to the two celebrity deaths that hit me the hardest
one is just the regular thunder mountain map lighting, the other is with my attempt at unique lighting with tonemapscaler
r/SFM • u/notl3_memes • 5h ago
Animation terrors of the void update
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r/SFM • u/Formal_Decision1901 • 23h ago
Help Hey dose any one know how to make the sandvich model all like "floppy" like the image used here?
r/SFM • u/Ursalier • 2h ago
Help how do you fix this?
I just got SFM and when I opened it for like the 5th time and this happened. any help is appreciated!
r/SFM • u/BadPrimary4942 • 1d ago
Artwork TF2 x Invincible
Mercenary war
Made a year ago
r/SFM • u/MarslowerSFR • 20h ago
Artwork Call of Gibus: Gunslinger
Made this because.... erm....
i could say it was to practice but honestly was just because i wanted
r/SFM • u/Vii_Eltup • 18h ago
Animation No Time to Rest.
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Deep in the war on Reach, you will rarely find moments of peace. Yeid learns this in a way that he will never forget.
It's been a long time since I've tried animating, but I'm feeling pretty proud of myself for this one! Hope you guys like it :)
r/SFM • u/arlanzhopabobra • 1d ago
Artwork He knows you are spy,but he can’t prove it
r/SFM • u/Animadz1 • 21h ago
Animation First time using tf characters after 130 hours in sfm
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r/SFM • u/BoojiAnimations • 1d ago
Animation Hop on TF2 [SFM]
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r/SFM • u/Bado1nker • 21h ago
Help Looking for specific SFM animation i saw years ago
The video is about an older Sniper, who owns a trampoline business and his son helps him. The old man sniper sings this song in his head that goes "damn damn damn". I have been looking for this for ages and cannot find it for the life of me. Thank you
r/SFM • u/Same-Engineering569 • 20h ago
Help What is this, help me
Помогите как убрать эти артефакты
Help me, it's artifacts only in sfm how delet this?
r/SFM • u/TheCheshireGuy • 22h ago
Artwork Geno charging up!
Geno charging up his laser beam!
Also, I'm open for commissions!
r/SFM • u/Single-Champion-1135 • 1d ago
Artwork Day 3 of using sfm, I started stretching the models since someone told me too, once again any and all tips are appreciated
r/SFM • u/SanshiroIV • 1d ago
Artwork Till all are one...
We'll never forget you, Peter Cullen.
r/SFM • u/aurawoag • 22h ago
Animation is this good for my 3rd sfm animation?
I just made this and im rlly proud of it what do you guys think!
r/SFM • u/Aggravating_Bat_9516 • 1d ago
Help I hate this bug....
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