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Unreal Engine 4 for Design Visualization: Developing Stunning Interactive Visualizations, Animations, and Renderings

Name: Unreal Engine 4 for Design Visualization: Developing Stunning Interactive Visualizations, Animations, and Renderings
Author: Tom Shannon
ISBN: 9780134680767

by Tom Shannon

August 2017

Intermediate to advanced

384 pages

9h 1m

English

Addison-Wesley Professional

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Cover Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents at a Glance
Contents
Preface
Who Should Read This BookHow This Book Is OrganizedPart I: Unreal Engine 4 OverviewPart II: Your First UE4 ProjectPart III: Architectural Visualization ProjectSource FilesConventions Used in This Book
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Part I: Unreal Engine 4 Overview

Chapter 1. Getting Started with Unreal Engine 4
What Is Unreal Engine 4?A Brief History of Unreal EngineIntroducing Unreal Engine 4UE4 Highlights for VisualizationDeveloping Interactive Visualizations with Unreal Engine 4What UE4 Brings to VisualizationUE4 Development CaveatsIdentifying Great UE4 ProjectsUnreal Engine 4 Development RequirementsTeamwork in Unreal Engine 4Source Control OverviewUnreal Engine 4 Versioning Support IntegrationCosts of Developing for UE4HardwareDevelopment TimeTesting and QACost Savings of UE4Resources and TrainingCommunity SupportMarketplaceCommunity Events and ConferencesSummary
Chapter 2. Working with UE4
Unreal Engine 4 ComponentsEpic Games LauncherUE4 EngineUE4 EditorUE4 ProjectsSource ArtProject Folder StructureConfigSavedPlugins (Optional)ContentIntermediateUnderstanding .uasset FilesUnreal Engine 4 Content PipelineSet Up a New ProjectBuild ContentExport ContentImport Content to UE4Populate the Level with ContentAdd Interactivity (Programming!)Test and RefinePackageDistributeProvide SupportSummary
Chapter 3. Content Pipeline
Content Pipeline OverviewContent Preparation3D Scene SetupUnitsStatisticsBackface Cull and NormalsPreparing Geometry for UE4Architecture and Prop MeshesNamingUV MappingLevel of Detail (LOD)CollisionPivot PointFBX Mesh PipelineExport SettingsExporting Multiple MeshesReimportingWhere to Put Your FBX FilesTexture and Material WorkflowTexturesMultiple MaterialsImporting to the Content LibraryInitiating ImportsMesh Import OptionsTexture OptionsCamera WorkflowSummary
Chapter 4. Lighting and Rendering
Understanding Unreal Engine’s Physically Based Rendering (PBR)Base ColorRoughnessMetallicGetting the Most from PBRLights in UE4Understanding Light MobilityMoveable LightsStationary LightsStatic LightsReal-Time ReflectionsReflection ProbesPost Process ReflectionsPost-ProcessingAnti-AliasingBloom, Glare, and Lens FlaresEye Adaptation (Auto Exposure)Depth of FieldFilm EffectsMotion BlurScreen Space Ambient Occlusion (SSAO)Screen Space ReflectionsScreen PercentagePost Process MaterialsSummary
Chapter 5. Materials
Materials OverviewCreating MaterialsApplying MaterialsModifying MaterialsUE4 Material EditorOpening the Material EditorEditor UIPlacing NodesUsing the Preview ViewportCompiling ShadersSavingHow Unreal Materials WorkPixel and Vertex ShadersMaterials Are MathMaterial FunctionsSurface TypesOpaqueMaskedTranslucentMaterial InstancesMaterial ParametersInheritanceOverriding ParametersOrganizationMaster MaterialsA Simple MaterialPlacing Parameter NodesMaking Material InstancesAdding a Roughness MapAdding a Normal MapUnderstanding the Base Color MapSummary
Chapter 6. Blueprints
Introducing BlueprintsObjects, Classes, and ActorsObjectsClassesActorsThe PlayerThe Player ControllerInput HandlingPlayer DataRotationMouse InterfaceOther ControllersPawnsThe WorldLevelsComponentsVariables and their TypesThe TickDelta SecondsClass InheritanceSpawning and DestroyingConstruction ScriptBegin Play EventBlueprint CommunicationDirect Blueprint CommunicationEvent DispatchersBlueprint InterfacesBlueprint CastingCompiling the ScriptSummary
Part II: Your First UE4 Project
Chapter 7. Setting Up the Project
Project ScopeCreating a New Project from the LauncherSummary
Chapter 8. Populating the World
Making and Saving a New, Blank LevelPlacing and Modifying AssetsMoving, Scaling, and RotatingUsing the Details PanelSnappingDuplicatingAdding Actors from the Class BrowserLet there Be LightSunAtmospheric FogAssign the Sun to the AtmosphereSky LightMoving Around the SceneGame StyleObject FocusedBuilding the ArchitectureAdding Details to Your StructurePlacing PropsPlacing LightsAdding IES ProfilesSummary
Chapter 9. Making it Interactive with Blueprints
Setting Up the ProjectPress PlayPlay ModesDefault GameModeCreating the PawnSetting the Player’s View HeightSetting Up the Movement SpeedInput MappingAction and Axis MappingSetting Up MappingsInput Device FlexibilityCreating the Player Controller ClassAdding Input with BlueprintsAdding Axis EventsRotating the View (Looking)Player MovementReferencing the PawnIs ValidAdd Movement InputGameModeCreating the GameModeAssigning the GameMode to the ProjectPlacing the Player Start ActorSummary
Chapter 10. Packaging and Distribution
Packaged Versus Editor BuildsProject PackagingContent CookingDeploymentPackaging OptionsPlatformsBuild ConfigurationHow to PackageLaunching Your ApplicationPackaging ErrorsDistributing the ProjectUsing InstallersSummary
Part III: Architectural Visualization Project
Chapter 11. Project Setup
Project Scope and RequirementsSetting Up the ProjectCreating the ProjectMigrating from Another ProjectDon’t Forget the InputCopying, Renaming, and Moving AssetsApplying Project SettingsSummary
Chapter 12. Data Pipeline
Organizing the SceneMaterialsArchitecture and FixturesEnsuring Clean GeometryUsing Good UV CoordinatesExporting the SceneUsing Multiple FBX FilesUsing a Single FBX FileImporting the SceneImporting into the Content BrowserImporting into the LevelProp MeshesSetting Pivot PointsUsing Mindful GeometryExportingImportingSummary
Chapter 13. Populating the Scene
Scene Building for VisualizationSetting Up the LevelCreating a New LevelAdding Basic LightingPlacing Architecture Static MeshesDragging and Dropping MeshesSetting the Location to ZeroPlacing Prop MeshesSurface SnappingCloning and CopyingShift+DraggingScene OrganizationWorld OutlinerLayersGroupingActor BlueprintsSummary
Chapter 14. Architectural Lighting
Getting the Most from UE4’s LightingMaterials and LightingStatic Lighting with LightmassAdjusting the Sun and Sky LightsSun LightSky LightBuilding LightingLightmass Settings for Architecture VisualizationsStatic Lighting Level ScaleNum Indirect Lighting BouncesIndirect Lighting QualityIndirect Lighting SmoothnessCompress LightmapsLightmap UV Density AdjustmentsRebuild and SavePlacing Interior LightingSpot LightsMobilityIntensityTemperatureAttenuationIES FilesAuto ExposurePlacing Light PortalsUsing Reflection ProbesSizePerformancePost-Process VolumeVolume ActorsPlacing the Post-Process VolumePost-Process Volume SetupSummary
Chapter 15. Architectural Materials
What Is a Master Material?Material Network OverviewParameter NodesCreating the Master MaterialBase ColorMetallicRoughnessNormalAmbient OcclusionTexture Scaling and TransformCreating Material InstancesPainted WallsFloorsAdvanced MaterialsParallax Occlusion MappingGlassSummary
Chapter 16. Creating Cinematics with Sequencer
Getting Started with SequencerMaster SequenceDynamic CamerasAnimating the CameraSetting KeyframesPiloting the CameraTrack and Camera NamingTransitionsEditing the ShotsSavingCollaboratingRendering to VideoRender Movie SettingsRendering ProcessSummary
Chapter 17. Preparing the Level for Interactivity
Setting Up Your LevelAdding the Player Start ActorAdding CollisionComplex Versus Simple CollisionWalls and FloorsSetting Prop CollisionEnabling the Mouse CursorCreating Post-Process OutlinesSummary
Chapter 18. Intermediate Blueprints: UMG Interaction
Toggling DatasetsMaking the Variation LevelMaking a Copy with Save AsImporting the New ArchitectureReplacing the Architecture MeshesSetting Up Lightmap DensityApplying MaterialsEnabling CollisionDecorating (Optional)Building LightingLevel StreamingMaking a New LevelAccessing the Levels InterfaceAdding Streaming LevelsUsing Blueprints Versus Always Loaded LevelsDefining a Player Start ActorSetting Up the Level BlueprintOpening the Level BlueprintUsing EventsTesting TimeProgramming the SwitchingCreating Custom EventsTesting TimeCreating the Keyboard ShortcutCompiling and SavingClicking PlayUnreal Motion Graphics (UMG)Using WidgetsHorizontal BoxButtonsLabelsBack to the Level BlueprintCreating the WidgetAdding the Widget to the ViewportEvent BindingCompiling and SavingPlaying the GameSummary
Chapter 19. Advanced Blueprints: Material Switcher
Setting the GoalBuilding the Actor BlueprintCreating VariablesMeshes To Modify ArrayMaterials ArrayStart Material Index VariableCurrent Material Index VariableIsClicked VariableAdding ComponentsBillboard ComponentTextRender ComponentCreating the Change Material FunctionNew Index InputIs Valid IndexFor Each LoopUnderstanding the Construction ScriptSet Text LabelDraw Connecty LinesChange Material to Start IndexUnderstanding the Event GraphBegin PlayEvent BindingMouse Over and Mouse OutClick ActionDetecting False ClicksPopulating the LevelAdding MeshesAdding MaterialsSetting DefaultsCopying and PastingPlaying the ApplicationSummary
Chapter 20. Final Thoughts
UE4 Continually ChangingFuture of VisualizationNext StepsVirtual RealityFilm MakingContent CreationThank You
Glossary
Index

Content preview from Unreal Engine 4 for Design Visualization: Developing Stunning Interactive Visualizations, Animations, and Renderings

Chapter 5. Materials

Materials in UE4 are like visual programs that run on each pixel (pixel shader) and vertex (vertex shader) in the scene. Using the visual Material Editor, you can create a bewildering array of surfaces using only a few parameters and textures. Even very simple Materials look astounding thanks to PBR. As your skills grow, you can build on those Materials, making them more flexible and dynamic and incorporating interactivity and programmability.

Materials Overview

Materials are one of the most essential elements for creating compelling, interactive content. Materials define how every single pixel in your scene reacts to light, shadow, and reflection.

Creating Materials for real time can be very different than creating Materials ...

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Immersive 3D Design Visualization: With Autodesk Maya and Unreal Engine 4

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Unreal Engine 4 for Design Visualization: Developing Stunning Interactive Visualizations, Animations, and Renderings

by Tom Shannon