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Beginner's Guide to Unreal Engine 5

Sep 2, 2024

Unreal Engine 5 Beginner Tutorial Summary

Overview

  • This tutorial is designed for complete beginners to Unreal Engine 5 (UE5).
  • Objective: Create a fantasy environment, including a castle and landscape.
  • The video is long due to the extensive coverage of UE5 features.

Chapters

  • Installation of UE5 and project creation
  • Navigating the 3D world and object manipulation
  • Creating materials and importing 3D models
  • Dynamic lighting system (Lumen)
  • Sculpting landscapes and painting foliage
  • Downloading free assets from Quixel Megascans
  • Basics of programming with Blueprints
  • Final environment creation

Getting Started

  1. Download Unreal Engine 5

    • Use the Epic Games Launcher to install.
    • Create a project using a blank template with starter content enabled.
  2. User Interface Overview

    • Familiarize with the viewport, toolbar, outliner, details panel, and content drawer.
    • Learn navigation controls (WASD for moving, right-click for camera view).

Creating the Environment

Landscape

  • Landscape Creation:
    • Use the Landscape tool to create a new landscape.
    • Add a directional light and sky atmosphere for basic lighting.

Sculpting Landscape

  • Use the sculpting tools to shape the terrain:
    • Sculpt: Raise/lower the terrain.
    • Smooth: Soften sharp edges.
    • Flatten: Create flat areas for building.

Adding Assets

  • Import assets from the provided folder or Quixel Megascans.
  • Use modular assets to create castles and ruins.

Foliage

  • Use the foliage tool to paint trees, shrubs, and other vegetation onto the landscape.
  • Adjust settings for density and scale to ensure a natural look.

Lighting

  • Utilize the Lumen lighting system for dynamic lighting.
  • Adjust settings in the Post Process Volume for exposure, contrast, and saturation.

Finalizing the Environment

  • Add final details, such as rocks, pebbles, and water.
  • Use the character as a scale reference to ensure the environment feels realistic.

Programming Basics with Blueprints

  • Create simple interactions using Blueprints.
  • Learn to handle actor overlaps and custom events.

Conclusion

  • Encourage experimentation with the tools and assets.
  • Emphasize the importance of modular design and iterative development.

Resources

  • Quixel Bridge for asset downloading.
  • Epic Games Marketplace for additional assets.
  • Additional tutorials available for deeper dives into specific features.