05 XForm tools in modeling menu of Unreal Engine 5 6

Project Setup

• Started a new project called modeling practice.

• Set up a new empty level and saved it under Maps > modeling_practice.

• Added atmospheric lighting using Environment Light Mixer and organized it under an Atmosphere folder.

• Enabled the Modeling Tools Editor Mode plugin.

---

🔹 Coordinate System & Pivot Points

• Explained world space (X, Y, Z) vs. pivot points in 3D models.

• Created 3 arrows with pivot set to base, center, and top respectively.

• Demonstrated how pivot position affects object placement and rotation.

---

🔹 Transform Tool Modes

1. Shared Gizmo (World Space)

   • Moves or rotates multiple objects together using a central gizmo.

2. Shared Gizmo Local

   • Rotates or scales each object around its own pivot point.

3. Multi Gizmo

   • Lets you move, rotate, or scale each object independently.

4. Set Pivot Mode

   • Temporarily moves the pivot to a custom position during multi-object transforms.

---

🔹 Snap Dragging

• Enabled snap dragging to precisely align and snap objects to each other.

• Can snap by pivot point or clicked point.

---

🔹 Align Tool

• Align objects based on:

  • Z-axis, X-axis, or Y-axis

  • First selected, Last selected, or Combined center

  • Alignment by bounding box or pivot point

---

🔹 Merge Tool

• Combined two arrows into a two-headed arrow using the Merge function.

• Options include:

  • Output type: Static, Dynamic, or Volume

  • Keep/delete inputs

  • Save as named output mesh

---

🔹 Instance vs Duplicate

• Alt + Drag creates instances – editing one updates all.

• XForm > Duplicate creates independent copy with custom name, type, and keep/delete options.

---

🔹 Edit Pivot Point

• Used Edit Pivot to reposition pivot after object creation (top, bottom, center, etc.).

• Essential for correct rotation, snapping, and alignment.

---

🔹 Bake Transform

• Used to reset translation, rotation, and scale values to 0 and 1.

• Ensures objects load with the correct default orientation and size.

---

🔹 Arrow Set Creation

• Created directional arrows: North, East, South, West.

• Rotated and baked transforms so that each arrow maintains its direction even after transform reset.

• Scaled all arrows to 0.1 and baked again to make 0.1 their default size.

---

🔹 Convert & Cleanup

• Converted static meshes (arrows) to dynamic meshes to remove from disk.

• Deleted static versions from the content drawer without affecting level instances.

---

✅ Conclusion

• Completed all core functions under XForm (Transform & Convert):

  • Transform, Align, Merge, Duplicate, Edit Pivot, Bake Transform, Convert

• Set up for next session:

  • Pattern, Split, Transfer, Harvest Instances, ISM Editor

04 Bevel Cut Triselect tools in Unreal Engine 5 6 Modeling Solving Poly...

Reloading and Editing the Chair

• After re-opening the project, the chair created as a static mesh lost polygon selection capability.
• Solution:
• Use PolyGroup Edit to continue editing with face/edge/vertex tools.
• Recommendation: Use Dynamic Mesh for editable models across sessions.

---

🔹 Rebuilding Chair Using Dynamic Mesh

• Recreated the simple chair model with:
• Seat: 50×50×10 cm
• Legs: Extruded 4 legs using Insert Loop and Extrude
• Armrests and backrest: Created using Push/Pull, Cut Tool, and Offset

---

🔹 Advanced Edge Operations

• Introduced Cut Tool to manually slice geometry across irregular faces.
• Demonstrated Insert Loop combined with Move Edge Tool for precise height adjustments.

---

🔹 Bevel Tool Explained

• Created a test box to demonstrate bevel:
• Bevel distance controls the roundness of an edge.
• Subdivisions increase smoothness.
• Applied bevel on chair legs and armrest edges to round sharp corners.

---

🔹 Working with Edge Loops & Edge Rings

• Used Edge Loop and Edge Ring options under PolyGroup Edit > Edge Mode.
• Enabled easier mass-selection of edge loops and adjusted them for refinement.

---

🔹 Push/Pull vs Delete

• Used Push/Pull instead of delete to avoid normal and shading issues.
• Cutouts and armrest gaps were created with Push/Pull for clean geometry.

---

🔹 TriSelect Tool (Triangle Selection)

• Enabled brush-based selection for triangles.
• Demonstrated reducing chair height by selecting and moving triangle sets.

---

🔹 Finalizing and Saving the Chair

• Used XForm > Duplicate to copy the dynamic chair.
• Used Convert to convert the duplicated dynamic mesh into static mesh.
• Saved final mesh as SM_SimpleChairCompleted for reuse across levels/projects.

---

🔚 Conclusion and What’s Next

• Fully modeled a clean, reusable chair with detailed editing tools.
• All tools in the Select tab explored.
• Next session will cover:
• XForm (Transform)
• DForm (Deform)

 

03 Explore select menu options in modeling menu of unreal engine 56

Project Setup

• Opened SartvicOffice.uproject and continued work in modeling_practice level.

• Switched off visibility for other static meshes (like SM_Gate, SM_SiteArea) to focus on a new model.

---

🔹 Creating a Simple Chair

• Started with a 100x100x100 cm box, pivot placed at base.

• Converted into a seat platform:

  • Resized to 50x50x10 cm.

  • Adjusted using face selection and snapping (10 cm increments).

---

🔹 Modeling Chair Legs

• Used Insert Loop to subdivide the seat into 5x5 grid (for 10 cm blocks).

• Selected four corner faces and used Extrude to create chair legs with 50 cm height.

---

🔹 Backrest Modeling

• Selected six top faces and six side faces for the backrest support.

• Used Offset to displace selected faces by 2 cm outward.

• Push/Pull tool explored for vertical extrusion and geometry subtraction.

• Used Extrude (preferred over Push/Pull when no subtraction is needed).

---

🔹 Backrest Detailing

• Created 6 loop cuts for further subdivisions.

• Connected top bar to backrest using Push/Pull (40 cm height).

• Added decorative crossbars using selective extrusion on mid-faces.

---

🔹 Inset and Merge Face Operations

• Merged 12 seat faces into a single face for cleaner modeling.

• Used Inset to create a recessed area on the seat surface.

• Pulled it down slightly using 1–2 cm snapping increments.

---

🔹 Leg Detailing with Outside Inset

• Applied Outside to extend the leg faces.

• Pulled extended leg parts downward by 10 cm using Extrude.

---

🔹 Important Notes

• Static Meshes lose editability after saving and reopening.

  • Recommended to model using Dynamic Meshes until final export.

• Saved final mesh as SM_SimpleChair.

---

🔹 Next Session Preview

• Remaining tools like:

  • Bevel

  • XForm (Transform)

  • DForm (Deform)

• Will be covered in the next class.

02 Exploring Create Menu Options in Modeling mode of Unreal Engine 5.6

Unreal Engine 5.6 Official Release

• 5.6 moved from preview to official release.

• Must install with:

  • Starter Content

  • Templates

  • Engine Source

  • MetaHuman Core Data

• Optional to skip debug symbols to save space.

---

🔹 Continuing from Previous Session

• Reopened modeling_practice level.

• Ensured models are saved to My_Created_Models folder (updated project settings).

---

🔹 Modeling Tools – “Create” Menu Exploration

🧱 Box

• Can set width, depth, height in cm.

• Subdivision affects mesh smoothness (more subdivisions = more polygons).

• Wireframe view helps visualize subdivisions.

• More subdivisions = smoother deformation but heavier GPU load.

---

⚪ Sphere

• Static, Dynamic, or Volume types.

• Subdivision types:

  • Box: Uniform mesh.

  • Latitude/Longitude: Poles form triads (less uniform).

---

🥫 Cylinder

• Radius, height, radial slices (define circular smoothness), and height subdivisions.

• Radial slice = number of circular segments.

---

🧢 Capsule

• Cylinder with hemispherical ends.

• Adjustable:

  • Radius

  • Cylinder length

  • Hemisphere slices

  • Cylinder subdivisions

---

🔺 Cone

• Adjustable radius, height, and segment detail.

• Used for simple pointed shapes.

---

🍩 Torus

• Donut-shaped geometry.

• Control:

  • Major radius (overall size)

  • Minor radius (ring thickness)

---

➡️ Arrow

• Customize shaft and head dimensions, radial segments, and slice count.

---

📏 Rectangle, Disc, and Polygon Shapes

• Rectangles: Width, height, subdivisions.

• Disc: Change radial slice to convert to triangle, square, hexagon, etc.

---

🪜 Stairs

• Types: Linear, Floating, Curved, Spiral.

• Adjustable step count, dimensions, curve radius, and angle.

---

🧱 Cube Grid Tool

• Used to build structures like gates by snapping 3D blocks.

• Press E to extrude up, Q to inset or carve, Z to enable vertex edit.

• Shift+E moves extrusions without connecting.

---

📏 Extrude Polygon Tool

• Modes: Freehand, Circle, Square, Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Ring.

• Create 2D shape → Extrude into 3D geometry.

• Example: custom building base, ring shapes.

---

🛤️ Extrude Path Tool

• Draw 2D paths and extrude into 3D forms (like beams, trims).

---

🌀 Revolve Path Tool

• Draw shape and revolve around an axis.

• Create vases, pillars, cylindrical decorative elements.

---

🎢 Draw Spline + Mesh/Revolve

• Draw spline in 2D.

• Use Revolve Spline for radial extrusion (lofting).

• Use Mesh Spline to convert closed splines into mesh geometry.

---

🔚 Conclusion

• All Create tools in the Modeling Mode explored.

• Next session will cover:

  • Transform (XForm)

  • Deform (DForm) tools to modify created shapes.

01 Modeling Basics: Triads and Polygroups in Unreal Engine 5 6

Introduction to Asset Creation in Unreal Engine

• Transition from using pre-built assets to creating custom assets within Unreal Engine using modeling tools.

---

🔹 Basics of 3D Modeling

• Vertex: A point in 3D space.
• Edge: A line connecting two vertices.
• Face: A surface formed by three or more edges.
• Triad: Face with 3 vertices (triangle).
• Quad: Face with 4 vertices (rectangle).
• N-gon: Face with more than 4 vertices.

---

🔹 3D Modeling in Unreal Engine

• Unreal Engine uses real-time rendering, unlike offline rendering in software like Blender or Maya.
• All models are internally converted to triangles (triads) in Unreal for performance.

---

🔹 Project Setup

• Download assets: houseplan_images.zip and SathvikOffice.zip.
• Set up a new Unreal Engine project and level named modeling_practice.
• Save new models to a folder called "my_created_models" for persistent use across levels.

---

🔹 Enabling Modeling Tools

• Enable plugins:
• Modeling Tools Editor Mode
• Static Mesh Editor Modeling Mode
• Restart Unreal Engine after enabling.

---

🔹 Using the Modeling Interface

• Access Modeling Mode via Shift + 5.
• Categories include Create, Transform, Deform, Model, UVs, Bake, etc.

---

🔹 Primitive Modeling: Box Example

• Options:
• Static Mesh: Saved to disk, reusable.
• Volume: Invisible mesh used for triggers or physics.
• Dynamic Mesh: Exists only in current level, temporary.

---

🔹 Understanding Units

• Default Unreal units are in centimeters (1 meter = 100 cm, 1 foot = 30.48 cm).
• Use Google or calculator to convert real-world sizes.

---

🔹 Creating Site Area

• Use box primitive with dimensions 12.19m x 18.28m (converted to cm).
• Adjust thickness (e.g., 1 ft = 30.48 cm).
• Save and rename mesh with Unreal naming convention: SM_SiteArea.

---

🔹 Vertex, Edge, Face Selection Modes

• Use icons to edit models at vertex, edge, or face level.
• Wireframe and polygroup mode help visualize and group geometry more intuitively.

---

🔹 Conclusion

• This session covered the basics of 3D modeling using Unreal’s built-in tools.
• Upcoming sessions will explore the full "Create" menu in depth and begin constructing the building step-by-step.

 

21 D03_H03_04 Adding Bloom, Flare and Fog with realistic imperfections u...

Session 21 Summary – Final Touches, Post Process, Fog & Rendering

---

🔧 Project Setup

• Downloaded and extracted camera settings - add files for imperfection render.zip

• Replaced required .uasset, .umap, and sequence files in the appropriate Unreal project folders.

• Set Module_7 as the default Editor & Game Map for startup.

---

🎥 Sequence Adjustments

• Fixed focus issues manually on the CU_Tray camera using manual focus distance and keyframes.

• Rearranged shots in the Sequencer for better narrative flow:

  • Started with crane shot → panning → trolley → closeups → zoom out.

---

🎛️ Post Process Enhancements

• Added a Post Process Volume (PPV) to the level:

  • Set Infinite Extent (Unbound) for global effect

  • Adjusted Exposure settings manually for all cameras

  • Enabled Lumen lighting for realistic GI and reflections

---

💡 Cinematic Effects Added

• ✅ Bloom: Enhanced glow of bright lights

• ✅ Lens Flare: Added subtle lens reflections for realism

• ✅ Bokeh Size: Simulated real camera blur

• ✅ Vignette: (optional) darkened edges of the frame

• ✅ Image Sharpening: Enhanced overall crispness

---

🎨 Color Grading (In-Engine)

• Applied custom LUT created in DaVinci Resolve

• Enabled LUT in Post Process > Misc > Color Grading Look

• Manually controlled Shadow, Midtone, Highlight saturation to refine image directly inside Unreal

---

🌫️ Fog & Lighting Volumetrics

• Added Exponential Height Fog to simulate atmospheric depth

• Enabled Volumetric Fog and set proper scattering colors

• Controlled Fog Density and spotlight Volumetric Scattering Intensity to get cinematic light shafts

---

🎞️ Final Rendering Process

• Two rendering options discussed: Movie Render Queue and Movie Capture

• Enabled Movie Render Queue via Plugins

• Configured:

  • Apple ProRes 422 Codec

  • Resolution: 1920x1080, Framerate: 24 fps

  • Saved render as a reusable Preset

• Fixed missing object bindings in some shots before final rendering

---

✅ Session Outcome

• Completed final cinematic render with:

  • Shot sequencing

  • Color grading

  • Post effects

  • Volumetric fog

  • Full resolution output via Movie Render Queue

---

🏁 Wrap-up

Completed a full one-shot cinematic short film using only Unreal Engine’s native camera, lighting, and post tools — marking the conclusion of the introductory 21-session Unreal Filmmaking series.

Next chapter: Modeling and asset creation in Unreal Engine

20 D04_H03_03 Adding HDRI Backdrop Light and Color Grading using LUTs in...

Session 20 Summary – Color Grading & LUTs in Unreal Engine

🔹 Understanding Gamma & Color Science

• Linear RGB: How camera sensors capture light — brightness is directly proportional to light intensity.

• sRGB: How human vision perceives light — more sensitive to shadows and midtones.

• Gamma Curve: Used to convert linear RGB to sRGB for realistic display on screens.

• 18% Gray Concept: Human eye perceives mid-gray at ~18% intensity, not 50%.

---

🎨 Creating a D-Log Look in Unreal

• D-Log: A flat, low-contrast image format used for capturing max color detail (like in RAW photography).

• In Unreal:

  • Use Post Process Volume > Film settings.

  • Set Toe and Shoulder values to 0 to simulate a D-Log image.

---

🖼️ HDRI Backdrop for Environment Lighting

• HDRI images used to simulate realistic environments (like city streets or forests).

• HDRI adds ambient light and reflections to the 3D scene, mimicking real-world locations.

---

🧪 Color Grading Workflow with DaVinci Resolve

1. Export High-Resolution Screenshot from Unreal (via console or capture tools).

2. Open DaVinci Resolve, import:

   • Unreal scene screenshot

   • LUT reference image (RGB 16x1)

3. Apply color corrections using:

   • Curves (Toe, Slope, Shoulder)

   • Temperature, Tint, RGB channel tweaks

4. Transfer the color grade to the reference LUT image.

---

📁 Generating and Importing the LUT

• Export the graded LUT image (PNG) from DaVinci.

• Import into Unreal Engine under a LUTs folder.

• Set Texture properties:

  • Mip Maps: Disable

  • Texture Group: Set to Color Lookup Table

• Save and close.

---

🎥 Applying LUT in Unreal Engine

• In Post Process Volume, go to:

  • Misc > Color Grading LUT

  • Select the imported LUT texture.

• Repeat for all cameras (Rig1, Rig2, etc.).

• Ensure Toe and Shoulder are set to 0 for consistent D-Log base.

---

✅ Key Outcomes of the Session

• Understood the theory of Gamma, Linear RGB, and sRGB.

• Applied D-Log look to Unreal shots using Film settings.

• Color graded in DaVinci Resolve using LUTs and curves.

• Imported custom .PNG LUT into Unreal and applied across all cameras