Thursday, May 29, 2025

19_D04_H03_02 Camera Shakes in Unreal Engine5.6


Session 19 Summary: Camera Shake with Blueprints in Unreal Engine 5.6

๐Ÿงฐ Project Setup

  • Downloaded camera settings add files for camerashakes.zip from Patreon.
  • Extracted and placed files in:
    • Maps/Main → module_7.umap
    • Sequences/Main → module_7.asset
    • Sequences → camera_rig_shots folder
  • Opened camera_settings project in Unreal Engine 5.6 and loaded camera_rig_shots_root.

๐ŸŽฌ Creating the Handheld Camera Shots

  • Shot 5 (0050_01) was edited using two cameras:
    • cu_tray (focused on male character)
    • cu_zeva (focused on female character)
  • Animated both cameras using manual transform keyframes from:
    • 0–5s → camera panning movement on cu_tray
    • 5–10s → close-in shot on cu_zeva

๐ŸŽฅ Focus Target Setup

  • Used Focus Tracker Actors:
    • focus_tray moved to correct bone (tray_bone_1)
    • Enabled continuous focus during camera animation

๐ŸŽž️ Creating and Applying Camera Shake

Available Camera shakes

1.       Composite Camera Shake Pattern

2.       Perlin Noise Camera Shake Pattern

3.       Sequence Camera Shake Pattern

4.       Wave Oscillator Camera Shake Pattern

  • Created new Blueprint Class from CameraShakeBase:
    • Named my_own_camera_shake
    • Used Perlin Noise Shake Pattern
    • Set duration = -1 for infinite shake
  • Applied to cu_tray camera via the + Camera Shake track

๐ŸŒŠ Adding Alternate Shake Types

  • Duplicated my_own_camera_shake → my_own_camera_shake_2
    • Changed to Wave Oscillator Shake Pattern
  • Applied to cu_zeva camera with same infinite duration

๐Ÿ” Using Predefined Shake Blueprints

  • Used 5 pre-existing shakes:
    • Handheld_Subtle
    • Handheld_Mid
    • Others recompiled and saved
  • Replaced custom shakes with:
    • Handheld_Subtle on cu_tray
    • Handheld_Mid on cu_zeva
  • Added Crane_Shake to Shot 0040_01 for crane movement realism

๐Ÿ“Œ Key Learnings

  • Camera Shake is added via Blueprint Classes.
  • Blueprint exposes runtime properties like motion, focus, animations, etc.
  • Shakes can simulate real-world handheld imperfections or camera rig wobble.

๐Ÿ“ What’s Next

  • Next session will cover Color Grading and LUTs (Look-Up Tables) in Unreal Engine 5.6.

 


Wednesday, May 28, 2025

18_D04_H03_01 Right way to use Camera Cranes in Unreal Engine


Session 18 Summary: Camera Crane Rig in Unreal Engine 5.6

๐Ÿ”ง Setup and Shot Context

  • Opened the existing camera_settings project and loaded module_7.
  • Continued working within camera_rig_shot_root sequence.
  • Began editing Shot 0040_01—a cinematic crane shot moving from outside the house through the window to two seated characters.

๐Ÿ—️ Adding and Configuring the Camera Crane

  • Added Camera Rig Crane from CinematicCamera Rig Crane.
  • Named it rig_crane_4, placed into 08_camera_rigs folder.
  • Duplicated wide_camera, named it cinecam_crane, and parented it to the crane rig.
  • Reset camera’s transform (location and rotation) after parenting.

๐Ÿ•น️ Understanding Crane Controls

  • Pitch: Vertical tilt of the crane arm (animated from top-down angles).
  • Yaw: Horizontal pan/rotation of the entire crane.
  • Arm Length: Extends or retracts the crane’s boom to change the distance.
  • Crane Yaw Control (height adjustment): Moves the crane rig vertically.

๐Ÿ”’ Enabled Lock Mount Pitch/Yaw to sync camera motion with crane tilt and rotation.


๐ŸŽฌ Animating the Crane

  • Inserted keyframes at 0s, 5s, and 10s for:
    • Crane Pitch
    • Crane Yaw
    • Arm Length
    • Yaw Control Location
  • Created a 10-second animation where:
    • Crane starts high and outside the window.
    • Moves inward to focus on characters.
    • Arm extends, camera tilts and pans inward gradually.

๐Ÿ”ญ Adding a Tracker for Look-at Focus

  • Added a Helper Actor named crane_cam_tracker.
  • Positioned between the two characters at table level.
  • Enabled Look-at Tracking on cinecam_crane to always face the tracker.
  • Ensured smooth tracking as the crane moved through the scene.

๐ŸŽš️ Camera Tweaks

  • Adjusted focal length from 40mm to 20mm for wider framing.
  • Fine-tuned final position of crane at 10s for better composition.
  • Verified smooth movement, tracking, and actor framing.

๐Ÿ—‚️ Organizing & Finalizing

  • Added rig_crane_4 and cinecam_crane to the crane folder inside sequencer.
  • Enabled Camera Cuts at frame 0 to switch to the crane shot.
  • Saved all sequences and nested them into the master sequence

 


Tuesday, May 27, 2025

17_D04_H02_02 All New Cine Cam RIg Rail in Unreal Engine 5.6 and using C...


Session 17 Summary: Cine Camera Rig Rail in UE 5.6

๐Ÿš€ Setup

  • Opened existing camera_settings project from previous session.

  • Continued from camera_rig_shot_root sequence.

  • Began editing third shot (shot_030_01) using Cine Camera Rig Rail (advanced version).


๐Ÿ”ง Creating the Circular Camera Rig

  • Added Cine Camera Rig Rail from CinematicCine Camera Rig Rail.

  • Switched to top orthographic view.

  • Created a perfect 360° circular dolly path:

    • Measured 190 cm radius using middle mouse drag.

    • Placed 5 spline points in a circle using Alt + drag.

  • Used spline tangent controls in Rails Plane Component to smooth out the curve.

  • Ensured uniform speed using the Display Speed Heat Map (green = optimal speed).


๐ŸŽฅ Attaching & Configuring the Camera

  • Duplicated wide_camera, renamed to cine_cam_rig_3.

  • Attached camera to rig_3 and reset its transform.

  • Set focal length = 35mm (can later animate per spline).

  • Enabled rig control of focal length, aperture, and focus (instead of camera).

  • Placed both rig and camera into the sequence and camera folder.


๐Ÿ” Controlling the Camera Movement

  • Switched from manual movement to absolute spline position control:

    • Added keyframes at absolute position 1 (start) and 5 (end) over 10 seconds.

  • Enabled “Use Point Orientation” so the camera rotates along the rail path.

  • Rotated camera 90° so it always faces inward toward actor.


๐ŸŽ›️ Using Drive Mode (Alternative)

  • Enabled Drive Mode → Duration to auto-animate based on time.

  • Demonstrated changing speed via duration or speed %.

  • Later reverted to manual keyframing for full control.


๐ŸŽš️ Focal Length & Aperture Animation by Spline Point

  • Adjusted focal length per spline:

    • Spline 0: 15mm (wide)

    • Spline 1–2: 30mm

    • Spline 3: 15mm

    • Spline 4: 50mm → revised to 30mm for smoother transition

  • Adjusted aperture per spline to improve exposure:

    • Set all points to f/1.4 for brighter visuals.


๐ŸŽฏ Focus Tracking with a Helper Actor

  • Added "rig3_tracker" actor to guide camera focus during movement.

  • Placed tracker at key locations (between characters, face, etc.) over time.

  • Animated the tracker’s position and enabled it in camera’s Focus Tracking.


Final Composition Check

  • Verified:

    • Smooth dolly movement

    • Dynamic focal length changes

    • Focus tracking accuracy

    • Proper brightness/exposure throughout shot

  • Saved all changes and concluded third rig-based camera shot.


๐Ÿ› ️ Key Features Demonstrated

  • Cine Camera Rig Rail with multiple spline points.

  • Spline-level focal length and aperture control.

  • Drive Mode vs. Manual Animation.

  • Tracker-based camera focus with smooth interpolation.

Monday, May 26, 2025

16_D04_H02_Simple Camera Rail Rig and Level Sequence with Shots in Unrea...


Session Summary: Using Camera Rig Rail in Unreal Engine 5.6

๐Ÿงฐ Project Setup

  • Used the existing project from previous session: camera_settings.zip + metahumans.zip.

  • Opened module_7 level and created a new sequence using “Add Level Sequence with Shots”.

  • Named root sequence camera_rig_shot_root with 5 individual shots.


๐Ÿ”ง Shot 010_01 – Straight Rail Shot

  • Added Camera Rig Rail (legacy version) from CinematicCamera Rig Rail.

  • Created rig_1 and aligned it horizontally in top view using two control points (vertices).

  • Added a new camera cam_rig_1, made it a child of rig_1, and reset its location/rotation.

  • Made the camera wide angle (20mm focal length).

  • Animated Current Position on Rail from 0 to 1 over 10 seconds.

  • Used Camera Cuts Track to activate cam_rig_1 for the shot.

  • Rendered output shows smooth left-to-right camera movement across characters.


๐Ÿ”ง Shot 020_01 – Curved Vertical Rail Shot

  • Duplicated rig_1 to create rig_2, repositioned and bent it to form a curved rail.

  • Added a new point by ALT + drag to shape the rail for elevation.

  • Created new camera cam_rig_2, set it to 15mm focal length for a wider field of view.

  • Attached the camera to rig_2 and animated movement from 0 → 1 in 10 seconds.

  • Fine-tuned curve points and angles using top, right, and perspective views.


๐ŸŽฏ Tracking and Focus

  • Introduced a Helper Actor named rig2_tracker to control:

    • Look At Tracking: Enabled for cam_rig_2 to always face the tracker.

    • Focus Tracking: Set to track rig2_tracker for continuous focus during movement.


๐ŸŽฌ Sequence Finalization

  • Organized rig and camera actors into 08_camera_rigs folder.

  • Added appropriate Camera Cuts in both shot sequences.

  • Verified smooth transitions and framing in both rendered shots.


Key Learnings

  • How to create nested sequences using Add Level Sequence with Shots.

  • How to use Camera Rig Rail for linear and curved cinematic shots.

  • How to animate rail movement using Current Position on Rail.

  • How to control camera tracking and focus using a helper actor.

Sunday, May 25, 2025

15_D04_H01_All About Sequencers in Unreal Engine 5.6


Unreal Engine Sequencer Basics (Session Summary)

๐Ÿ”น Project Setup

  • Download and extract camera_settings.zip and metahumans.zip from the provided link.

  • Place the extracted MetaHumans folder inside the Content > int_vc directory of the camera_settings Unreal project.

  • Open the project using Unreal Engine 5.6.

๐Ÿ”น Introduction to Sequencer

  • Sequencer is Unreal's timeline tool, similar to Adobe Premiere Pro or After Effects.

  • Used to animate characters, cameras, and objects over time.

๐Ÿ”น Level & Characters

  • Open module_6 level which has 2 characters and 3 pre-placed cameras.

  • Initially, characters may not be in a seated pose until you load the correct sequencer.

  • Control Rig must be manually copied from working sequences to new sequences.

๐Ÿ”น Creating a New Sequence

  • Use Add Level Sequence from the +Cinematics button.

  • Save it under Content > int_vc > sequences as my_first_sequence.

๐Ÿ”น Fixing Pose Issues

  • Copy the character tracks and control rigs from module_6 sequence to the new sequence.

  • Rig compatibility issues may occur with older MetaHuman assets—manually apply compatible rigs.

๐Ÿ”น Adding and Animating Cameras

  • Use the Cinematic Viewport for better preview.

  • Set animation frame rate to 24 FPS (film standard) and convert timeline to seconds view.

  • Adjust focus distance manually to animate focus blur over time.

๐Ÿ”น Camera Animation Steps

  1. Wide Camera – Animate dolly-in movement from 0 to 4 seconds.

  2. CU_Tray Camera – Side-to-front animation from 4 to 10 seconds.

  3. CU_Zeva Camera – Rotating-in animation from 10 to 16 seconds.

  4. Use local transform coordinates for better camera movement control.

๐Ÿ”น Organizing Timeline

  • Group all camera tracks into a new folder called "Cameras".

  • Use Camera Cuts Track to switch between cameras at defined times (0s, 4s, 10s).

๐Ÿ”น Rendering the Animation

  • Use the Render Movie icon to export the final animation.

  • Choose H.264 MP4 as the output format.

  • Output will be saved under Saved > MovieRenders as my_first_sequence.mp4.

๐Ÿ“ Assignment

  • Create a new sequence in any project.

  • Add and animate three cameras with cuts.

  • Render the output and share the video for review

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Access our youtube in multi languages reels #unrealengine #cinematograp...


Global Availability Announcement

We are thrilled to announce that the educational content we are developing for teachers, professionals, trainees, and film enthusiasts is now globally accessible in 11 languages!

๐Ÿ“š Key Highlights:

  • ๐ŸŒ All our content is available worldwide.

  • ๐Ÿ—ฃ️ Multilingual support includes Hindi (currently live), with other Indian languages like Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Marathi coming soon.

  • ๐Ÿค Special thanks to Google for enabling multilingual accessibility via YouTube’s multi-language audio feature.


๐ŸŽฅ How to Access Our Content in Your Preferred Language

  1. Open Google Chrome

    • In the search bar, type: Sudheendra SG

    • Click on the YouTube channel link that appears first.

  2. Switch Audio Language in YouTube

    • Open any video.

    • Click on the Settings (gear icon).

    • Select Audio Track → Choose your preferred language (e.g., Hindi, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, etc.).


๐Ÿง  For Summarized Notes in Your Language

  1. Install the "ChatGPT YouTube Summarizer" Chrome Extension

    • Search: ChatGPT YouTube summarizer in Chrome.

    • Click “Add to Chrome”.

    • Check it under Extensions in your browser settings.

  2. Use It on Any Video

    • Click the summarizer button below the video.

    • The video transcript will appear in ChatGPT.

    • Ask ChatGPT to translate it to any language (e.g., Kannada, Tamil, Telugu).

    • Use it as personalized study notes.


๐Ÿ’ก Example:

  • Audio in Hindi – Click settings > audio track > Hindi.

  • Notes in Kannada – Use the summarizer → "Translate to Kannada" in ChatGPT.

Friday, May 23, 2025

14_D02_H02_02_Camera and Post Process Controls in Unreal Engine 5.6


Unreal Engine Workshop – Session 14 Summary

๐Ÿ“Œ Topic: Implementing Exposure Settings in Unreal Engine with Cine Cameras & Post Process Volume


๐ŸŽฌ Project Setup

  • Launched Camera Settings Project (v5.6).

  • Loaded module_5.11 map and activated module_5 sequencer.

  • Used 3 cameras: CU_Tray, CU_Zeva, and a wide camera.

  • Hidden obstructing wall mesh to enable clean camera views.


๐Ÿ”† Camera View & Exposure

  • Switched CU_Tray camera to Manual Exposure mode.

  • Adjusted Aperture (f-stop) to control brightness and depth of field:

    • f/1.8 → Bright with shallow depth

    • f/11 → Darker with more depth

  • Balanced exposure using:

    • Shutter Speed: Changed from 60 to 30

    • ISO: Boosted from 100 to 800 for brightness compensation


๐Ÿ“ธ Creating Cameras with Different Depth of Field

  • Duplicated cameras to create variants:

    • CU_Tray_with_DOF: Shallow depth (f/2, ISO 100, shutter 60)

    • CU_Tray: Deep focus (f/11, ISO 800, shutter 30)

  • Similar adjustments made for CU_Zeva and CU_Zeva_with_DOF.


๐Ÿงช Post Process Volume Setup

  • Added and placed a Post Process Volume in the scene.

  • Enabled:

    • Manual Exposure Metering Mode

    • Exposure Compensation to fine-tune global brightness (e.g., set to 6)

    • Shutter Speed, ISO, and F-stop overrides to match camera settings


๐ŸŒซ️ Motion Blur Demonstration

  • Enabled Motion Blur in Post Process Volume to simulate realistic human-eye perception:

    • Set Target FPS to 30

    • Observed motion blur effect during camera movement


๐Ÿ“ Final Steps

  • Saved all level changes.

  • Confirmed exposure settings now work:

    • On Cine Cameras individually

    • Across the entire scene using Post Process Volume


๐ŸŽฏ What’s Next

  • In the upcoming session:

    • Explore Sequencer, Camera Rigs, and Dolly Tracks

    • Continue learning about camera tools in Unreal Engine