09 Modeling GolGumbaz Dome in Unreal Engine 5 6

Session 9 Summary – Modeling Gol Gumbaz Dome in Unreal Engine

• New Project Setup:
  Created a new Unreal project named Golgombus using the Blank template. Lighting was added via Environment Light Mixer and organized under a folder named atmosphere.

• Creating the Dome (Gumbaz):

  • Outer dome: Sphere with 44m diameter (radius = 2200 cm).

  • Inner dome: Sphere with 38m diameter (radius = 1900 cm) for hollowing.

  • Used Boolean A - B operation to subtract the inner dome from the outer to form a hollow shell.

• Cutting the Dome Base:

  • Used Plane Cut to slice the bottom of the dome flat and extruded it downward by 10 meters to form the base cylinder.

• Adding Windows:

  • Windows sized 2m x 4m, positioned 1m above the base.

  • Instead of manual cuts, used box + circular pattern tool to create 24 evenly spaced windows around the base, then applied Boolean difference.

• Creating Decorative Arch Pattern:

  • Modeled using a capsule primitive, sliced with Plane Cut.

  • Created border using Inset, then Push/Pull to extrude inner surface.

  • Added loops and applied Warp > Bend (35°) for curvature, then arrayed using Circular Pattern Tool at a radius of 2200 cm.

• Top Crown Structure (Kalasha-like design):

  • Created using Revolve from Spline (drawn in top view).

  • Final object was rotated and placed on top of the dome.

• Final Touches:

  • All actors were renamed and organized.

  • Pivot points were adjusted to maintain symmetry and transformation consistency.

  • Project saved with a fully modeled Gol Gumbaz dome ready

08 How to use Polygroup Edit and Subdivide in Unreal Engine 5 6

Session 8 Summary – Model Menu: Polygroup Edit & Subdivide Tools

🔹 Project Setup

• New project: polygroup_practice.

• Created a new level with atmospheric lighting (Sky Light, Directional Light, Sky Atmosphere, Cloud, Fog).

• Switched to Modeling Mode (Shift + 5).

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🧩 Polygroup Edit Tools

🔸 Selection Filters

• Choose to edit vertices, edges, or faces.

• Use edge loop selection for efficient edge operations.

🔸 Core Tools

• Extrude: Pulls geometry outward (supports normal-based and even extrusion).

• Offset: Offsets faces, especially at corners (90°), with even spacing options.

• Push/Pull: Moves geometry with deletion or flattening effect (unlike Extrude).

• Inset / Outset: Creates inner or outer face boundaries for further modeling.

• Bevel: Adds curvature to edges by defining bevel width and subdivisions (curve effect).

• Delete Faces: Removes selected faces (can lead to flipped normals).

• Flip Normals: Changes the direction of face normals for rendering visibility.

• Fill Hole: Closes any open polygon loops or gaps.

• Insert Edge Loop: Adds edge loops to control shape and support subdivisions.

• Cut Faces: Manually slice geometry for custom face shapes.

• Duplicate: Clones a face, often used to construct new sections like roofs.

• Collapse: Collapses all selected vertices into one central vertex.

• Weld: Merges selected vertices into one.

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🏛 Modeling Exercise Examples

• Structure with Pillars: Used cut face and push/pull to design four-pillar base and a roof with dome effect.

• Flipped Normals: Demonstrated face direction effects on visibility.

• Gopuram-like Roof: Created with extrude + collapse + weld for vertex merging.

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🌀 Subdivision Tools

🔸 Types of Subdivision

• Catmull-Clark:

  • Smooths and rounds geometry heavily.

  • Ideal for organic forms but distorts hard edges.

  • Based on mathematical interpolation of edge loops.

• Bilinear:

  • Maintains shape better with even face division.

  • Ideal for mechanical or hard-surface models.

• Loop Subdivision:

  • Triangle-based subdivision for specific mesh structures (less commonly used).

🔸 Subdivision Control with Edge Loops

• Added supporting edge loops to preserve geometry shape during subdivision.

• Example: Created a coffee cup model with clean bevels and inside extrusion.

🔸 Demo Comparison

• Created three labeled cubes (sm_cap, sm_bilinear, sm_catmul) to visualize:

  • Catmull-Clark (spherical result),

  • Bilinear (retains boxy shape),

  • Loop (optimized triangle pattern).

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✅ Conclusion

• Covered entire Polygroup Edit toolset and three types of Subdivide operations.

• Prepped foundation for next session focusing on Boolean operations and more Model menu components.

07 Deform Tools in Unreal Engine 5 6 Modeling

Session 7 Summary – Deform Tools in UE5.6

🔹 Project Setup

• Launched Unreal Engine 5.6, created a new project deform_practice.
• Imported provided maps folder from Patreon zip.
• Set up a new level with proper lighting using the Environment Light Mixer.

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🛠️ Deform Menu Tools

1. Vertex Sculpt

• Used for organic deformation (non-geometric).
• Tools include:
• Move: Pull or push a group of vertices.
• Smooth: Blends and softens sharp shapes.
• Smooth Fill: Fills small pits or holes.
• Grab: Drags mesh parts freely.
• No increase in triangle count – only vertex repositioning.

2. Dynamic Sculpt

• Adds new geometry while sculpting (increases triangle count).
• Example tool: Inflate.
• Use cautiously – high polycount may crash system.

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🌀 Other Deform Tools

3. Smooth

• Applies global mesh smoothing.
• Three modes: Iterative, Implicit, Diffusion.

4. Offset

• Shifts mesh surface outward/inward.
• Useful for puffing up or flattening objects.

5. Warp

• Distorts mesh along axes.
• Warp types: Bend, Flare, Squash.
• Adjustable via interactive axis gizmo.

6. Lattice

• Encloses mesh in a 3D control cage (default 5×5×5).
• Allows soft selection-based distortion using lattice points.

7. Displace

• Displaces mesh vertices using:
• Perlin Noise (random organic texture)
• Random Noise
• Sine Waves
• 2D Texture Maps (e.g., black & white foundation layout image)
• Enables advanced shaping like terrain, dug foundations, etc.

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🪑 Practical Sculpting Example

• Applied subdivision and sculpt on a chair to soften its form.
• Used offset and smooth to make it resemble a sofa.
• Renamed to sm_chair_sculpt.

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🔄 Transfer Tool (from XForm menu)

• Replaced existing patterned chairs with the newly sculpted chair using:
• Harvest Instances
• Transfer tool to update all instances with the new mesh.

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✅ Conclusion

• Completed the Deform Module.
• Learned how to digitally sculpt, warp, displace, and transfer geometry efficiently.
• Next session will cover the Model menu and its components.

 

06 Create Arrays using Pattern in Unreal Engine 5 6 Modeling

Session 6 Summary – Pattern Tool and Harvest Instances in UE5.6

• Introduction to Pattern Tool

  • Similar to array tools in 3ds Max and Maya.

  • Used for duplicating static mesh instances in linear, grid, and circular arrangements.

• Linear Pattern Mode

  • Options include:

    • By Count: Distribute a fixed number of instances over a set length.

    • By Step Size: Define spacing between each instance.

    • Packed: Places instances adjacent to each other with no gaps.

• Use Case Examples

  • Creating fences around a ground by reusing arrow meshes.

  • Arranging chairs in grids (for audience seating) and circles (for events).

  • Building steps/stairs using translation values in Z-axis.

  • Creating spiral steps using circular patterns and incremental Z-translation.

• Advanced Pattern Customizations

  • Rotation: Start and end rotations can bend or curve patterns.

  • Scale: Gradually scale instances from start to end (e.g., tower of varying height blocks).

  • Split & Merge: Split merged meshes back into parts or re-merge for cleaner structure.

• ISM and Harvest Instances

  • Harvest Instances: Optimizes performance by converting repeated meshes into instanced static meshes.

  • Two types:

    • ISM (Instanced Static Mesh) – For static geometry.

    • HISM (Hierarchical ISM) – Supports animation/hierarchical structures.

  • ISM Editor: Allows modifying individual instances (move, scale, etc.) after harvesting.

• Performance Note

  • Using instancing is crucial for large repeated objects (e.g., chairs) to maintain scene efficiency.

• Next Module

  • The following session will cover the Deform Menu in the Modeling Tools.

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.

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🔹 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.

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🔹 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.

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🔹 Snap Dragging

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

• Can snap by pivot point or clicked point.

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🔹 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

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🔹 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

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🔹 Instance vs Duplicate

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

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

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🔹 Edit Pivot Point

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

• Essential for correct rotation, snapping, and alignment.

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🔹 Bake Transform

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

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

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🔹 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.

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🔹 Convert & Cleanup

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

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

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✅ 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.

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🔹 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

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🔹 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.

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🔹 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.

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🔹 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.

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🔹 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.

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🔹 TriSelect Tool (Triangle Selection)

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

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🔹 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.

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🔚 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.

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🔹 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).

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🔹 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.

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🔹 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).

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🔹 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.

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🔹 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.

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🔹 Leg Detailing with Outside Inset

• Applied Outside to extend the leg faces.

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

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🔹 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.

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🔹 Next Session Preview

• Remaining tools like:

  • Bevel

  • XForm (Transform)

  • DForm (Deform)

• Will be covered in the next class.