Blender to Unreal Engine 5: Foundation and Asset Creation

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Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Free Online Course (Audit)
Languages

English
Certificate

Paid Certificate Available
Duration & workload

11 hours 41 minutes
Sessions

On-Demand
Level

Beginner
Subtitles

English

Found in

Part of

Blender 3 to Unreal Engine 5 — Dungeon Modular Kitbash

Overview

In this comprehensive course, you'll learn how to create game-ready assets and environments by mastering Blender 3 and Unreal Engine 5. Starting with the basics of Blender, you’ll become familiar with its user interface, modeling tools, and the importance of seams and UV unwrapping. Progressing through the lessons, you’ll explore edge loops, modifiers, and how to manage and organize assets using Blender’s asset manager. By the end of the Blender section, you’ll have created your first modular 3D assets, including dungeon walls, doors, and more detailed decorative elements. As you transition into Unreal Engine 5, you’ll learn how to import these assets, apply textures, and set up modular pieces to create rich, immersive environments. The course covers lighting techniques using HDRI setups, advanced UV mapping, and even introduces you to Unreal Engine’s powerful material and rendering tools. Throughout the journey, you’ll build a full modular dungeon environment, learning how to stack modifiers, integrate smaller assets, and finish complex geometry using both Blender and Unreal Engine 5. This course is ideal for aspiring game designers or 3D artists who want to build professional environments. By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of asset creation, optimization, and integration across both Blender and Unreal Engine 5, allowing you to create detailed game environments from scratch. This course is designed for aspiring game developers, 3D artists, and environment designers. Basic familiarity with Blender and Unreal Engine is recommended but not required.

Syllabus

Introduction

In this module, we will introduce the course and its overall objectives, giving a brief overview of the tools and processes we will use. You’ll get a solid understanding of what to expect from the journey ahead, focusing on building modular assets from Blender to Unreal Engine 5.

Blender Basics

In this module, we will dive into the basics of Blender, starting from how to navigate the interface to importing reference images. We will also introduce the concepts of seams and sharps, which are crucial for optimizing your 3D models.

HDRI Lighting

In this module, we will focus on HDRI lighting, an essential aspect of creating realistic environments. You will learn how to set up a skybox and adjust lighting settings to bring out the best visual qualities in your scenes.

Blender Asset Manager

In this module, we will cover how to efficiently manage 3D assets using Blender's Asset Manager. You will also explore transformation orientation concepts, which are vital for maintaining accuracy in 3D modeling workflows.

Basic Mesh Tools

In this module, we will explore Blender's basic mesh tools, focusing on creating edge loops for better model geometry. You'll also learn how to introduce variations into your mesh, giving your assets more complexity and realism.

Working with Modifiers

In this module, we will focus on using the Array Modifier to streamline 3D asset creation. You’ll learn how to automate repetitive patterns, which is essential for creating modular parts for a kitbash project.

Creating Our First Modular Piece

In this module, we will begin working on our first modular pieces for a dungeon, such as walls and pipes. You'll learn smoothing techniques, advanced UV unwrapping, and how to combine primitives for more complex structures.

Mid-Level Geometry

In this module, we will shift our focus to creating mid-level geometry, including larger wall pieces. You will learn how to troubleshoot common modeling issues and how to refine your assets for maximum visual impact and reusability.

Modifier Stacking

In this module, we will explore modifier stacking to create intricate assets, such as rocky walls. This will involve layering modifiers for non-destructive editing to get the most out of your models.

Different UV Options

In this module, we will cover advanced UV unwrapping techniques using projection from view. You will learn how to handle complex shapes and apply textures seamlessly using different UV mapping strategies.

Creating Our Smaller Assets

In this module, we will create smaller, yet essential assets like grates and the bottom/top parts of walls. These assets will play a key role in adding more detail and depth to our dungeon environments.

Doors and Proportional Editing

In this module, we will focus on creating detailed dungeon doors, from the base mesh to the final decorative touches. You will also learn proportional editing, which will allow you to achieve more accurate and realistic results.

Creating Hinges and Handles

In this module, we will model hinges and handles, which will bring functional and aesthetic value to our dungeon doors. You will also learn how to apply textures effectively to complete the asset creation process.

More Complex Geometry

In this module, we will create ornate geometry such as pillars and wall supports. These more complex assets will elevate the visual appeal of your dungeon, adding sophistication to your modular kitbash project.

Basic Sculpting in Blender

In this module, we will introduce basic sculpting workflows in Blender, focusing on creating organic shapes like rocks. You will also learn how to use custom brushes to add intricate details to your sculpts.

Creating Simple Stairs

In this module, we will focus on creating modular stair assets. You will learn how to model stairs with the right scale for a dungeon and apply additional details to make the assets more visually appealing.

Creating Door Arches

In this module, we will create door arches using Blender's Boolean functionality. You’ll model door frames and arches, then apply materials to make the assets visually cohesive with the rest of the dungeon.

Spiral Staircases

In this module, we will focus on creating spiral staircases using deform modifiers. You will learn how to model complex, curved shapes and finish the asset with textures and additional details.

The Vault Modular Piece

In this module, we will model vault walls and doors for a dungeon. You will learn how to work with circular geometry and ensure doors are properly parented and oriented for seamless animations.

Braziers and Hot Coals

In this final module, we will create braziers and hot coals for dungeon lighting. You’ll use Blender’s node system to add glowing effects to the coals, bringing a fiery atmosphere to your dungeon scenes.