Overview

Class Central Tips

This course provides an in-depth journey into the basics of Unreal Engine 5, guiding you from project setup to creating complex environments. You’ll begin by learning the essentials of UE5, including its interface, layout, and viewport navigation. Once comfortable with the platform, you’ll progress to designing with basic primitives and blocking out initial designs to visualize your projects' structure. As the course advances, you’ll explore environment design techniques using UE5’s Landscape tool, creating terrains and adding fine details to give your world a natural, organic feel. The Quixel Megascans library will open new possibilities, providing access to high-quality assets that can be integrated and modified to fit your unique projects. Along the way, you’ll build a 3D bridge, utilizing cutting-edge UE5 features like Nanite for asset optimization. The final section refines your skills in texture application and asset customization, including UV tiling, material adjustments, and structural detailing. By the end of the course, you’ll have designed a complete 3D environment, with added roof, hut, and foundation elements, optimized to create visually striking scenes. This course equips you with the foundational skills to bring your creative visions to life in Unreal Engine 5. This course is ideal for aspiring 3D artists, game developers, and digital creators interested in learning Unreal Engine 5. No prior experience with UE5 is required, but a basic understanding of 3D modeling software will be helpful.

Syllabus

Introduction

In this module, we will introduce the course and provide a sneak peek of what you will learn. You'll get an overview of the main topics covered, including Unreal Engine 5 project setup, 3D environment design, and how to work with Quixel assets.

Setting Up UE5 Project

In this module, we will focus on getting started by creating a new Unreal Engine 5 project. You will learn how to launch and configure your project for environment design from scratch, ensuring a smooth workflow moving forward.

Introduction to Unreal Engine 5 Software

In this module, we will explore the Unreal Engine 5 interface and its various components. You’ll become comfortable navigating the viewport and learn how to interact with 3D environments efficiently.

Blocking Out a Grey Box

In this module, we will start designing by blocking out basic shapes in Unreal Engine 5. You’ll learn to manipulate primitives and use the modelling mode plugin to create a foundational design for your environment.

Sculpting Out Terrain within UE5

In this module, we will dive into terrain design, learning how to sculpt landscapes using UE5’s landscape tool. You’ll practice creating both large-scale environments and detailed, natural features for your scenes.

Using Quixel Library

In this module, we will explore the Quixel asset library, showing you how to browse and add high-quality assets to your project. You’ll also learn techniques for optimizing performance using Unreal Engine’s scalability settings.

Building a Bridge for the Scene

In this module, we will build a bridge within our scene, leveraging Unreal Engine 5’s Nanite technology and asset grouping features. You’ll learn to create varied, non-repetitive designs by manipulating grouped assets and adjusting model structures.

Adjusting Quixel Assets

In this module, we will focus on fine-tuning Quixel assets to fit your environment. You’ll learn to adjust materials and manipulate large groups of assets for seamless integration into your scene.

Adding Textures to Our 3D Hut

In this module, we will texture a 3D hut, exploring UV mapping and tiling techniques. You’ll learn how to project UV layouts onto surfaces and adjust material scaling to enhance the appearance of different structures.

Creating Additional Detail for Our Virtual Roof

In this module, we will focus on adding intricate details to the roof of our 3D structure. You’ll use Quixel assets to decorate the roof and apply color correction for texture consistency, refining the overall design.

Working with Roof Frames

In this module, we will further enhance the roof section of our structure by adding default meshes and decorative elements. You’ll learn to align beams and other components for a well-structured design.

Adding Custom Detail to Our Roof

In this module, we will take the roof design to the next level by adding custom details and deformations. You’ll also learn to tweak material color across various assets and introduce support beams for added realism.

Adding 3D Meshes to Our Hut Foundation

In this module, we will finalize the hut’s foundation using Quixel 3D assets. You’ll focus on ensuring stability, realism, and detail, particularly around the edges of your structure.