[UE4] Working on a sci-fi scene

Jonathan

After all the news from GDC, I figured it was time to work on a new scene at home (tech artist by day).

Using purely Blender / xNormal / dDo / Photoshop CC, and putting it all in UE4.

One thing for sure, can't wait for the Blender improvements in project/cage to come online!.

Crits more than welcome.


Will be putting more stuff up soon. Gotta get a decent layout of the area before I continue.

No dedicated texturing work done yet, just dDo.

Jonathan

Here's the first layout. It seems a bit too blocky for me, and some of the scaling is off.

Tobbo

Looks like a nice start.

CandyStripes05

man i gotta get UE4

RobeOmega

How are you doing the smoothing groups in Blender?

Jonathan

For now, to manage what we call smoothing groups, I leave an edge split modifier on the object as I work on it.

When it is time to bake normals, I just set UV seams wherever needed. Most of the time the edge split modifier works well, but sometimes I just have to manually split the mesh. It caused one seam around the door, but it is currently not easy to spot.

It's not currently the best workflow, so hopefully the cage support will be integrated soon.

Dave Jr

Jonathan wrote: »

For now, to manage what we call smoothing groups, I leave an edge split modifier on the object as I work on it.

When it is time to bake normals, I just set UV seams wherever needed. Most of the time the edge split modifier works well, but sometimes I just have to manually split the mesh. It caused one seam around the door, but it is currently not easy to spot.

It's not currently the best workflow, so hopefully the cage support will be integrated soon.

A quick question as I'm not too familiary with UDK, did you blockout your scene with BSP or block it out in maya then import over?

Jonathan

All the blockout has been in Blender, and then imported into UE4.

billymcguffin

I don't know if this works for skeletal meshes, but in blender I use sharp edges with an Edge split modifier, but then before export I remove the edge split modifier. Then I export as obj and make sure the "Smooth Groups" option is checked in the export dialog. To import into UE4, I just use the autodesk fbx converter to convert the obj to fbx.

luge

looks like a good start so far.

A side note... now that UE4 is out, I'm seeing A LOT more sci-fi scenes than usual, I don't have UE4 currently since I don't have a job right now... but I'm guessing its the way to go when testing what UE4 has to offer?

WarrenM

I think it's because it's so easy to get good looking metal with PBR. Set metalness to 1, set roughness low, diffuse color to something mid-range, done.

LANKUS MAXIMUS

Looking really nice

Can't wait to get UE4. Never had project where I've focus on hard surface before.

luge

WarrenM wrote: »

I think it's because it's so easy to get good looking metal with PBR. Set metalness to 1, set roughness low, diffuse color to something mid-range, done.

makes sense, I guess its everyone going "holy shit this looks shiny, i want to make it!".

Not ragging on that idea by any means. really enjoying what people putting out using UE4.

Armangelo

Good start, man. I'm working on a sci-fi scene as well, and the whole new approach to PBR metals is a bit daunting to me so far. I'll be checking in here for sure to pick your brain. Good luck, man!