Any UE4 material portfolio render tips?

Icariel

Hi!
I recently graduated and now I started to build up my portfolio, I’m specialized in environment and also love Substance Designer. I have played around with it for a while now and would like to add them to my portfolio in Artstation.
I decided that I want to render them in UE4, I tried to google some tips and also checked out Polycount search but didn’t find any so I ask from you guy’s myself.
So any tips and tricks to get em’ look real good? Should I add some post process or camera tweaks? And how should I light the scenes?

Thank you!

LMP

Before you do any kind of Post-Processing, make sure that your lighting is solid.

Icariel

Is this anyway near solid lighting?



Does people use post process in these kinds of pictures? Is there other technical stuff I should do better? Does people use white lights or warmer?

ZacD

Use the Artist Template Map, when you create a new project with the starter content, it's included under maps. Also turn up the resolution scaling to 200% to get some super sampling.

Icariel

Didn't even notice that template, thank you. I'll try it out and scale the resolution. Thank you!

passerby

just create a good 3pt lighting setup with directional lights. nice key, rim and fill light always looks good.

Icariel

Ok, I found that Advanced Lighting scene under maps, tried to put good 3pt lighting and cranked up the resolution and this is what I got.



I know this one is not anymore so much about technical stuff but how is it?
Did I go overboard with fill? I did lost almost all the detail in normal and roughness from the right side but is there still enough?

MooseCommander

Couple of suggestions -

Your screenshots should include the entire model, at angles that are interesting for highlights. I would actually suggest a sphere over a chamfered cube, personally.

I would rely more on the HDRI sky than I would on 3 point lights for a simple material render.

Lastly, Unreal is good for this, but you'll probably find better results and an easier time setting this stuff up in Marmoset Toolbag. You can create identical images in Unreal if you have the correct settings, but its a bit more of a hassle to set up.

Icariel

Ok sphere sounds better when you put it like that.. So I'll change the model and try adding HDRI light's, but unfortunately I don't own marmoset 2... So I'll go with UE4 for now maybe as soon as I got some money to spare I'll buy it.

Thank you everyone for helping newbie out! Cheers!

MooseCommander

Icariel wrote: »

Ok sphere sounds better when you put it like that.. So I'll change the model and try adding HDRI light's, but unfortunately I don't own marmoset 2... So I'll go with UE4 for now maybe as soon as I got some money to spare I'll buy it.

Thank you everyone for helping newbie out! Cheers!

You can purchase some HDRIs, I would suggest buying Joost's pack. It will work perfectly with Unreal.

https://gumroad.com/joost

Icariel

Thanks for the tip! I'll try them out.

Icariel

Ok so... I got the HDRI pack MooseCommander recommended and played around with those and light's till I got something I think is decent.

Here's my Artstation site if interested, there's only that wood material and one other for now but there's gonna be couple more soonish.
https://www.artstation.com/artist/icariel

So Thank you guys very much!