how do you make metal look real in unreal 5 with raytracing?

cturbo · Mar 8 2025

Hi there! I'm working on a diner that features a lot of steel, but I'm not quite sure how to achieve a realistic look for the metal materials in Unreal Engine 5. I was wondering if there are specific lighting settings I should tweak to enhance their appearance or any scalar parameters I could incorporate into the material to make it stand out more?

Eric Chadwick · Mar 8 2025

Can you post a screenshot of your current results?

cturbo · Mar 8 2025

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/u5/1me4oa6qdaj0.png

looks like this so far

cturbo · Mar 8 2025

I have another question: do you install rec lights in front of every window? I was watching a tutorial by William Faucher where he did that, but I'm not sure if it's the best method. I also see my rec lights refelcted in the windows and i dont know how to disable that. I've also been noticing quite a bit of vibration and noise on the glass, probably because of the lighting. Honestly, I think I need a solid tutorial on setting up lights with ray tracing.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/cp/chddnxokvf39.jpg

Eric Chadwick · Mar 8 2025

A key thing is to not just add lights floating in space. Instead visit real locations, and pay close attention to how and where the lighting is. If you can’t visit an old diner, then look at tons of references, and try to map it out.

cturbo · Mar 8 2025

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/87/t89etpxeh4fz.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/k8/bsby64z372pe.jpg

I appreciate all the amazing support here! I have another question that I hope you can assist me with. I've noticed that when I view an angle from a distance, my ash tray disappears, but it’s visible when I get closer. How can I resolve this issue? Additionally, I'm seeing some lines where the corner wall meets the side wall, and I'm unsure what's causing that since they are aligned and using the same trim sheet. Could this be a UV or normals issue?

cturbo · Mar 8 2025

It sounds like you're suggesting that not every window requires a light, and that we should only add lights where we can see them from a reference point. I used to think that all windows acted as light sources, so I assumed they all needed a rec light. How can I turn off the rec light for the windows? If the sun is shining on the front of the building, would you only install rec lights on those front windows?

Eric Chadwick · Mar 8 2025

No I mean, a diner has lights inside, in addition to the windows. Where are those sources? Make sure to represent them visually, as well as making them sources of light. This will also improve your metal, because metal is all about the reflections, and to have good-looking reflections you need prominent light sources.

A couple real diners as examples:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/k6/doxj89yx6yzy.jpeg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/hm/1lqsifege7vz.jpg

cturbo · Mar 8 2025

Eric Chadwick said:

No I mean, a diner has lights inside, in addition to the windows. Where are those sources? Make sure to represent them visually, as well as making them sources of light. This will also improve your metal, because metal is all about the reflections, and to have good-looking reflections you need prominent light sources.

A couple real diners as examples:

Got it! I haven't tried those lights yet. Is it alright to use emissive lighting for indoor settings? I gave it a shot, but it didn’t look quite right, so I must be doing something wrong. How do you set up fluorescent lighting indoors? What type of light do you use, or do you apply an emissive effect to that object?

cturbo · Mar 8 2025

Do you have any idea why my ashtray keeps disappearing? I came across something about LOD, but I'm not quite sure how to prevent it from vanishing.

how do you make metal look real in unreal 5 with raytracing?

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