Unreal Engine - VFX for Games - Beginner to Intermediate from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Create effects for games in unreal engine with niagara.
Fundamental concepts about visual effects.

Creating textures, meshes and shaders for game vfx.
Special skills for game developers.

Create effects for games in unreal engine with niagara.
Fundamental concepts about visual effects.
Creating textures, meshes and shaders for game vfx.
Special skills for game developers.

Syllabus

Introduction

VFX Fundamentals

Udemy sometimes can only display 720p even though I uploaded the course at 1440p @ 60fps.

So let's see how we can get at least 1080p!

Type of Effects

Recap of the Type of Effects

Principles of VFX | 1 - Gameplay

Principles of VFX | 2 - Timing

Principles of VFX | 3 - Shape

Principles of VFX | 4 - Contrast

Principles of VFX | 5 - Color

Recap of the Principles of VFX

Pre-Production

Pre-Production Overview

Recap of the Pre-Production

Setting Up UE4 - Your Workspace

In case you are going to install Unreal Engine 4, I advise to install the same version as me, so you can have a match of 100% of the settings.

In case you are going to use a newer version then the one I used, and you don't find something I show along the course, please let me know.

Creating Your VFX Project

Quick Unreal Engine 4 Overview

Cascade VS Niagara

Activating Niagara

Recap of Cascade vs Niagara

Sparks - Getting Familiar With Niagara

Niagara Overview

Niagara Emitter

Niagara System

Recap of the Niagara basics

Your First Texture

Create another Beam texture

Additive Material

Sparks Impact and Improvements

Gravity and Collisions

There's 1 file attached that contains my version of this Sparks.

I organized everything nicely so you can have a better look at the small adjustments I made in the end. Mostly changed color intensity.

Enjoy!

Recap of the Sparks chapter

Area of Effect Attack

References

Sketching

AoE Project - Importing and Overview

Starting the AoE Attack

Creating a Cylinder Mesh

Creating a Fire Texture

Create another Texture for the Cylinder

Starting the Anticipation

Starting the Climax

Fire Impact Texture

Create another Impact Texture

Distortion and Dissolve Material

Adding Color

Area of Effect Blueprint

Easy Scale Control

Easy Color Control

Shockwaves

Ground Crack

Create a different Crack Texture

Alpha Blended Material

Adding a Spiral

There's 2 files attached that contains my versions of this AoE.

The "VFXGuide_AoE_v1" is the first I made to test a few things and is different than the one we made.
The "VFXGuide_AoE_v2" is the one I used to record all the videos of this chapter.

Enjoy!

Projectiles / Spells

Starting the Projectile, Muzzle and Impact

Projectile Mesh

Projectile Trail

Projectile Texture

Trail Texture

Particles

Easy Color and Scale

Impact

Muzzle

Electric Version Part 1 - Lightning Flipbook

Electric Version Part 2 - Trail Texture

Electric Version Part 3 - Projectile Texture

Electric Version Part 4 - Projectile Mesh

Electric Version Part 5 - Projectile Capsule Setup

Electric Version Part 6- Projectile Trail Setup

Electric Version Part 7 - Final Touches

Electric Version Part 8 - Impact

There's 2 files attached that contains my versions of this Projectiles.

The "VFXGuide_Projectile_v1" is the first I made to test a few things and is different than the one we made.
The "VFXGuide_Projectile_v2" is the one I used to record all the videos of this chapter.

Enjoy!

Conclusion

A Few Last Words

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Unreal Engine - VFX for Games - Beginner to Intermediate with these activities:

Review Material Creation Techniques

Show steps

Practice creating textures, meshes, and shaders to build a solid foundation for the VFX creation process in Unreal Engine.

Show steps

Follow tutorials on creating basic textures in Photoshop or GIMP.
Practice modeling simple 3D meshes in Blender or Maya.
Experiment with creating basic shaders in a material editor.

Read 'Unreal Engine 5 Character Creation, Animation, and Cinematics'

Show steps

Gain a broader understanding of game development by learning about character creation, animation, and cinematics in Unreal Engine.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book chapter by chapter, focusing on the sections related to visual effects.
Experiment with the techniques described in the book to create your own characters and animations.
Integrate your VFX creations with your characters and animations to create a complete scene.

Read 'Real-Time VFX with Unreal Engine 5'

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of VFX creation in Unreal Engine by studying a dedicated book on the subject.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book chapter by chapter, taking notes on key concepts.
Try to replicate the examples and exercises provided in the book.
Relate the book's content to the course material for better understanding.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Document Your VFX Creation Process

Show steps

Improve your understanding and retention by documenting the steps you take to create a specific VFX effect.

Show steps

Choose a VFX effect you created during the course.
Write a detailed blog post or create a video tutorial explaining your process.
Share your documentation with the online community for feedback.

Create a Small-Scale VFX Demo Reel

Show steps

Solidify your VFX skills by creating a demo reel showcasing your best effects created during the course.

Show steps

Choose 2-3 VFX effects from the course that you are most proud of.
Refine and polish those effects to make them visually appealing.
Record short clips of each effect in action within Unreal Engine.
Edit the clips together into a cohesive demo reel with music and titles.

Recreate Existing Game VFX

Show steps

Sharpen your skills by attempting to recreate VFX from popular games using the techniques learned in the course.

Show steps

Select a game with visually appealing VFX.
Analyze the chosen VFX and break it down into its component parts.
Attempt to recreate the effect in Unreal Engine using Niagara.
Compare your recreation to the original and identify areas for improvement.

Explore Advanced Niagara Tutorials

Show steps

Expand your knowledge of Niagara by following advanced tutorials on specific VFX techniques.

Show steps

Search for tutorials on advanced Niagara topics like fluid simulations or ribbon effects.
Carefully follow the steps in the tutorial, paying attention to the reasoning behind each step.
Adapt the techniques learned in the tutorial to your own VFX projects.

Career center

Learners who complete Unreal Engine - VFX for Games - Beginner to Intermediate will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Visual Effects Artist

A Visual Effects Artist is responsible for creating stunning and believable visual effects for games. This Unreal Engine course can guide you through the process of creating Realtime FX for Games with Niagara in Unreal Engine. Those seeking to become a Visual Effects Artist should take this course as it guides students to an intermediate level in creating Visual Effects for Games with Unreal Engine. The course covers the theory, practice, and techniques needed for a visual effects career and includes topics such as Niagara Emitters and systems, creating simple and complex shaders in Material Maker, and building 3D meshes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Effects Artist

Niagara Visual Effects Designer

A Niagara Visual Effects Designer uses the Niagara visual effects system within Unreal Engine to create stunning in-game effects. This course is uniquely suited for a Niagara Visual Effects Designer as it guides students from beginner to intermediate in the process of creating Realtime FX with Niagara. Niagara Visual Effects Designers should take this course to learn the theory, the practice, and the techniques they need for their future careers. This course embraces multiple relevant topics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Niagara Visual Effects Designer

Realtime Effects Artist

A Realtime Effects Artist specializes in creating visual effects that run efficiently in real-time environments, such as video games. The course provides students with the process and workflow of creating magic spells, fireballs, and special skills for games. This course is perfect for those wishing to become Realtime Effects Artists, teaching theory, practice, and techniques for creating visual effects. The course focuses on Niagara Emitters and Systems as well as simple and complex shaders in Material Maker.

See salaries and explore the career path for Realtime Effects Artist

Technical Artist

The Technical Artist role bridges the gap between artists and programmers, optimizing art assets for game engines. This course directly relates to the role as it covers VFX creation using Niagara in Unreal Engine, a key skill for technical artists working with real-time visual effects. Technical artists can benefit from the course's instruction on building 3D meshes and drawing textures by hand, which are then used to create special skills for game developers. Taking this course can make you more comfortable with VFX in general, a plus for technical artists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist

Game Developer

A Game Developer designs and develops video games for a variety of platforms. This course may be relevant as part of a larger skillset to develop the visual experience of the games. This course teaches students how to create effects for games in Unreal Engine with Niagara and fundamental concepts about visual effects. The course also covers creating textures, meshes, and shaders for game visual effects. Aspiring Game Developers should consider this course to improve their skills in one of the main areas of game development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Shader Artist

A Shader Artist creates and implements shaders, which are programs that determine how surfaces look in a game. This course is a step in the right direction to becoming a Shader Artist. A portion of this course is dedicated to creating simple and complex shaders in Material Maker. It guides students in the creation of Textures, Meshes and Shaders for Game VFX, as well as fundamental concepts about Visual Effects. One who wishes to become a Shader Artist may find this course useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Shader Artist

Texture Artist

A Texture Artist creates the surface details of 3D models, adding realism and visual appeal to game assets. This course may be invaluable as part of a Texture Artist's skillset. The course covers drawing textures by hand and creating textures for various visual effects. Aspiring Texture Artists should consider this course to enhance their ability to create visually compelling and detailed textures for game assets. The course also covers creating meshes and shaders.

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3D Modeler

A 3D Modeler creates three-dimensional assets for games, including characters, props, and environments. Modeling skills are critical for creating visual effects, as many effects rely on custom 3D meshes. The course goes over the process of building 3D meshes, which is a key part of creating custom visual effects. 3D Modelers can use the skills learned in this course to create unique and visually stunning effects that enhance the game's overall look and feel.

See salaries and explore the career path for 3D Modeler

Environment Artist

An Environment Artist creates the environment in which a game takes place; this includes terrain, buildings, and other assets. Environment Artists can use visual effects to enhance the environment, create atmosphere, and add visual interest. The course helps build a foundation in visual effects creation, which is a valuable skill for environment artists who want to add more depth and realism to their environments. Environment Artists can also use the skills learned in this course to create environmental effects such as smoke, fire, and weather effects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environment Artist

Animator

An Animator creates the movement and performance of characters and objects in a game. While the course does not focus on character animation, visual effects can enhance the impact and visual appeal of animations. An Animator who wants to add more flair and polish to their work may find this course helpful. This course covers creating effects for games in Unreal Engine with Niagara.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Game Designer

A Game Designer designs the rules, systems, and content of a video game. While not directly focused on design, the course provides a foundational understanding of visual effects, which are a key component of the overall game experience. This course teaches the principles of visual effects, which can inform design decisions. It may prove useful to those who seek to become Game Designers. This course offers instruction in fundamental concepts about Visual Effects.

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Virtual Production Artist

A Virtual Production Artist works with real-time rendering and visual effects tools to create cinematic experiences for film and television. While the course focuses on game development, the skills learned can be transferred to virtual production environments. Virtual Production Artists can use Niagara in Unreal Engine to create compelling real-time visual effects for virtual sets and environments. The course may be useful for one who wishes to become a Virtual Production Artist, even if it is more geared towards gaming.

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Content Creator

A Content Creator develops engaging material for online platforms, which may include tutorials or demonstrations of techniques. This course on creating visual effects with Niagara may be useful for Content Creators in the game development or design space. The course introduces the theory behind visual effects for games and the creation of textures, meshes, and shaders for game visual effects. The focus on Unreal Engine and Niagara may be particularly useful for niche content.

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Simulation Specialist

A Simulation Specialist creates realistic simulations and effects for various applications, such as training simulations and scientific visualizations. While the course focuses on game development, the principles of visual effects creation can be applied to simulation environments. Simulation Specialists can use Niagara in Unreal Engine to create realistic simulations of fire, explosions, and other environmental phenomena. The course may be beneficial to those who hope to become Simulation Specialists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Simulation Specialist

Motion Graphics Designer

A Motion Graphics Designer creates animated graphics and visual effects for various media, such as commercials, websites, and video games. The course provides a foundation in visual effects creation using Niagara in Unreal Engine, which can be applied to motion graphics projects. Motion Graphics Designers can use the skills learned in this course to create dynamic and visually appealing motion graphics for a variety of applications. Motion Graphics Designers may find this course useful.

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Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Unreal Engine - VFX for Games - Beginner to Intermediate.

Putting Knowledge to Work

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Provides a comprehensive guide to creating real-time visual effects in Unreal Engine 5. It covers a wide range of topics, including particle systems, materials, and lighting. It valuable resource for both beginners and experienced VFX artists looking to improve their skills in Unreal Engine. This book expands on the course material by providing more in-depth explanations and advanced techniques.

Putting Knowledge to Work

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Putting Knowledge to Work

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Unreal Engine - VFX for Games - Beginner to Intermediate

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