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Unreal 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages

Thomas Harle

Welcome to my Unreal Engine 5 Niagara Course - Simulation Stages, here on Udemy.  This course will cover some of the most advanced techniques that can be set up in Niagara.  Using For Loops to iterate over Particles in the same or other Emitters and create advanced dynamic effects.  We will also cover Grid 2D in depth, from the basics of setting up and reading and writing data, to using loops to write Particle data to the grid, to complex simulations such as Conway's Game of Life, Reaction Diffusion Simulations and Falling Sand Sims. 

Read more

Welcome to my Unreal Engine 5 Niagara Course - Simulation Stages, here on Udemy.  This course will cover some of the most advanced techniques that can be set up in Niagara.  Using For Loops to iterate over Particles in the same or other Emitters and create advanced dynamic effects.  We will also cover Grid 2D in depth, from the basics of setting up and reading and writing data, to using loops to write Particle data to the grid, to complex simulations such as Conway's Game of Life, Reaction Diffusion Simulations and Falling Sand Sims. 

Over the course of 11.5 hours, all broken down into bite size 10-15 min videos, we cover For Loops, Grid 2D, Simulation Stages and Neighbour Grids

Each chapter contains many examples, full of handy comments, as well as a many corresponding video lectures that explains in full detail what is being done and why - so you're learning both the techniques being used and building up a base of  background knowledge of first principal concepts, allowing you to build up your own effects in future.

With industry standard practices from my 15 year career, including 5 years of teaching Game Art at a Masters Degree level, this course will cover all various uses of Particle effects and Renderers - this course will fully equip you to add some Visual Effects life into your realtime scenes in Unreal Engine 5. 

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn advanced niagara techniques such as for loops and simulation stages
  • Build up advanced reaction diffusion and falling sand simulations using grid2d
  • Fake interparticle collisions using position based dynamics
  • Learn how to optimise complex effects using neighbour grids

Syllabus

Introduction
Intro Video
Learn how For Loops work and how to set them up in Niagara
Intro to For Loops
Read more
For Each Loops
Attribute Reader
Get Size
Loop
Mesh Repro - Orbs
Mesh Repro - Mesh Setup
Mesh Repro - Initialisation
Mesh Repro - Update
Mesh Repro - Material
Mesh Repro - Material Alpha
Mesh Repro - Loop Setup
Mesh Repro - Offset
Mesh Repro - Falloff
Mesh Repro - Fade Lerp
Mesh Repro - BugFix Emissive
Mesh Repro - Summary
Mesh Repro - Scale By Size
Chain - Init Data
Chain - Spacing
Chain - Rotation
Chain - First Last
Chain - More Init Data
Chain - Zero First Link
Chain - Reattach
Chain - Presolve
Chain - Solver
Chain - Bug Fixes
Chain - Recap
Learn how to Setup and Use Grid2D in Niagara
Grid2D - Intro
Grid2D - Creation
Grid2D - Fill with Texture
Grid2D - Fill Render Target
Grid2D - Bind Render Target to Material
Grid2D - Fade
Grid2D - Distort
Grid2D - Curl Noise
Grid2D - Texture Noise
Grid2D - External Render Targets
Learn how to use Grid2D to do cool things like Conway's Game of Life, Reaction Diffusion Simulations and Falling Sand
Game of Life - Intro
Game of Life - Setup
Game of Life - Get Data
Game of Life - Reproduction
Game of Life - Death
Game of Life - Bug Fix
Game of Life - Speed Control
Game of Life - Texture
Reaction Diffusion - Intro
Reaction Diffusion - Math
Reaction Diffusion - Setup
Reaction Diffusion - Grid Offset
Reaction Diffusion - Laplacian
Reaction Diffusion - Constants
Reaction Diffusion - Algorithm
Reaction Diffusion - Bug Fix
Reaction Diffusion - Parameters
Falling Sand
More examples of using Grid 2D - with Particles and For Loops
Particle Animation Textures
Read Write Grid 2D
PAT Bugs
Procedural Shapes
Hex Per Particle
World Space to Unit Space
For Loop
Persistence
Rotation
Learn how to reverse engineer an HLSL effect and how to Optimise an effect with Neighbour Grids
Intro
Colour From Closest
Explanation
Setup
Fill HLSL
Read HLSL
Correct HLSL
Bug Fix
Debugger
Positions
Linear
Grid Linear
Fill To Nodes
Checks
Read To Nodes
Recap
Propagate Colour
Propagate Colour Breakdown
Propagate Colour HLSL
PBD Intro
PBD Setup
PBD Gravity
PBD Ground Bounce
PBD Collision Loop
PBD Bug Fix

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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 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages with these activities:
Review HLSL Shader Language Fundamentals
Refresh your understanding of HLSL, as it's used in some advanced Niagara effects covered in the course, particularly when reverse engineering effects and optimizing with neighbor grids.
Show steps
  • Review basic HLSL syntax and data types.
  • Study shader concepts like vertex and fragment shaders.
  • Practice writing simple shaders.
Read 'Real-Time Rendering'
Deepen your understanding of the rendering pipeline and optimization techniques relevant to Niagara, as covered in the book.
View Real-Time Rendering, Fourth Edition on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read chapters on particle systems and rendering optimization.
  • Take notes on key concepts and techniques.
  • Relate the book's content to the Niagara simulation stages.
Experiment with Niagara Module Scripts
Practice creating and modifying Niagara Module Scripts to gain hands-on experience with custom particle behavior, reinforcing the concepts of For Loops and Grid2D.
Show steps
  • Create a new Niagara Module Script.
  • Implement a simple particle behavior using For Loops.
  • Modify the script to interact with a Grid2D simulation.
  • Test and debug the script in a Niagara system.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Read 'GPU Pro'
Explore advanced GPU programming techniques relevant to Niagara, as covered in the book.
View GPU Pro 360 Guide to Lighting on Amazon
Show steps
  • Select a chapter relevant to particle systems or simulation.
  • Read the chapter and take notes on key concepts.
  • Consider how the techniques could be applied in Niagara.
Create a Falling Sand Simulation with Niagara
Apply your knowledge of Grid2D and Simulation Stages to build a complete falling sand simulation, solidifying your understanding of these advanced Niagara techniques.
Show steps
  • Set up a Grid2D simulation in Niagara.
  • Implement the falling sand algorithm using Simulation Stages.
  • Add visual effects and interactions to the simulation.
  • Optimize the simulation for performance.
Document Your Niagara Experiments
Create a blog post or video tutorial documenting your experiments with Niagara, reinforcing your understanding and sharing your knowledge with others.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific Niagara technique or effect to document.
  • Record your screen while experimenting with the technique.
  • Edit the recording and add commentary or annotations.
  • Publish the video or blog post online.
Contribute to a Niagara Plugin
Contribute to an open-source Niagara plugin to gain experience working with a real-world project and collaborating with other developers, deepening your understanding of Niagara's architecture.
Show steps
  • Find an open-source Niagara plugin project.
  • Identify a bug or feature to work on.
  • Implement the fix or feature and submit a pull request.
  • Respond to feedback and iterate on your contribution.

Career center

Learners who complete Unreal 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Visual Effects Artist
A Visual Effects Artist creates stunning visual effects for games, film, television, and other media. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages helps build a foundation for creating advanced dynamic effects. The course's focus on For Loops, Grid 2D, and Simulation Stages gives Visual Effects Artists the tools to create sophisticated particle systems. This course, in particular, allows artists to add life to realtime scenes in Unreal Engine 5.
See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Effects Artist
Technical Artist
The Technical Artist bridges the gap between art and programming, optimizing art assets and developing tools for artists to use in game development. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages enables the creation of advanced dynamic effects using For Loops, Grid 2D, and Simulation Stages. Technical Artists especially benefit from learning how to optimize complex effects using Neighbour Grids. As this course covers industry standard practices, it may prove helpful for a technical artist.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist
Game Developer
A Game Developer is involved in the creation of video games, from initial design to final product. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages may be useful for game developers who want to enhance their games with visual effects. The course's focus on For Loops and Grid 2D is particularly useful for creating dynamic and interactive game environments. Using industry standard practices, the course helps equip developers to add some Visual Effects life into their realtime scenes in Unreal Engine 5.
See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer
Simulation Engineer
Simulation Engineers design and develop simulations for various purposes, such as training, research, or entertainment. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages will be useful for simulation engineers interested in creating real time simulations. The course covers advanced techniques like Reaction Diffusion Simulations and Falling Sand Sims, which can be applied to a wide range of simulation projects. Knowing how to set up and use Grid2D in Niagara may be useful for simulation engineers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Simulation Engineer
Motion Graphics Designer
A Motion Graphics Designer creates animated graphics and visual effects for various media, including film, television, and web. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages may be useful for motion graphics designers looking to add advanced particle effects to their work. The course helps enhance skills in dynamic effects using For Loops, Grid 2D, and Simulation Stages. A motion graphics designer can especially benefit from the many examples this course contains.
See salaries and explore the career path for Motion Graphics Designer
Virtual Reality Developer
Virtual Reality Developers create immersive experiences for virtual reality platforms. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages may be useful for virtual reality developers who want to add realistic and engaging visual effects to their virtual environments. The course's focus on Particle effects and Renderers helps equip developers to add some Visual Effects life into their realtime scenes in Unreal Engine 5. The bite-sized video lectures make it easy to learn and apply the concepts.
See salaries and explore the career path for Virtual Reality Developer
Augmented Reality Developer
Augmented Reality Developers create interactive experiences that overlay digital content onto the real world. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages helps augmented reality developers create realistic and engaging visual effects. The course focuses on interparticle collisions using Position Based Dynamics. Through the course, augmented reality developers may learn Advanced Niagara Techniques such as For Loops and Simulation Stages.
See salaries and explore the career path for Augmented Reality Developer
Unreal Engine Developer
An Unreal Engine Developer specializes in using the Unreal Engine to create interactive experiences for games, simulations, and other applications. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages is directly relevant to an unreal engine developer. The course advances their ability in simulation stages covering advanced techniques that can be set up in Niagara. With industry standard practices, this course equips unreal engine developers to add some Visual Effects life into their realtime scenes in Unreal Engine 5.
See salaries and explore the career path for Unreal Engine Developer
Software Engineer
Software Engineers design, develop, and test software applications. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages may be useful for Software Engineers who want to work on projects. The course will cover some of the most advanced techniques that can be set up in Niagara. Moreover, the course helps software engineers by teaching them how optimise complex effects using Neighbour Grids. The many examples make the course useful.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer
Animator
Animators create moving images using computer software or traditional methods. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages may be useful for animators looking to enhance their animations with advanced visual effects. The course focuses on dynamic effects using For Loops, Grid 2D, and Simulation Stages. Animators can especially benefit from the many examples this course contains.
See salaries and explore the career path for Animator
Data Visualization Specialist
Data Visualization Specialists transform raw data into understandable and visually appealing formats. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages may be useful for those interested in visualizing complex data patterns. The course's coverage of Grid 2D and simulations like Conway's Game of Life could inspire novel ways to represent data visually. This course will cover some of the most advanced techniques that can be set up in Niagara.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Visualization Specialist
Game Designer
Game Designers conceptualize and design the rules, characters, and overall gameplay of video games. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages may be useful for game designers who want to understand how visual effects can enhance gameplay. The course's coverage of dynamic effects and simulations can inform the design of more engaging and immersive game experiences. The course's focus on Particle effects and Renderers can benefit game designers.
See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer
Science Communicator
Science Communicators translate complex scientific information into accessible and engaging content for the public. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages may be useful for science communicators wanting to create engaging visuals. The course's coverage of simulations like Reaction Diffusion may provide inspiration for visualizing scientific concepts. The techniques of this course may be useful to science communicators.
See salaries and explore the career path for Science Communicator
Educator
Educators teach students in a variety of settings, from classrooms to online platforms. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages may be useful for educators teaching game development or visual effects. The course provides a structured approach to learning advanced Niagara techniques. The many examples and video lectures of this course may prove useful in the classroom.
See salaries and explore the career path for Educator
Researcher
Researchers conduct experiments and analyze data to advance knowledge in a particular field. This course on Unreal Engine 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages may be useful for researchers who want to create simulations for their research. The course's coverage of Grid 2D and advanced simulations can be applied to various research areas. This course will cover techniques that can be set up in Niagara.
See salaries and explore the career path for Researcher

Reading list

We've selected two 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 5 Niagara - Simulation Stages.
Cover image
Real-Time Rendering
Save
Comprehensive guide to real-time rendering techniques, including those used in particle systems and visual effects. It provides a strong theoretical foundation for understanding the underlying principles of Niagara's simulation stages. While not strictly required, it offers invaluable context and depth, especially for those interested in optimizing performance and creating custom effects. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.
Real-Time Rendering, Fourth Edition
Hardcover
$$$
Real-Time Rendering
Hardcover
$$
Real-Time Rendering, Second Edition
Hardcover
$$
Real-Time Rendering, Fourth Edition
Kindle Edition
$$$
Cover image
GPU Pro 360 Guide to Lighting
Save
Series contains advanced techniques for GPU programming, including those relevant to particle simulation and rendering. While the content is advanced, it can provide valuable insights into optimizing Niagara effects and pushing the boundaries of what's possible. It is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference. It provides more depth to the existing course.
GPU Pro 360 Guide to Lighting
Paperback
Check
GPU Pro 360 Guide to Lighting
Kindle Edition
Check

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Effort
11.5 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Thomas Harle
Language
English
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