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    World Creation

    Lesson 2 in Unreal Environments

    Lesson Information

    In this lesson, you will build a new level in Unreal Engine. Utilizing various sculpting, set dressing and lighting techniques, your level will progress from a completely flat plane to a beautifully laid out vista. 

    Homework
    Lay the Groundwork

    Create a new level, with its own skydome and lighting. This will be the basis of your level going forward.

    Moving Mountains

    Duplicate the basic level you created earlier, and create a few different versions. In each, try experimenting with the various sculpting tools to create land formations. Pay attention to your landmasses, and make sure they aren't becoming unrealistic. When in doubt, consult your references.

    The Joy of Painting

    Paint some of the various environment layers into your scene. You can also try adding roads or water for an extra challenge. Don't worry too much about polishing or adding props to your scene. Now is the time for experimenting. 

    Make It Pretty

    Choose your favorite of the landscapes you created in earlier exercises, save a backup copy, and then dress the scene with props so it looks good from a single camera angle. 

    Full Immersion

    Add set dressing to your scene in all directions. Make sure to enter first-person mode and walk around your scene. Seeing things from human scale might expose new problems.

    Share Your Work

    Upload an image of your environment using the 'Upload Homework' button above, so your instructor and fellow students can see your progress!

    228 Comments

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    ROBERT ORICH

    I think Joe is using UE4.22 or so... I am on 4.25 and the menu layout is a little different...anyone know where I find the "Edit Spline" ?
    Ok found it... it is under manage and splines... but there is no edit... just ctrl and click.

    Nathan Fisher

    ::EDIT:: Restarted UE and it seems to have fixed the issue.

    I'm in lesson 2 working with alpha brushes. The procedural foliage over the base landscape material doesn't seem to be rendering any more in the editor or play modes. Anyone run into the same issue?

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    Veith Nurtsch

    I have copied them from C:\Users\Veith\Documents\Unreal Projects\LearnSquared\Content to C:\Users\Veith\Documents\Unreal Projects\LSProject/NewLevel :) or go more specific, if you need just one material and so on!

    Nathan Fisher

    Yeah, I wasn't able to migrate the files from lesson 3, but for the lesson 2 assets all I did was copy the 'Brushify' folder into the 'Content' folder within the UE project I created. It also probable helped that I had already purchased a different Brushify pack from the marketplace so the file structure was already created. Hope that helps!

    Vytas Rauckis

    After creating my own level, I am noticing that there is a shadow that seems to start where the camera is and as I get closer to the ground it grows to take up a large area around the camera. When I start the play, the shadow still is there and moves with the shooter. Any idea what I might have missed?

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    Alex Underwood

    Yeah that's not really explained there, on your sun light increase
    "dynamic shadows distance movable light" to something like 60000000
    At least this value helped me.
    Also I set 10 to "Num Dynamic Shadow Cascades"
    Though it might tank your performance.

    Saf Fron

    I'm experiencing a lot of shadow flicker on to the ground from the grass. Is this a setting issue? Graphics card problem etc? I assume the dynamic lighting is causing these artefacts to appear. Any tips to get rid of them? Using a 1070GTX so it shouldn't really be an issue.

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