Unreal Engine 4 Stadium Fans on Static Mesh Seats

The StaticMesh support in the FBX meaning pipeline makes getting meshes from 3D applications into Unreal Locomotive engine 4 a simple, painless task. When meshes are imported, the textures used in the materials practical to those meshes in their various 3D diligence (diffuse and normal map only) are as wel imported and, successively, used to get the materials practical to the mesh in UE4.

Features gimbaled for importing Static Meshes using FBX:

• Inactive Meshes with materials including textures

• Custom collision

• Multiple UV sets

• Smoothing groups

• Vertex colors

• LODs

• Multiple separate Static Meshes (lavatory also be combined into a only mesh at import)

Currently, when importing multiple meshes with custom collision in a 1 file, only the first operate's hit will be imported.

The UE4 FBX import pipeline uses FBX 2022. Using a different version during exportation may resolution in incompatibilities.

General Setup

In general, you are unoccupied to make over Static Meshes using any tools and methods you want. At that place are some stipulations as far as setting rising UVs, placement of the mesh, etc. that you need to account for in order for the exporting and importing to go smoothly and for the mesh to work properly in Unreal Editor program.

Pivot Point

The pivot point of the mesh in Insubstantial Engine determines the point around which any transformations (translation, rotation, scale) will be performed.

The pivot point is always located at the origin (0,0,0) when exportation from a 3D modeling application. Because of this, information technology is unexceeded to create your meshes at the origin, with the origin broadly being located at one corner of the mesh to allow for for proper alinement when snapping to the power grid inside of Unreal Editor.

Triangulation

Meshes in Unreal Engine must be triangulated as the graphics ironware only deals with triangles.

There are some ways you fanny assure your ensnarl is triangulated.

• Model the mesh with just tris - optimum solution, provides the most verify ended the finish outcome.

• Triangulate the mesh in the 3D app - good solvent, allows cleaning and modification before export.

• Allow the FBX exporter to triangulate the mesh - sanction solution, allows no killing but can bring off for simple meshes.

• Allow the importer to triangulate the net - okay solution, allows nary cleanup but can exercise for simple meshes.

It will always be best to manually triangulate the enmesh in the 3D lotion, controlling the centering and placement of edges. Automatic triangulation hindquarters lead to undesirable results.

UV Texture Coordinates

The import of multiple UV sets is supported past the FBX pipeline in Unreal Engine 4. For Static Meshes, this is in the main used to address one set of UVs for the diffuse. There are no particular requirements for setting up the UVs for Electrostatic Meshes using the FBX word of mouth.

Creating Normal Maps

Normal maps tail be created for your meshes in real time inside of well-nig modeling applications by creating both a low-res render mesh and a high-RES detail mesh.

The geometry of the high-RES particular mesh is in use to generate the normals for the average map. Epic uses a work flow internally that introduces XNormal into the unconscious process and generally results in much better normals when rendering inside of Unreal Engine 4. For details on this process, hear the Normal Map out Creation Lead.

Materials

The materials applied to meshes modeled in external applications will be exported along with the mesh and then imported into Unreal. This streamlines the process as textures do not need to be imported separately in Unreal, materials do not need to embody created and applied, etc. The import process is resourceful of performing all of these actions when victimization the FBX pipeline.

These materials also need to be set up in a specific way, especially when the net has multiple materials Beaver State the dictate of the materials on the engagement is important (i.e. for character models where material 0 needs to be the body and bodied 1 of necessity to be the guide).

For complete details of setting up materials for export, see the FBX Material Pipeline page.

Collision

Simplified collision geometry is important for optimizing collision detection in-spirited. Unreal Railway locomotive 4 provides basic tools for creating collision geometry within the Static Mesh Editor. Around circumstances, though, are good handled by creating custom hit geometry inside your 3D modeling application and exporting it with the render mesh. Generally, this is avowedly for whatever mesh with an first or concave area that objects need to not impinge on.

For exemplify:

• Door meshes

• Walls with windowpane cutouts

• Oddly wrought meshes

Collision meshes are identified by the importer supported on their name. The collision naming syntax should be:

Meshwork Prefix and Name	Description
UBX_[RenderMeshName]_##	A Boxful must represent created using a regular perpendicular 3D objective. You cannot move the vertices around operating theater deform it in whatever mode to make it something another than a rectangular optical prism, or else IT will not work.
UCP_[RenderMeshName]_##	A Capsule must be a rounded object capped with hemispheres. IT does non need to have many segments (8 is a good number) at entirely because it is converted into a true capsule for collision. Like boxes, you should not move the singular vertices around.
USP_[RenderMeshName]_##	A Sphere does not need to have many segments (8 is a satisfactory phone number) at wholly because it is converted into a true sphere for collision. Like boxes, you should non move the single vertices more or less.
UCX_[RenderMeshName]_##	A Convex object can constitute some completely closed convex 3D shape. For example, a box can also be a convex object. The plot below illustrates what is convex and what is not:

Caveats and Considerations

• RenderMeshName must be same to the name of the render mesh the collision mesh is joint with in the 3D coating. So if you have a turn in mesh named Tree_01 in your 3D application, your collision mesh should beryllium in the scene thereupon mesh and titled UCX_Tree_01, and then exported on with the render mesh to the same FBX file. If you need more one collision object for a meshing, you can extend their names with further identifiers, much atomic number 3: UCX_Tree_01_00, UCX_Tree_01_01, UCX_Tree_01_02, etc... and they all will beryllium related as collision for that mesh.

• Presently, spheres are only used for rigid-body hit and Unreal's nix-extent traces (e.g. weapons), not non-zero extent traces (e.g. Player cause). Also, spheres and boxes do non work if the StaticMesh is non-uniformly scaled. In the main you probably want to make UCX primitives.
  

• Once your collision objects are put across up, you give notice exportation both the render and collision mesh in the same .FBX file. When you signification the .FBX file into Unreal Editor, it will find the collision mesh, remove it from the render meshwork, and turn it into the hit model.

• Breaking up a not-broken-backed mesh into hogged primitives is a complex operation, and can founde unpredictable results. Another approach is to break the collision mould into convex pieces yourself in Max or Maya.

• In the case of an objective whose collision is defined by multiple convex hulls, results are good when the hulls do non intersect with one some other. For example, if the collision for a lollipop were defined by deuce convex hulls, unity for the candy and one for the stick, a gap should be left between the cardinal atomic number 3 in the following illustration:

1. UCX_Candy

2. Small gap between collision surfaces

3. UCX_Stick

Sockets

Sockets are commonly misused in games to sequester an object to another object, whether this be for a Skeletal operating theatre Static mesh. Colored Locomotive 4 provides tools for creating sockets at heart the Static Mesh Editor. Sometimes it may be necessary to set these up within your 3D modeling application and export IT with your render mesh. These sockets can be Translated, Turned, and scaled relative to the bone on a Skeletal meshing operating theater or the size of it of the Static Mesh.

To function a socket in your modeling coating you will need to use a Dummy or Helper object with the SOCKET_ Prefix.

Mesh Prefix and Public figure	Description
SOCKET_[RenderMeshName]_##	Use this on any Dummy OR Helper objects in your modeling diligence to ascribe a socket to your net.

Caveats and Considerations

• RenderMeshName must be isotropous to the name of the render mesh the socket physical object is joint with in the 3D application. So if you have a turn in meshwork named Object_01 in your 3D application, your socket object should be in the scene therewith mesh and named SOCKET_Object_01, and then exported along with the render mesh to the aforesaid FBX file. If you need more one socket object for a mesh, you can strain their names with further identifiers, much American Samoa: SOCKET_Object_01_00, SOCKET_Object_01_01, SOCKET_Object_01_02, etc... and they each leave be associated as sockets for that mesh.

• When creating sockets for your mesh, you pot only stimulate a divorced mesh FBX setup with sockets that can beryllium strange into Unreal Engine 4. For example, if you have two render meshes that you want to comprise separate assets will penury to be strange American Samoa separate FBX files. This substance that you cannot import multiple meshes and assign the sockets to each split up mesh, and that if you have two sets of render meshes with their own sockets they will non import correctly. American Samoa an example, if I have Object_01 with SOCKET_Object_01_00, and other render mesh Box_01 with SOCKET_Box_01_00 I cannot exportation both of these meshes with their sockets together. They would need to be exported as isolated FBX files.

Peak Colours

Vertex colours for Static Meshes butt make up transferred using the FBX pipeline. None special setup is required

Export Mesh

Static Meshes can be exported individually or sextuple meshes can glucinium exported to a single FBX lodge. The import word of mouth will branch out multiple Static Meshes into multiple assets within the destination computer software unless specified to combine the meshes by sanctioning the Combine Meshes setting at the time of import. Refer to the documentation for exporting FBX files for your 3rd party DCC joyride of choice, remembering to adhere to the guidelines presented originally for the initiation of your meshes.

The UE4 FBX moment pipeline uses FBX 2022. Using a contrasting version during export Crataegus oxycantha result in incompatibilities.

Import Mesh

1. Click the Add/Import button in the Content Web browser and choose Import. Sail to and prime the FBX file you want to import in the file browser that opens.

   You may want to select in the dropdown to percolate out abdicable files.
   

   

   The path of the imported asset depends on the current position inside the Content Browser. Make sure to navigate to the appropriate folder prior to playing the meaning. You may also drag the imported assets into a new folder once spell is make out.

2. Choose the befitting settings in the Import dialog. The defaults should constitute sufficient in most cases. See the FBX Significance Dialogue section for complete details of all of the settings.
   

   

3. Click the Import button to import the mesh(atomic number 99). The resulting mesh, material(s), and texture(s) will be displayed in the Content Web browser if the treat was successful.
   

   

   Although textures and materials arse exist imported with a Static Mesh, only Color and Normal will automatically be connected (assuming a supported crucial was used), Specular maps will be foreign but non connected, other maps, for example an Ambient Occlusion map in the Diffuse one-armed bandit of a Maya material, will not even be imported; it is best to check your materials and connect whatever unconnected maps and check which maps did not import. Just double-click the early material and connect the available textures with their befitting inputs.

   By showing the imported mesh in the Unchanging Mesh Editor and enabling the display of hit, you can determine that the process worked as expected.

   

Alternatively, you can actually honourable click and drag an FBX file from Windows into the Content Browser and information technology will invoke the import dialog for you.

Adynamic Mesh LODs

Static Meshes can make use of levels of detail (LODs) in-game in order of magnitude to limit the impact of meshes as they get farther from the camera. Generally, this way each level of detail will have a reduced act of tris and, perchance, a simpler real (or materials) practical to it.

The FBX pipeline can be secondhand to import LOD meshes created using DCC tools, or LODs can be created for imported static meshes directly wrong UE.

LOD Setup

In all-purpose, LODs are handled by creating models of varying complexity going from the full-contingent humble mesh to the worst-detail LOD mesh. These should all be aligned and occupying the same place with the same pivot point. Each LOD mesh can have completely different materials assigned, including different amounts of materials. This substance the base mesh could exercise multiple materials to give the desired amount of item up close, but the lower-detail meshes could use a single material since details will be less evident.

Each DCC tool testament take over its own workflow for creating LODs for static meshes, so advert to the certification for your instrument of prime for specifics about how to create and include them in your FBX exports.

Import LODs

Static Mesh LODs put up comprise imported on with the base mesh in the Content Web browser or they can be strange separately through the Static Mesh Editor.

1. Click the Add/Import clit in the Content Browser and choose Import. Navigate to and select the FBX file you want to import in the file web browser that opens.

   You may want to select in the dropdown to filter out discarded files.
   

   The path of the imported plus depends connected the current location within the Content Web browser. Make over sure to navigate to the appropriate folder anterior to performing the import. You may also drag the foreign assets into a newfangled brochure in one case import is complete.

2. Choose the appropriate settings in the Import dialogue. The defaults should be sufficient, but also get to sure that Import LODs is enabled. Note: When importing LODs, the appoint of the imported mesh will follow the default naming rules. See the FBX Import Dialog subdivision for complete details of all of the settings.
   

   

3. Dog the Consequence button to significance the mesh and LODs. The resulting mesh, material(s), and texture(s) will personify displayed in the Content Browser if the process was successful.
   

   

   Although textures and materials can be imported with a Inactive Mesh, only Color and Normal will automatically be affined (forward a underhung material was used), Specular maps will be imported but non adjacent, otherwise maps, e.g. an Ambient Closure map out in the Pass around slot of a Maya textile, will not even be imported; information technology is best to check your materials and link up any unattached maps and check which maps did not moment. Simply double-detent the new material and connect the available textures into their appropriate inputs.

By screening the imported mesh in the Static Mesh Editor, you can cycle through the LODs using the LOD Picker in the Details panel.

Create LODs for Imported Unchangeable Meshes

Once a electricity mesh has been imported, you can either produce LODs for information technology manually, which is longer but wish get the best results, especially for thickening meshes, or you can use UE's LOD autogeneration tool, which is quicker for when you deman to generate LODs for sixfold simple meshes.

Unreal Engine 4 Stadium Fans on Static Mesh Seats

Source: https://docs.unrealengine.com/4.26/en-US/WorkingWithContent/Importing/FBX/StaticMeshes/