#jandale

Carl - Testing and Adjustments 

After setting the project to run my new game, I finally got a chance to test my new game out. I am extremely pleased that the lighting plays well with the character model and the end result is appropriately thematic. The only issues I came across was the odd way the jump animated and the size of the character model.

I readjusted the timing cue and the actual jump animation using Mixamo’s interface and re-imported the animation. I reached a level of outcome that I can be comfortable with. 

Carl - Blue Print Controls and Event Graph 

I suppose this is where my initial setup with inputs come into play, in fact the tutorial has expressed the importance of having the inputs setup in the default engine settings before proceeding to this step. This was probably what was the most difficult to follow within the tutorial, as it dealt with many terminologies that even I have not heard of before. Thankfully, the interface was extremely simple enough and close resembling how materials are setup for models. The ctrl+c trick to organise the graph was most helpful, as it quickly grew into size and complexity. 

Carl - Character Blue Print 

Break down of my approach: 

1. Perform small lighting tests in order to detect any significant issues in the model UVs. 

2. Setup the scene (collision and placement) and build final lighting. 

3. Import gathered FBX files courtesy of Mixamo website. 

4. Basic setup of character (Carl) materials. I will not be placing priority to this element, just enough to have the character remotely serviceable. 

The following steps are inspired by the recommended YouTube tutorial 

5. Setup default inputs to prepare for character functionality. 

6. Setup animation blue print. 

7. Setup character blue print. 

8. Setup Character controls using prior input settings.

9. Run tests to check character functionality and interaction with lighting and model collisions. 

After a lengthy set of trials, I have determined that the simplest and most effective way to achieve my output is to model and unwrap my textures in Maya and directly import the files as FBX formats into Unreal Engine 4.

Pipeline Breakdown: 

Pre-production: 

Research similar concepts through images and gather royalty free texture sources.

1. Initial 3D modelling within Autodesk Maya (with settings matched to translate into UE4). Additional modelling creation and correction will likely continue further ahead. (modelling includes demo modular items) 

2. Generate UV maps through Autodesk Maya. 

3. Import UV maps into Adobe Photoshop for texture creation. 

4. Import textures into Autodesk Maya and build asset materials. 

5. As soon as the materials have been ordered for usability and assigned to their correct models, All the models are triangulated and exported as an FBX file with the recommended settings.

6. Create official UE4 project folder with sections for meshes, textures, maps, etc. After the project folder is created, import the FBX file(s) and categorize the files into the new folders. 

7. Once the meshes have been checked and re-imported if any are not within a desirable state, They are placed in the world in a scenario similar to the chosen concept artwork. 

8. Apply finishing touches in materials through UE4′s toolkit. Any maps like normals and speculars are also created, adjusted and applied to suitable objects during this process. 

9. Layout basic lighting to illuminate certain areas of the setting. 

10. Layout a demo version of my modular corridor (or any modular assets made) in a portion of the map.