I have decided to experiment with Auto materials using Brushify to explore the different ways you can create a landscape, and see which method works the best for me so that I can get a realistic understanding of how achievable my desired output is, for future production projects, whether they are industry-based or personal…

THE EXPERIMENT:

What did you do and why?

I created a landscape using UE4 and the Alpha texture brush used in the Brushify Arctic Landscape to sculpt the landscape and create realistic hills/ mountains. I also used the auto landscape material from Brushify, which is an easy and fast way to paint landscapes. I decided to use a 3rd person character so that I could explore the world and see the size comparison. I did this experiment to see the most effective ways of building a landscape.

What exactly did you learn from it? What can you take forward from this for a future production project?

From this experiment, I learned how to use assets from Brushify to create a realistic landscape, such as alpha brushes, auto landscape materials, painting with landscape layer blends and sculpting tools within UE4. These skills can be taken forward when I create landscapes for future projects.

What it does well?

The Brushify landscape materials are very useful in quickly creating realistic, and attractive landscapes. The alpha brushes give a lot of possibilities in what you can create with the various channels and settings which alter the tool itself, making realistic and unique landscapes.

Where it falls short?

Even though Brushify is amazing and very timesaving, you are restricted to the auto textures which are provided with the pack, unless you go digging around in the landscape auto material and change the nodes and textures that way, but it will probably be easier to just make one from scratch if you want custom textures, giving you more customization and control.

(Watch up to 1:55- After 1:55 I started to create another separate landscape, which I have included in the next experiment. )

What did you do and why?

At the start of this video, I experimented with the foliage tool and importing assets into the scene. I did this to create a more realistic atmosphere.

What exactly did you learn from it? What can you take forward from this for a future production project?

I learned how to add meshes to the foliage tool where you can alter the settings to make more realistic foliage and arrangement of trees, such as size, positioning, density, collision, etc. I also learned how to place singular assets such as rocks. I also wanted to add a river/ lake but hadn’t worked out how to make it look realistic yet. I can use everything I have learned from this, for any landscape project in the future and develop my skills further.

SOURCES:

https://80.lv/articles/free-brushify-environment-shaders-pack/

Brushify Auto Material Pack:

https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/brushify-shaders-pack

What is it?

A toolkit which you can purchase on the marketplace which makes the process of creating an environment easier and faster for beginners. Meaning you don’t have to create your own landscape material. The video explains how you use this tool and what is included with it.

What exactly did you learn from it? What can you take forward from this for a future personal or industry production project?

I learned how to use the Brushify toolkit and how to add layer info which enables you to brush different terrain textures onto your landscape creating a unique environment. This is very beneficial for creating your own landscapes quickly so you can focus on developing your scene.

I used the alpha texture from the Brushify Arctic landscape pack:

https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/brushify-arctic-pack

What is it?

It is very similar to the previous toolkit, yet this pack includes an alpha brush which means that you can sculpt realistic terrains using a brush, which contains multiple variations due to the color channels.

What exactly did you learn from it? What can you take forward from this for a future personal or industry production project?

I learned the use of alpha channels and how they are used to create realistic mountains/ hills.

From this experiment, I will use what I have learned/ experienced and continue to develop my skills in UE4 and explore how I can create better landscapes.