Cinematic Photoreal Environments in Unreal Engine 5

Cinematic Photoreal Environments in Unreal Engine 5
Author: Giovanni Visai
Publisher: Packt Publishing Ltd
Total Pages: 548
Release: 2024-05-17
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1803236884

Achieve stunning photorealistic environments and create cinematic masterpieces by combining environment art, animation, VFX and cinematography with Unreal Engine Specialist, Giovanni Visai Key Features Implement advanced shaders, effects, and post-processing to make your environment look cinematic Explore techniques for achieving realistic graphic complexity with incredible performance Create your own materials and enhance the visuals of your gaming environment Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook Book DescriptionAs Unreal Engine 5 continues to conquer all industries thanks to its real-time technology, UE skills are becoming more sought after than ever. This three-part book covers all the processes behind the creation of a stunning environment in UE 5. Starting with the steps for installing the game engine and learning about its potential, you’ll quickly progress toward generating a variety of different upwards scaling outputs, each bigger than the previous one. After completing the first part and getting realistic shots of a single object, you’ll delve into the world of landscapes, procedural material and foliage, the Landmass plugin, and water tools by creating an environment using Megascan assets. At this point, you’ll know everything you need to create a fascinating and realistic environment. The final part of this book will teach you how to craft cinematic shots by working with cinematic tools, post processing, and framing tools, and by rendering a photorealistic shot in the last chapter. By the end of this Unreal Engine book, you'll be able to create outstanding and realistic environments using the powerful tools provided by UE as well as have an understanding of the importance of filming and composition in world building.What you will learn Generate a Master Material to create hundreds of different material instances Explore lighting principles and apply them to UE lighting systems Evaluate the pros and cons of real-time rendering in the world-building process Build massive landscapes with procedural materials, heightmap, landmass, and water Populate an environment with realistic assets using Foliage and Megascan Master the art of crafting stunning shots with Sequencer Enhance visual quality with Post Process Volume and Niagara Produce a photorealistic shot using the Movie Render Queue Who this book is for If you are a creative director, designer, or creator with a passion for technology and CGI, this UE 5 book is for you. Game developers and tech artists will also benefit from this book as it can help them understand an environment artist’s workflow and how to optimize performance.

Artificial Intelligence in Unreal Engine 5

Artificial Intelligence in Unreal Engine 5
Author: Marco Secchi
Publisher: Packt Publishing Ltd
Total Pages: 358
Release: 2024-10-31
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1836205848

Tap into the cutting-edge artificial intelligence features of Unreal Engine 5 and unlock their potential to craft captivating and engaging experiences in your games and applications in this part-color guide Key Features Adopt AI techniques for developing immersive gameplay experiences Learn how to use the Unreal Engine gameplay framework system with C++ and Blueprints Plan and develop AI behaviors carefully from start to finish Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook Book DescriptionHave you ever wondered how to create engaging gameplay experiences that involve formidable AI opponents, capable of challenging and pushing players to their limits? If the answer is yes, then get ready to enter the realm of AI creation with Unreal Engine 5. Within the pages of this book, written by a brilliant author and game development expert, you’ll find the secrets of Unreal Engine's cutting-edge AI framework. With this newfound knowledge, you’ll be able to create immersive and dynamic gaming experiences. This step-by-step guide will teach you the art of crafting intelligent and responsive virtual opponents that challenge and engage players on a whole new level. As you follow along with practical examples, the book will guide you through the creation of fully functional AI systems. You’ll be able to harness the power of behavior trees, NavMesh systems, and sensory perception models, breathing life into your virtual characters. By the end of this book, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge you need to unleash the full potential of AI in Unreal Engine. Get ready to revolutionize your gaming creations and captivate players with AI-driven wonders that push the boundaries of what's possible!What you will learn Discover the basics of AI development in video games Gain a deep understanding of the main actors in the Unreal Engine AI framework Design and develop engaging AI actors for a game Create dynamic and immersive AI experiences with behavior trees, navigation systems, MassEntity, and other AI features Debug AI systems using dedicated Unreal Engine debugging tools Extend the AI system with custom nodes and functions Understand how to cope with the AI system by employing Blueprints and/or C++ Create games that focus on tactics, motion, and more Who this book is for This book is for game programmers, as well as Unreal Engine developers with little to no knowledge of AI systems in video games, who want to explore this topic in depth. Developers who are proficient in other game engines and are interested in understanding the principles of the Unreal AI framework will also benefit from this book. You’ll need basic knowledge of Unreal Engine and C++ and a strong passion for game development to get the most out of this book.

Enacting Platforms

Enacting Platforms
Author: James Malazita
Publisher: MIT Press
Total Pages: 245
Release: 2024-07-02
Genre: Games & Activities
ISBN: 0262379066

An analysis of the game engine Unreal through feminist, race, and queer theories of technology and media, as well as a critique of the platform studies framework itself. In this first scholarly book on the Unreal game engine, James Malazita explores one of the major contemporary game development platforms through feminist, race, and queer theories of technology and media, revealing how Unreal produces, and is produced by, broader intersections of power. Enacting Platforms takes a novel critical platform studies approach, raising deeper questions: what are the material and cultural limits of platforms themselves? What is the relationship between the analyst and the platform of study, and how does that relationship in part determine what “counts” as the platform itself? Malazita also offers a forward-looking critique of the platform studies framework itself. The Unreal platform serves as a kind of technical and political archive of the games industry, highlighting how the techniques and concerns of games have shifted and accreted over the past 30 years. Today, Unreal is also used in contexts far beyond games, including in public communication, biomedical research, civil engineering, and military simulation and training. The author’s depth of technical analysis, combined with new archival findings, contributes to discussions of topics rarely covered in games studies (such as the politics of graphical rendering algorithms), as well as new readings of previously “closed” case studies (such as the engine’s entanglement with the US military and American masculinity in America’s Army). Culture, Malazita writes, is not “built into” software but emerges through human practices with code.

Unreal Engine 4 Shaders and Effects Cookbook

Unreal Engine 4 Shaders and Effects Cookbook
Author: Brais Brenlla Ramos
Publisher: Packt Publishing Ltd
Total Pages: 518
Release: 2019-05-27
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1789533368

Build optimized, efficient, and real-time applications that are production-ready using Unreal Engine's Material Editor Key FeaturesCreate stunning visual effects for 3D games and high-quality graphicsDesign efficient Shaders for mobile platforms without sacrificing their realismDiscover what goes into the structure of Shaders and why lighting works the way it doesBook Description Unreal Engine 4 is a powerful game engine, one which has seen a recent boost in widespread adoption thanks to its ease of use and the powerful rendering pipeline that it packs. Seeing as how it's relatively easy to create stunning presentations and visuals, Unreal has quickly become a strong contender in industries where this kind of software had been previously denied entry. With that in mind, this book aims to help you get the most out of Unreal Engine 4 - from creating awe-inspiring graphics to delivering optimized experiences to your users. This is possible thanks to a mixture of hands-on experience with real materials and the theory behind them. You will immediately know how to create that material that you want to display, and you'll also end up with the knowledge that will let you know how to control it. All of this will be done without losing sight of two key components of any real-time application - optimization, and efficiency. The materials that you create will be light and efficient, and they will vary depending on your target platform. You'll know which techniques can be used in any kind of device and which ones should be kept to high-end machines, giving you the confidence to tackle any material-related task that you can imagine. Hop onboard and discover how! What you will learnMaster Unreal Engine's rendering pipeline for developing real-time graphicsUse physically based rendering (PBR) for building materials and lighting solutionsBuild optimized materials for games targeting multiple platformsUnderstand Unreal Engine's node and functions for creating desirable effectsDesign and build production-ready shadersExplore Unreal Engine's Material Editor for building complex materials and texturesWho this book is for This book is for developers who want to create their first Shaders in Unreal Engine 4 or wish to take their game to a whole new level by adding professional post-processing effects. A solid understanding of Unreal is required to get the most from this book.

Creating Games with Unreal Engine, Substance Painter, & Maya

Creating Games with Unreal Engine, Substance Painter, & Maya
Author: Kassandra Arevalo
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 841
Release: 2021-01-12
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1000281841

Description: This tutorial-based book allows readers to create a first-person game from start to finish using industry-standard (and free to student) tools of Maya, Substance Painter, and Unreal Engine. The first half of the book lays out the basics of using Maya and Substance Painter to create game-ready assets. This includes polygonal modeling, UV layout, and custom texture painting. Then, the book covers rigging and animation solutions to create assets to be placed in the game including animated first-person assets and motion-captured NPC animations. Finally, readers can put it all together and build interactivity that allows the player to create a finished game using the assets built and animated earlier in the book. • Written by industry professionals with real-world experience in building assets and games. • Build a complete game from start to finish. • Learn what the pros use: construct all assets using the tools used at industries across the world. • All software used are free to students. • When complete, students will have a playable version of an FPS game. Jing Tian Li is a graduate of China’s Central Academy of Fine Arts and New York’s School of Visual Arts, where he earned an MFA in Computer Art. He currently is an Assistant Professor of 3D Animation & Game Design at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. Kassandra Arevalo is an instructor of 3D Animation & Game Design at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. She previously worked as an animator at Immersed Games. Matt Tovar is an industry veteran animator. He has worked at Naughty Dog, Infinity Ward, and Sony Interactive on such games as The Last of Us, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and most recently Marvel’s Avengers with Crystal Dynamics. He is an Assistant Professor of 3D Animation at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.

A History of Solar Power Art and Design

A History of Solar Power Art and Design
Author: Alex Nathanson
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 222
Release: 2021-07-29
Genre: Art
ISBN: 100041289X

This book examines the history of creative applications of photovoltaic (PV) solar power, including sound art, wearable technology, public art, industrial design, digital media, building integrated design, and many others. The growth in artists and designers incorporating solar power into their work reflects broader social, economic, and political events. As the cost of PV cells has come down, they have become more accessible and have found their way into a growing range of design applications and artistic practices. As climate change continues to transform our environment and becomes a greater public concern, the importance of integrating sustainable energy technologies into our culture grows as well. The book will be of interest to scholars working in art history, design history, design studies, environmental studies, environmental humanities, and sustainable energy design.

Netcat Power Tools

Netcat Power Tools
Author: Jan Kanclirz
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 275
Release: 2008-06-13
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0080558739

Originally released in 1996, Netcat is a netowrking program designed to read and write data across both Transmission Control Protocol TCP and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) connections using the TCP/Internet Protocol (IP) protocol suite. Netcat is often referred to as a "Swiss Army knife" utility, and for good reason. Just like the multi-function usefullness of the venerable Swiss Army pocket knife, Netcat's functionality is helpful as both a standalone program and a backe-end tool in a wide range of applications. Some of the many uses of Netcat include port scanning, transferring files, grabbing banners, port listening and redirection, and more nefariously, a backdoor. This is the only book dedicated to comprehensive coverage of the tool's many features, and by the end of this book, you'll discover how Netcat can be one of the most valuable tools in your arsenal.* Get Up and Running with Netcat Simple yet powerful...Don't let the trouble-free installation and the easy command line belie the fact that Netcat is indeed a potent and powerful program.* Go PenTesting with Netcat Master Netcat's port scanning and service identification capabilities as well as obtaining Web server application information. Test and verify outbound firewall rules and avoid detection by using antivirus software and the Window Firewall. Also, create a backdoor using Netcat.* Conduct Enumeration and Scanning with Netcat, Nmap, and More! Netcat's not the only game in town...Learn the process of network of enumeration and scanning, and see how Netcat along with other tools such as Nmap and Scanrand can be used to thoroughly identify all of the assets on your network.* Banner Grabbing with Netcat Banner grabbing is a simple yet highly effective method of gathering information about a remote target, and can be performed with relative ease with the Netcat utility.* Explore the Dark Side of Netcat See the various ways Netcat has been used to provide malicious, unauthorized access to their targets. By walking through these methods used to set up backdoor access and circumvent protection mechanisms through the use of Netcat, we can understand how malicious hackers obtain and maintain illegal access. Embrace the dark side of Netcat, so that you may do good deeds later.* Transfer Files Using Netcat The flexability and simple operation allows Netcat to fill a niche when it comes to moving a file or files in a quick and easy fashion. Encryption is provided via several different avenues including integrated support on some of the more modern Netcat variants, tunneling via third-party tools, or operating system integrated IPsec policies.* Troubleshoot Your Network with Netcat Examine remote systems using Netat's scanning ability. Test open ports to see if they really are active and see what protocls are on those ports. Communicate with different applications to determine what problems might exist, and gain insight into how to solve these problems.* Sniff Traffic within a System Use Netcat as a sniffer within a system to collect incoming and outgoing data. Set up Netcat to listen at ports higher than 1023 (the well-known ports), so you can use Netcat even as a normal user. - Comprehensive introduction to the #4 most popular open source security tool available - Tips and tricks on the legitimate uses of Netcat - Detailed information on its nefarious purposes - Demystifies security issues surrounding Netcat - Case studies featuring dozens of ways to use Netcat in daily tasks

The VES Handbook of Visual Effects

The VES Handbook of Visual Effects
Author: Susan Zwerman
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 1138
Release: 2014-07-11
Genre: Art
ISBN: 1136136223

Wisdom from the best and the brightest in the industry, this visual effects bible belongs on the shelf of anyone working in or aspiring to work in VFX. The book covers techniques and solutions all VFX artists/producers/supervisors need to know, from breaking down a script and initial bidding, to digital character creation and compositing of both live-action and CG elements. In-depth lessons on stereoscopic moviemaking, color management and digital intermediates are included, as well as chapters on interactive games and full animation authored by artists from EA and Dreamworks respectively. From predproduction to acquisition to postproduction, every aspect of the VFX production workflow is given prominent coverage. VFX legends such as John Knoll, Mike Fink, and John Erland provide you with invaluable insight and lessons from the set, equipping you with everything you need to know about the entire visual effects workflow. Simply a must-have book for anyone working in or wanting to work in the VFX industry.

Filming the Fantastic with Virtual Technology

Filming the Fantastic with Virtual Technology
Author: Mark Sawicki
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 275
Release: 2020-03-27
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 1000762483

This book brings fantasy storytelling to a whole new level by providing an in-depth insight into the tools used for virtual reality, augmented reality, 360 cinema and motion capture in order to repurpose them to create a virtual studio for filmmaking. Gone are the long days and months of post before seeing your final product. Composites and CG characters can now be shot together as fast as a live-action show. Using off-the-shelf software and tools, authors Mark Sawicki and Juniko Moody document the set-up and production pipelines of the modern virtual/mocap studio. They reveal the procedures and secrets for making movies in virtual sets. The high-end technology that enabled the creation of films such as The Lord of the Rings, Avatar and The Jungle Book is now accessible for smaller, independent production companies. Do you want your actors to perform inside of an Unreal® Game Engine set and interact with the environment? Do you want to be able to put your live-action camera on a jib or dolly and move effortlessly through both a live-action and virtual space together? Do you want live performers interacting with giants, elves and other creatures manipulated by motion capture in real time? This book discusses all of these scenarios and more, showing readers how to create high-quality virtual content using alternative, cost-effective technology. Tutorials, case studies, and project breakdowns provide essential tips on how to avoid and overcome common pitfalls, making this book an indispensable guide for both beginners to create virtual backlot content and more advanced VFX users wanting to adopt best practices when planning and directing virtual productions with RealityTM software and performance capture equipment such as Qualysis.

SketchUp 2014 for Architectural Visualization

SketchUp 2014 for Architectural Visualization
Author: Thomas Bleicher
Publisher: Packt Publishing Ltd
Total Pages: 613
Release: 2014-05-26
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1783558423

Beginning with a quick start tutorial which will get you up and running with SketchUp 2014 quickly, you will move on to learning the key skills you will need to wow your clients with stunning visualizations through a series practical steps, tips and tricks. If you are a SketchUp user, from an amateur right through to an architectural technician, professional architect, or designer, this is the book for you. This book is also suitable as a companion to any architectural design or multimedia course, and is accessible to anyone who has learned the basics of SketchUp.