CGI foundations | Digital sketchbook

Week 1: Introduction To Unreal

Command	Description
Spacebar	Play or Pause Playback for the selected sequence.
Down Arrow	Plays the selected sequence.
Up Arrow	Returns to the start of the of the assigned Playback Range.
Left Arrow	Step backwards in the current sequence.
Right Arrow	Step fowards in the current sequence.
[	Sets the start of Playback Range to the current time.
]	Sets the end of Playback Range to the current time.

Basic Navigation


Command	Description
Right-click Drag	Allows you to move around the Tracks Area.
Ctrl + Mouse Wheel In/Out	Zoom in/out in the Tracks Area.
Home	Resets the zoom/view range of the Tracks Area.
– and =	Zoom into and out of the view range by 10%.
, and .	Moves backwards and forwards between placed keyframes.
Left-click Drag	Creates a selection box around keys in the window.
Left-click on a key	Selects the key.
Right-click on a key	Displays the Context Menu where you can define properties for the key.
Middle Mouse	Creates a key at the mouse position.
Enter	Set a key on the selected tracks at the current time.
Ctrl + G	Go to a set time/frame in the sequence.
I	Sets the start of Selection Range.
O	Sets the end of Selection Range.
M	Adds/Removes a Frame Marker at the current mouse location.
Ctrl + Shift + , (comma key)	Jumps the timeline to the previous marker.
Ctrl + Shift + . (period key)	Jumps the timeline to the next marker.
Ctrl + Left Arrow	Move selected keys and sections 1 frame to the left.
Ctrl + Right Arrow	Move selected keys and sections 1 frame to the right.

What are actors, static mesh and component in UE?

Actors are essential components of any game or interactive experience. It symbolises any item that can be put in a level or scene, including people, props, lighting, cameras, triggers, and more.

Static Mesh is a sort of object that represents 3D geometry in a game or interactive experience.

A component is a modular piece of functionality that may be added to an actor to modify its behaviour or properties.

Week 2: Materials

Rock:

Leather

Concrete

Iron

denim

Rust metal

Wood

Brick

Week 3: Unreal Tools

going to Landscape mode and other tools

sculpt or elevate the surface with the brush

painting on grass or surface / land materials : when starting to paint you’ll need to scroll down to layers underneath material expression landscape layer blend then press the plus sign

Week 4: Lighting & Reflections

Sky light is a method for simulating worldwide illumination by obtaining lighting data from the sky. With gentle shadows and natural lighting, this method improves the scene’s overall ambient lighting. It works especially well for outdoor settings and producing realistic daytime lighting fluctuations.

Spot light: Spot lights mimic a flashlight or a stage spotlight by emitting light in a cone-shaped beam. They have a defined spread angle, position, and direction. Spot lights are useful for emphasizing particular objects or regions of interest since they may produce dramatic lighting effects and cast shadows.

Directional Lighting: Directional lighting simulates a bright moonlight or an indefinitely far-off light source. It provides consistent illumination throughout the scene by directing parallel light rays in a particular direction. The main purposes of this kind of lighting are to replicate outside settings and provide accurate day-night cycles.

Point Lights: Like a lightbulb or a campfire, point lights radiate light in all directions from a specified spot. Their omnidirectional illumination has the ability to illuminate surrounding objects and cast shadows. Point lights are frequently used to generate confined lighting effects, small light sources, and inside sceneries.

Point Lights | Unreal Engine 4.26 Documentation

Area Lights: Soft, diffused light is emitted by huge, flat area lights. They can mimic windows, doors, and light panels. Area lights are perfect for producing gentle shadows and even lighting over expansive surfaces like walls or floors.

Week 5: Sequencer & Post Processing