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Introduction to Shaders Using Unreal Engine

Technical Artist, Kimoon Jang




Class Details




Technical Artist, Kimoon Jang_장기문 Details

Intro

Class Intro

Technical Artist, Kimoon Jang
"I'll provide a detailed guide using a node-based approach, which is easy to follow and understand, with the assistance of Unreal Engine."

For Anyone Interested in Unreal Engine! Tips for Effectively Using the Engine for Shaders
Game engine knowledge is your foothold into the industry! Ready to get started?

If you’re prepping for a career in the gaming industry, a 3D character artist, or aspiring to become a technical artist, then this class is for you.
It will teach you how to master an industry-standard game engine, capitalize on Epic's vast resources, and craft everything from basic to advanced shader effects. Learn how to grow beyond skill acquisition and discover how to bring your creative vision to life with Unreal Engine, the real-world game engine. Find out how on Coloso.

Class Perks
Get These Coloso Exclusives

Expert Technical Artist
Kimoon Jang's Portfolio

Why Take This Class?

For 3D artists, portfolios often fall short of in-game quality. Studying game engines empowers you to bring your vision directly into a game, allowing you to craft the skills you'll need in the industry. Among various game engines, Unreal Engine stands out as a free tool capable of developing AAA-quality games on multiple platforms. It's easier to work with than complex shader code, making it artist-friendly.

Once you understand how resources function, you'll save time on unnecessary tasks. Mastering the engine can even cut down your overall production time. In this class, I’ll thoroughly cover the basic principles of using shaders in Unreal Engine.

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11 Class Exercises

Part 1: Knowledge

You'll learn how to navigate the engine's features and make the most of different art assets.

Part 2: Training

You'll study shader creation and explore various methods for utilizing resources, both basic and advanced.

Part 3: Converging

You'll learn how to apply different effects in the context of game development.
Together, we'll examine future career and educational paths, exploring the opportunities provided by Unreal 5's tech demos.

Instructor

Kimoon Jang
Technical Artist

Hello, my name is Kimoon Jang, and I’m a technical artist.
I began my career in program development in 2002 and have since transitioned into the role of a technical artist. I've gained years of expertise while working at various companies, including Nexon Mobile, Netmarble Games as an art director, and NCSOFT as a technical artist.

In this class, I've structured the content to go beyond mere overviews, diving into the functional aspects of different engines, their purposes, and how to use them in future projects. I've also included insights into frequently encountered real-world situations and collaborations, helping you better understand other roles and effective teamwork. I'm confident that the Unreal Engine expertise I've gained over the years will shape this class into a valuable learning experience.

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Recommendation
Class Recommended
by Experts in the Field


콜로소 장기문
Kimoon Jang
Technical Artist

[Current]
KR Studio Lead Character Technical Artist at Blizzard Entertainment



[Previous]
NetEase Games
Expert Technical Artist
Total War Battles: WARHAMMER

NCSOFT
Lead Technical Artist
Lineage2M

4:33
Producer/Technical Artist
New Projects, Battle of Arrow 2, Boxing Star

Netmarble
Assistant Director/Producer/Technical Artist
Rush N Krush, Rush N Krush Global

Nexon
Senior 3D Artist/Technical Artist
New Projects in the Japanese Business Office

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Highlights

Class Highlights

From Basic Unreal Engine Concepts to Epic's Asset Utilization

Epic Games provides an abundance of free assets via its marketplace. These resources are beneficial for both project creation and educational purposes. I'll be incorporating these assets throughout the class.

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A Tailored Approach for Shader Beginners

The technical aspects of the engine can be difficult for many artists. But through focused learning on shaders, you'll find it's possible to create various effects without intricate coding, making engine mastery enjoyable.

* Free modeling resources from 3D Character Artist Rosa Lee are readily available for use in Unreal Engine.

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Essential Technical Skills for Aspiring Technical Artists

In today's artist landscape, artists with technical knowledge have a significant competitive advantage. A technical artist at top game companies NCSOFT, Nexon, and Netmarble will comprehensively teach you both the theory and practice of essential technical skills.

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Class Details
You'll Learn


Curriculum

Curriculum
In-Depth Look

SECTION 01. Unreal Engine

01. Orientation

  1. Instructor Introduction
  2. Class Introduction and Objectives

02. Explanation of Game Engines and Installation

  1. Engine Installation
  2. What Is a Game Engine?
  3. Why This Class Is Essential for Practical Work
  4. Job-Ready Knowledge
  5. Resources and Shaders
  6. System Requirements for Using Unreal Engine

03. Characteristics of Unreal Engine and Unity

  1. Understanding Shaders
  2. Mobile-Specific Features
  3. Differences Between Unreal Engine and Unity
  4. Key Features of Unreal Engine

04. Shaders and Technical Artists

  1. About Shader Work and Employment
  2. If You Aspire to Be a Technical Artist
  3. The Role of a Technical Artist
  4. About Shader Applications

05. Basics and Interface of Unreal Engine

  1. Learning Execution and Basic Operations
  2. UI Overview Focused on Professional Applicability
  3. Menu Items Commonly Used in Different Job Roles in Professional Settings
  4. Additional Useful Features and Options

06. Installing External Resources and Environment Overview

  1. Installing Sample Resources and Levels
  2. Importing Resources
  3. Examining Various Environmental Elements
  4. The Role of Shaders Used in Levels
  5. Background Resource Structures

07. Description of File Properties and Modeling Tools

  1. File Types and Features
  2. Methods and Explanation for Extracting FBX
  3. Unreal Engine Import Methods and Explanation
  4. Similarities between 3ds Max and Unreal Engine Terminology
  5. Mesh Characteristics and Differences

08. Characteristics of Resources and Engine Application

  1. Content and File Management
  2. Examining Characteristics through Sample Resources
  3. Folders, Naming, and Version Control
  4. About Redirectors
  5. Differences from Unity’s Resource Structure
  6. Resource Structure Explanation
  7. Understanding Texture Uses and Channels
SECTION 02. Resource and Rendering

09. Understanding Shader Principles

  1. Understanding Shader Structure
  2. Enhancing Basic Understanding of PBR (Physically Based Rendering)
  3. Interactions and Roles of Light and Material

10. Unreal Engine Rendering Pipeline

  1. In-Depth Exploration of Unreal Engine Rendering Pipeline 1
  2. In-Depth Exploration of Unreal Engine Rendering Pipeline 2
  3. In-Depth Exploration of Unreal Engine Rendering Pipeline 3

11. Principles and Features of 3D Resources

  1. Types of Meshes and Matrix Operations
  2. Learning Types and Uses of Textures
  3. Utilization of Mask Maps and Vertex Colors

12. Structure of Characters and Unreal Engine Shaders, and Translucency

  1. Attributes of Player Characters
  2. Attributes of NPCs and Monsters
  3. Attributes of Bosses
  4. Understanding Material Production Management
  5. Practical Uses of Opaque and Transparent Materials
SECTION 03. Shader

13. Explanation of Unreal Engine Materials and Shader Features

  1. About Material Statistics and Shader Complexity
  2. Understanding Draw Calls
  3. Registering Basic Textures in Materials
  4. Material Parameter Creation
  5. Differences between HLSL Code and Nodes

14. Basic Understanding of Materials and Shader Creation

  1. Texture Connections and Material Attributes
  2. Understanding Metals, Non-metals, and Fresnel
  3. Material-Related Cautions and Various Offsets

15. Examining Material Details

  1. Material Domains
  2. Shading Models
  3. Transparency and Other Options

16. Basic Formula Usage

  1. About the Most Frequently Used Formulas
  2. About Interpolation
  3. Characteristics of Functions by Type: UV, Math, Vectors, Etc.
  4. Understanding and Applying Normals
  5. Understanding Various Formulas for Applications
  6. Pros and Cons of Code and Nodes, Additional Explanation

17. Completion of Basic Material and Sample Character Application

  1. Defining Basic and Advanced Techniques
  2. Creation of Universal Basic Shaders
  3. Direction of PBR
  4. Cautions When Using Textures
  5. Effects and Types Based on Parameter Changes

18. Concept and Application of Parenting - Use of Instances and References

  1. Methods for Extending Special Effects
  2. Features Often Used in Professional Settings
  3. Expanding Basic Types Using Existing Formulas
  4. Parenting Management Techniques
  5. Features and Precautions of Instances

19. Material Functions and Shader Modularization

  1. Material Functions and Structure
  2. Modularization of Basic Shaders
  3. Examples of Module Applications
  4. Shader Management Methods

20. Application and Feature Expansion of Existing Materials

  1. Examining Post-processing
  2. Techniques That Make a Difference in Materials
  3. Hands-on Features and Principles of Material Representation
  4. Special Material Creation
  5. Shader Modularization

21. Techniques for Creating Advanced Material Shaders

  1. Utilizing Depth Information
  2. Creation of Water Visual Effects
  3. Creation of Decal Visuals
  4. Techniques That Can Be Applied, Understood, and Learned in Professional Settings

22. Improving Sample Modeling Quality Through Shaders

  1. Utilizing Vertex Color Masks
  2. Application of Noise Textures
  3. Expression of Weathering
  4. Application of Rusted Bronze Expression
SECTION 04. Advanced Applications

23. Analysis of Unreal Engine Sample Scenes and Application of Shader Effects

  1. Shader Analysis of Sample Scenes
  2. Alternate Methods for Creating Shaders
  3. About Terrain Expression

24. Creating Character Variations

  1. Study of Variation Structures
  2. Creating Mask Textures
  3. Utilizing Vertex Colors
  4. Creating Variations Using Shaders

25. Character Direction and FX 1

  1. Effect Creation Using Existing Functions
  2. Creation of FX
  3. Application of Texture Blending Effects
SECTION 05. Additional Topics

26. Character Direction and FX 2

  1. Creation of Miscellaneous State Effects
  2. Creation of Teleport Effects
  3. Utilization of Material Parameter Collections

27. Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo Experience

  1. Experience an Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo
  2. Application to Exercise Material 5

28. The Future and Technical Artistry of 3D Artists

  1. Mobile Specifics and Optimization Tips
  2. Portfolio and Points for Adapting to Professional Work
  3. Vision and Projections for 3D Artists
  4. Skills and Directions That 3D or New Artists Should Have in the Absence of a Technical Artist
  5. Current Value and the Future of Technical Artists

Interview with
Technical Artist, Kimoon Jang

배경 이미지
Question.01
Why choose Unreal Engine to learn shaders?


I chose it because it is almost the only general-purpose engine that can develop AAA-level games across various platforms. Although art has various genres, Unreal Engine makes it easy to implement realistic expressions that are currently on trend. It also has the advantage of making it easier for artists to create shaders in a more learnable node format, rather than complex shader code.

Question.02
Who should take this class?


Those who want to get to know game engines, those with experience in 3D other than traditional game 3D, or those who are learning game 3D and studying engines for professional use. I will explain the parts that you might have glossed over in terms of attributes or functions in simple terms so that you can build a foundation for self-study rather than just gaining knowledge or skills.

Question.03
What will students gain from this class?


This class should significantly increase your familiarity with Unreal Engine and lessen any fear or aversion to acquiring other engine features or documents. I also included my knowledge in the class so that you can understand the universality of engines, not just a specific one, and find solutions regardless of the engine.

Required Programs

This course will use
- Unreal Engine 4.26
- Photoshop 2021
- 3ds Max 2020
Please purchase and install these program(s) for an optimized lecture experience.

[Software Recommendations for Students]
- Unreal Engine 4.26 (Free Software)
- Photoshop CS4 or Newer
- 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya, or Blender
(Compatible FBX files will be provided, and 2018 and 2019 versions for 3ds Max will also be available.)

* Recommended system specs for using Unreal Engine: Link
*These programs and/or materials will not be provided with the lecture.

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