This module will prepare students for the creation of modular environment art within Unreal Engine. Students will employ workflows of modularity, the grid, trimsheets, and shader creation to form a piece of environment art based on real world and concept art references.

Students will research and consider the following skills / areas:
Modelling to the grid
Tiling materials and trimsheets
Modularity
Shader development in Unreal Engine
Face weighted normals
Lighting and presentation in Unreal Engine

Assessment Component 1 - (Learning Outcome 1,2,3)
Project artefact weighted at 80% consisting of:

Students will be given a brief to create a piece of environment art using modularity based on real world and concept art references.

They will be required to break down reference material, apply planning paintovers, develop a blockout, and then enter production to complete the project artefact.

Students will submit the project artefact as a selection of portfolio shots relating to final beauty renders, construction images, and material breakdowns.

Assessment Component 2 - (Learning Outcome 4)
Development logbook and reflection weighted at 20% consisting of:

Students will communicate the creative processes used and critically reflect on the project artefact in the form of a digital academy forum thread and will also critically reflect via a final forum post on their assessment.

1x 3-hour lecture/tutorial
1x 3-hour workshop/development session

1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of 3D environment creation in relation to design principles and based upon informed decision making.
2. Investigate and apply appropriate real-time 3D game environment creation techniques in the production of Environment Art
3. Identify key visual features in the reference and investigate solutions for recreating them in unreal engine.
4. Communicate and critically review the development of the game environment evaluating the effectiveness of your chosen techniques in the pipeline.

Unreal Engine
Autodesk 3D Modelling Programs
ZBrush
Houdini
Marvellous Designer
Substance Suite
Video Editing Software
Wacom Tablets
Digital Academy Forum
Digital Academy Upload System

Freeman, M (2017), The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photographs

Harris, D, (2022), Making Videogames: The Art of Creating Digital Worlds Hardcover

Gurney, J, (2010), Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter (Volume 2) (James Gurney Art)

Jones, P, (2022), Game Artist: The Ultimate Career Guide

This module will prepare you for the creation of an environment art project using modularity. You will employ workflows of modularity, the grid, trimsheets, shader creation, and lighting to form a piece of environment art based on a real world and concept art references.