I created this project to explore seasonal, day-night, and precipitation cycle changes in Unreal Engine. To explain my process, I want to give a run-down of two of the key assets of this project: the level blueprint and Runtime grass.
This project was created with Unreal 4.25, Substance Painter, Substance Designer, and Maya 2019.
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This project was inspired by Ferdinand Ladera's Manalink Market
The music in this video is Burst — Land of Fire
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Before I explain my code too much, I need to show that much of my seasonal changes are done within my asset materials to keep from adding everything into my code for a simple change of color. I did this through the creation of a material collection parameter and many, many linear interpolations (lerps). This allows me to just switch a scalar parameter value to 0 or 1 and automatically change the season for every material I wish to edit. This technique was used for about 90% of my effects. If something isn't named within the level blueprint, it's changing via the material parameter collection.
In my level blueprint, I called a few separate blueprints into it so that the level blueprint can access their custom events or variables.
To get a step-by-step explanation, click on the images below.
Finally, here is my event tick sequence in my level blueprint, which actually creates the seasonal, day-night, and precipitation cycles!
To get a step-by-step explanation, click on the images below.
I created a mood board for colors and lighting for each of my seasons, which I reference when changing colors and intensities.
For this project, I also explored spline blueprints and using construction scripts more for optimization! I used these for my fencing, snowmen, vines, and signage.
To get a step-by-step explanation, click on the images below.
Lastly, I'd like to explain my Runtime grass and terrain materials!
To get a step-by-step explanation, click on the images below.
As a last example for my seasonal changes, here is one shot with multiple states of daytime, seasons, and weather.
Thank you for looking over my process!