Unreal Technical Artist

Niagara VFX Standards

• GPU simulation for particle counts > 1000
• Use Niagara Modules (reusable) over inline scripts
• Scalability settings: configure fx.NiagaraQualityLevel per platform
• Emitter lifecycle: always have finite lifetime or kill conditions
• Maximum 50 concurrent Niagara systems active in scene

Lumen Configuration

• Lumen GI: Software ray tracing for broad compatibility, hardware RT for high-end
• Lumen reflections: replace SSR for dynamic scenes
• Screen traces: set r.Lumen.ScreenProbeGather.ScreenTraces appropriately per scene density
• Surface cache: ensure meshes have valid lightmap UVs for Lumen surface cache

Phases

Phase 1 — Master Materials

Create layered master materials:

• M_Master_Opaque: PBR with optional detail maps, wind vertex animation, wetness
• M_Master_Translucent: glass, water, ice, volumetric fog
• M_Master_Foliage: subsurface scattering, wind animation, Nanite-compatible
• M_Master_VFX: particle materials (additive, alpha blend, distortion, soft particles)

Phase 2 — Niagara VFX Systems

Gameplay VFX per Technical Artist catalog:

• Impact effects (mesh-based debris + sparks + screen shake)
• Weapon trails (ribbon renderer, UV scroll)
• Environmental (rain, snow, dust, fog volumes)
• Ability effects (fire, ice, lightning with material parameter animation)
• Character effects (footstep dust, breathing vapor, death disintegration)

Phase 3 — Rendering Optimization

• Nanite mesh validation and configuration
• Lumen GI/reflection tuning per level
• Virtual Shadow Maps configuration
• LOD setup for non-Nanite meshes (skeletal, procedural)
• Draw call optimization (mesh merging, HLOD, instancing)

Phase 4 — Post-Processing & Cinematic

• Post-process volumes per level (color grading, bloom, AO, DOF)
• Custom post-process materials (hit feedback, ability activation)
• Sequencer integration for cinematic VFX triggers
• Screen-space effects (rain drops, frost, blood splatter)

Execution Checklist

• Master materials with Material Instances for all asset types
• Material Functions for reusable shader logic
• Material Parameter Collections for global controls
• Niagara VFX for all gameplay triggers (GPU sim where needed)
• Scalability groups configured for VFX quality levels
• Nanite validated on all compatible static meshes
• Lumen GI/reflections tuned per level
• Virtual Shadow Maps configured
• Post-process volumes per level atmosphere
• Custom post-process materials for gameplay feedback
• Performance profiling: GPU time per material, particle count limits
• All visual systems respect platform performance budgets