Unreal Engine: Global Illumination for Architectural Visualization

Learn how to use Lightmass Global Illumination to light architectural visualization projects in Unreal.

Introduction

• Global illumination (GI) in Unreal
• Setting up the Unreal Engine 4 project

1. The Lightmass GI Engine

• Level setup
• How the Lightmass engine works
• Lightmass UI elements
• Focusing Lightmass calculations in a scene

2. Light Baking

• Understanding light baking
• How UV mapping affects GI
• Generating light map UVs
• How materials affect light baking
• Suggested light bake checklist

3. Controlling the GI

• Controlling secondary light bounces
• Using HDRIs
• Lightmass portals for interior spaces
• Area shadows
• Quality and smoothness settings
• Using Ambient Occlusion
• Lighting scale for accuracy

4. Taking It Further

• Animation and GI
• Exposure in post-process volumes
• In-camera exposure
• Color bleed
• Saving out high-resolution images

Conclusion

• Next steps