How to Get Started with Unreal Engine 4 for Architecture
Image: Unreal Engine
What’s in this article?
🍊 Where and how to install
🍊 Recommended Tech Specs
🍊 UE Marketplace
🍊 Where to learn (my recommended sources)
🍊 Examples of my work using UE4
What is it?
Unreal Engine 4 is the world's most open and advanced real-time 3D creation platform for photoreal visuals.
No wonder why architects and architecture students have taken to it for their archviz. Oh, and it is absolutely free!
I have had great results using UE4 as my go-to visualisation software. Not only is it capable of photoreal, but there are literally endless graphic variations for you to experiment with due to its advanced UI settings. Full list of features click here.
What can it do?
The real-time 3D rendering engine has a dynamic weathering system and powerful lighting, material settings. You are able to output; stills, animations, VR and AR.
There are regular updates and a Marketplace with endless free and pay for asset packs including 3D models and high-res materials.
I put the question out on Instagram, do you use or have used UE4? 60 per cent who responded said they have never use UE4! I’m shocked. I believe this is an essential future proof software for young architects to learn.
So, I thought it would be really useful to collate everything you need to get started. Where to learn and share the tips I have picked up from using UE4 in one user-friendly place… right here!
Image: Koooolala
getting started you will need to install
🍊 Epic Games Launcher: Here
You will be able to launch UE4 from this app, it will also be where you can find all your projects, download library and access the Marketplace.
🍊 Unreal Engine: Here
🍊 Datasmith: Here
Datasmith is UE’s custom export packaging plugin. It allows you to export/import from your architecture modelling software (e.g. Sketchup or Revit) to UE4 easily.
A couple of handy tutorials on how to install Datasmith
How to install Datasmith video 1
How to install Datasmith video 2
Unreal Engine 4 System Requirements
OS: Windows 7/8/10 64-bit or Mac OSX Sierra.
CPU: Quad-core Intel or AMD processor, 2.5 GHz or faster.
RAM: 8 GB, Recommended to have at least 32 GB.
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 470 GTX or AMD Radeon 6870 HD series card or higher.
Video Card/DirectX Version: DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 compatible graphics card.
Sidenote – UE chomps up storage, a project clocking up sometimes 50Gb a time. I strongly recommend buying an external hard drive just to dedicate to your UE projects and library. I brought a Western Digital 4Tb External Hard Drive. Needless to say, I won’t be short of storage anytime soon.
Where to Learn
Epic Games offer a range of Unreal Online Learning Courses. This is a range of video courses specifically for architecture visualisation. Starting with introduction/beginner tutorials to advanced tutorials. They are presented by expert UE archviz creators.
Once you’ve started a course, you are able to track progress, keep scores and are rewarded with achievements. There is so much to learn on offer here so why not check it out.
YouTube
There is a huge amount of UE4 tutorial videos on YouTube to save you time scrolling. I can recommend the following from experience;
🍊 Ryan Manning
YouTube channel: Ryan's channel
I found Ryans ‘UE4 Interior Lighting Series’ (4 videos) extremely insightful.
🍊 Fabrice Bourrelly
YouTube channel: Fabrice's channel
Fabrice has some really insightful tutorials and inspirational videos.
🍊 For some awesome inspiration check out Koooolala
Unreal Engine Marketplace
Access the Marketplace via the web or the Epic Games Launcher. As I mentioned above the Marketplace is stocked full of 3D assets, materials, plugins, blueprints and more.
I recommend downloads the Megascans material packs. They are all 8k and 4k photorealist quality with so many material options available. The downloads are large which is another reason for an external hard drive. It’s unbelievable these are free – but it will take you a while to download them all.
Here’s a project I made from Megascans materials and foliage. Tell me what you think?
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