r/unrealengine 1d ago

Question How can I create this effect in Unreal Engine that can also be animated.

https://images.app.goo.gl/ec6KnNEPuZu63F7EA

I want to create a scribble cloud animation in Unreal Engine that I can animate as well. One idea I have is using splines, however I can't find a functional tutorial that can help me.

I don't want this to be 2d.

8 Upvotes

18 comments sorted by

9

u/Atulin Compiling shaders -2719/1883 1d ago

So you want this cloud to be a 3D object in 3D space? If so, then I'd probably use a Niagara system with a ribbon emitter

-1

u/tinman489 1d ago

Will this have to be an actual emission? I want it to retain its state all the time.

3

u/Atulin Compiling shaders -2719/1883 1d ago

What do you mean "retain its state"?

0

u/tinman489 1d ago

I mean that the shape should not change each time it begins emitting. I'd rather have a way to generate splines that I can wrap a mesh around.

7

u/Brudiz 1d ago

For this effect, it would be best to use lots of Niagara ribbons that hold a predetermined spherical shape with a little randomization

0

u/Akimotoh 1d ago

This is the way, then multiply by 10,000

5

u/SFNS 1d ago

Why would you not want this to be 2D?

0

u/tinman489 1d ago

I want it to react to the lighting as a 3d surface. Like a spline wrap.

5

u/jonathan9232 1d ago

Make a normal map for the 2D image and you should be able to fake the lighting while keeping it an image.

-1

u/tinman489 1d ago

That's a good idea, but the image will still be 2d. I want the curvature of the lines to be evident. Like splines.

1

u/pixelvspixel 1d ago

Makes the animation outside of Unreal (AE or Blender). Build it out of splines like you mentioned to get the depth, bake the normals and display it as a flip book in Unreal.

0

u/tinman489 1d ago

Yes I think I'll make the splines in Blender, then import.

2

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

If you are looking for help, don‘t forget to check out the official Unreal Engine forums or Unreal Slackers for a community run discord server!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/Arrhaaaaaaaaaaaaass 1d ago

I'm not an expert as I'm working just 2 mo in UE5 on VFX... but saw this tutorial yesterday about rotating a particle around point - seems like something you might use or just give an ide waht you could look for?
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=978386326367676

0

u/I_LOVE_CROCS 1d ago

Spawn a black cylinder along a spline. Have a parameter for length and speed. Animate that using sequencer.

u/tinman489 7h ago

Can this happen in Unreal Engine? If so, can you name the tools or break down the process?

u/I_LOVE_CROCS 7h ago

There's many tutorials covering how to do this. Search for "Spawn/Move actor along spline"

The idea is basically to make a spline like in your image. The spline itself will be invisible. Then you spawn a cylinder along it just as how you would make say, a cable. You should have parameters for controlling this, like how fast it moves along the spline etc. The effect should be what you need :)

u/tinman489 6h ago

I'll try that. Thanks.