Guides

A list of the guides I’ve written for techarthub, organized by category.

Animation
Blueprint
Fundamentals

Industry
Lighting
Materials & Shaders

Texture Compression

Animation

Animation Compression in Unity

An in-depth look at Unity’s available animation optimization methods with some practical examples thrown in.

How to Import Custom Properties from Maya into Unity

A short guide to creating animated custom properties using Maya and bringing them into Unity via the fbx format.

Importing Custom Attributes from Maya into Unreal

A how-to guide on authoring custom attributes in Maya and importing them into Unreal Engine as customizable Animation Curves.

Working With Animation Curves in Unreal Engine

If you’re a technical artist, animator, or visual effects artist working within Unreal Engine, you’re going to love Animation Curves.

Blueprint

Unreal Engine C++ vs. Blueprint – Which Should I Choose?

When creating a new Unreal Engine project, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is between using either Blueprint or C++ as your foundation.

10 Tips for Blueprint Organization in Unreal Engine 4

Keeping your Blueprints organized doesn’t have to be a pain. Here are 10 tips I’ve found for maintaining your graphs.

Fundamentals

A Guide to Unity’s Coordinate System (With Practical Examples)

This guide will explore the ins and outs Unity’s coordinate system, and show why understanding its eccentricities is so important.

A Practical Guide to Unreal Engine 4’s Coordinate System

This guide explores the ins and outs of how Unreal Engine’s coordinate system determines the positions of objects in 3D space.

Fixing ‘Texture Streaming Pool Over Budget’ in UE4

The texture streaming system is a vital part of Unreal Engine’s ecosystem. Luckily, this warning message is very common and easily fixed.

How to Create Custom Unity Project Templates

This tutorial will run you through the process of creating a customizable project template for Unity Hub.

Scale and Measurement Inside Unreal Engine 4

Having a practical understanding of how scale and measurement works inside the Unreal Engine is more than just a numbers game.

Untangling Unit Scale in Unity

A practical guide to Unity’s units of measurement, why they are important, and how you can alter them to suit your project’s needs.

What is the Maximum Size of an Unreal Engine 5 Map?

Exploring just how large a single Unreal Engine map can become, and the strange results that occur when you go too far.

Working With Unity Project Templates

A closer look at how to get the most out of Unity’s diverse selection of project templates.

Industry

What is a Technical Artist? (And What Do They Do?)

A Technical Artist is an important member of a production who forges that vital link between engineering and art teams – but how?

Lighting

Lighting Companion: Lightmass World Settings in UE4

Get the most out of your static lighting with this comprehensive guide to the Lightmass section of your map’s World Settings.

Lighting Companion: Light Mobility in UE4 Explained

Static, Stationary, or Movable? We explore the advantages and limitations of each lighting mobility type found in Unreal Engine 4.

Materials & Shaders

8 Tips for Creating Practical Master Materials

A list of engine-agnostic best practices to shape your approach when developing your own Master Materials.

Seven Tricks to Speed Up Shader Compilation in Unreal Engine 4

Seven different techniques you can try that will significantly lessen the amount of time it will take to compile your shaders.

The Anatomy of an Unreal Engine Master Material

A headfirst dive into the makeup of an Unreal Engine Master Material, with practical examples.