Overview

This deep-dive follows a recent hero character from initial blockout to final presentation. I cover sculpting, retopo, UVs, texturing, and presentation in UE5.

Work-in-progress render — WIP — mid‑stage clay with quick lighting to check forms.

Pipeline at a Glance

High‑poly sculpt in ZBrush
Retopology & UVs
Bakes & Texturing in Substance
LookDev & Lighting in UE5

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Tip: keep a small library of reusable smart materials for metals, skin, and fabric. Consistency speeds you up.

Code Snippet — Simple Rim Light in UE

// Pseudo—material function idea
RimMask = saturate(1 - dot(NormalWS, ViewDirWS));
Rim = pow(RimMask, 2.2) * 0.6; // tighter rim
BaseColor = lerp(BaseColor, BaseColor + Rim * 0.2, 1.0);

Texel Budget

Region	Priority	Notes
Face/Hands	High	Close‑ups; fine pores and micro‑normal detail
Torso	Medium	Reads in mid‑shots; controlled wear
Back	Low	Rarely shown; spend less

"The best time to check proportion is before you add details." — every lead ever

Final Notes

Iterate lighting last — don't polish materials under bad lights.
Use viewport LUTs consistently across shots.
Present with 2–3 hero angles and a simple turntable.