Hi guys! In todayβs video, letβs take this boring flat color and turn it into a vibrant gradient. Iβll show you how to do this quickly in Unreal Engine. Iβll also be uploading the original file on my Patreon for you to check out later. Letβs get started!
Creating the Gradient Material:
Set Up the Material:
Create a new folder called βTestβ and then add a Material called βTestβ.
Open the material and close any unnecessary windows.
Radial Exponent:
Add a Radial Exponent node and set its density to a higher value (around 100 or 500) to make it sharp.
To keep the values between 0 and 1, add a Saturate node.
Create a Faded Radial:
Copy the Radial Exponent and add a Divide node.
Divide the radial exponent by a lower value to get a more flat, even effect.
If you want the gradient to originate from the inside instead of the outside, use a 1 β (minus) operator before dividing.
Control the Gradient:
Add a Lerp (Linear Interpolate) node to control the gradient between two colors.
Use white for the outer color and black for the inner color.
Insert a Power node between the two colors to control the overall intensity. Add a Parameter and name it βPowerβ for further control.
Set Colors:
Use the Lab node to assign the two colors. You can make Color 1 something like orange for the outer part, and Color 2 can be a purple or any other color you choose for the center.
Connect both colors to the Lerp node.
Final Material Settings:
Emissive Material:
Connect the Lerp output to the Emissive Color and set the material to Unlit.
Opacity:
Multiply the sharp radial with the blurred one to get the sharp edges and faded center.
Add another parameter to control the Opacity and connect it to the Opacity input of the material.
Create Material Instance:
Save the material and create an Instance of it.
Set the Opacity value to 1 for full visibility.
Adjusting the Colors:
You can adjust the values and colors to get the effect you want. For example, set the divide parameter to 0.1 or 0.01, and tweak the power values until you get the perfect gradient.
For the colors, feel free to experiment. The first color can be a bright orange and the inner color can be something like purple.
Conclusion:
And thatβs it! You now have a vibrant gradient with a cool center fade effect. This technique is great for adding more depth and variation to materials.
Thanks for watching, keep learning, and Iβll see you in the next tutorial!
Key Takeaways:
Creating a radial gradient using the Radial Exponent and Divide nodes.
Controlling the gradient with a Power node and two colors.
Setting up Opacity and Emissive Color to create a visually appealing effect.
I am Ashif Ali, Real-Time VFX Artist, I make Unreal Engine Niagara Tutorial on this channel. I've made it my mission to share my knowledge and expertise with the world through my YouTube channel. So why not join me on this exciting adventure? Follow me on my social links, subscribe to my channel, and support my growth as a creator. Together, we can create amazing things and take our skills to new heights. And who knows, you might even get access to some of my exclusive files for free!