"Destruction in Abandoned Building"
Gas explosion destroying concrete wall and ground amid flickering flames.
- Unreal Environment from Fab
- Moonlit Golf HDRI by Greg Zaal from Polyhaven
"Destruction in Abandoned Building" Breakdown
Houdini to Unreal Export Methods
The goal of this project was to test 3 different methods for exporting VFX created in Houdini into Unreal Engine. I chose:
1. Sprites Method - Fire Simulation was exported using the Labs Flipbook Textures node
2. Pre-baked FBX Method- Ground Destruction was exported using the Labs RBD to FBX node
3. VAT Method - Wall Destruction was exported using the Labs Vertex Animation Textures node
For each method, I created Pyro and RBD simulations in Houdini. Each simulation was then exported using different nodes for exporting into Unreal.
Creating a cohesive scene in Unreal was interesting, as I needed to make some significant adjustments to make the VFX look more realistic. In addition to creating the fire sprites, I also created more noticeable embers and smoke using Niagara Particle Systems. Adjusting parameters for scale, color, alpha, and looping frequency helped create these realistic details. Finally, I added the fire animation to a Blueprint Class to combine it with a light, giving it a stronger glow.
I also deepened my understanding of attributes in Houdini, ensuring that certain requirements were fulfilled so that the Labs nodes would export the destruction simulations properly.
Software: Houdini, Unreal Engine, After Effects