
Week4
Opacity Map
Feb 1
HAVE COMPLETED:
TO-DO LIST:
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Tested USD variants on a single plant asset
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Authored and layered the variants in Solaris
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Imported the USD into Unreal and verified the workflow
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Figured out USD variants with multiple materials
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Set up the USD layout in Houdini, integrated the variants, and used them in Unreal
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Try Opacity Mask
In order to get cheaper leaves, I used Yichen's fern and try to assign the opacity map on it. We can use Quickuvshade visulize the texture in Sop Level.
Problem-solving

Problem: I started with a grid and used it to replace the original leaves, but I ran into the issue shown in the image. I suspect the repeated pattern is caused by the grid’s UV projection.

Solution: So I used UV Flatten instead of UV Project, and the result looks good now.


I also added a keyframe animation to make it look like it’s swaying in the wind.



Render
After that, I brought it into Unreal and used Component Builder, but it was not successful. I also imported it back into Houdini as a reference, but that was not very successful either.



No matter whether the geometry is static or animated, it still has the same problem.
I also tried a single leaf without animation, and the result is still not good, even though it looks normal in Houdini.



Even when I build the grid directly inside the component, it still has a problem when I import it into Unreal.
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Use VAT and integrate with Opacity Map
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Work on USD Variants and also integrate with Opacity Map