Forest Tools 1.2 update brings a scattering system familiar to users of Max, Maya, and Blender into Unreal Engine. This release significantly boosts performance and introduces new features like Forest Groups and Presets, streamlining environment creation.
For 3D artists diving into Unreal Engine, creating detailed and realistic environments can be both exciting and challenging. The latest update to Forest Tools, version 1.2, aims to simplify this process, bringing familiar workflows from other DCCs directly into Unreal Engine. According to the original post, this update focuses on enhancing performance and introducing new features that will streamline your environment creation workflow. EvaFrise created this tool to help artists achieve stunning results with greater efficiency.
Video via YouTube Channel
What’s New in Forest Tools 1.2?
The update includes several key improvements. The original post highlights that version 1.2 focuses on performance improvements and a range of new features designed to make environment creation more intuitive and efficient. Let’s delve into some of the most exciting additions:
- Forest Groups: Organize and manage your scattered assets more effectively.
- Presets: Save and reuse your favorite scattering configurations.
- Advanced/Basic FT Exclude Mesh Detection: Precisely control where your assets are scattered.
- Clustering Optimization: Enhance performance by optimizing the clustering of instances.
- Change by Edge & Height: Introduce variation based on edge proximity or height.
- Base Offset Randomization: Add natural-looking variation to the placement of your assets.
- Flow Rotation: Control the orientation of your scattered objects along a flow map.
- FT to Foliage: Convert your Forest Tools scattering setups to Unreal Engine’s foliage system.
- Rotate to Spline: Align your scattered objects to a spline for controlled placement.
- Auto Assign Meshes to Forest Groups: Speed up your workflow with automatic mesh assignment.
Diving Deeper into the Features
The video provides a practical demonstration of these new features. As demonstrated in the video, the update brings a more streamlined approach to environment design. One of the key improvements highlighted is the enhanced performance, allowing artists to work more efficiently without sacrificing detail. The creator of the video showcases the new tools in action, providing viewers with a clear understanding of how each feature can be used to achieve specific effects.
The presenter in the video also emphasizes the importance of the new Forest Groups feature, which allows for better organization and management of scattered assets. This is particularly useful in complex scenes where multiple types of objects are being scattered. Presets are another standout addition, enabling users to save and reuse their favorite scattering configurations, saving valuable time and effort.
The video also touches on the advanced mesh detection capabilities, highlighting how artists can precisely control where assets are scattered. This level of control is crucial for creating realistic and believable environments. Furthermore, the clustering optimization feature ensures that performance remains smooth, even with a large number of instances.
Availability
Forest Tools 1.2 is available worldwide on Fab. This update is a significant step forward for environment creation in Unreal Engine, offering a blend of power, flexibility, and ease of use. Whether you’re a seasoned environment artist or just starting out, Forest Tools 1.2 is worth exploring.
For those interested in learning more about procedural content generation in Unreal Engine, Epic Games provides extensive documentation and tutorials on their official website. You can find valuable resources on topics such as the Procedural Content Generation (PCG) framework, which complements tools like Forest Tools.
