Nils Arenz
Technical Artist @ Epic Games, Owner of Project Natur
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Vegetation Season - Health (Megascans - UE4)

I had the pleasure to work with an amazing team on the just released first Quixel tree pack. I did lead the shader development for this first tree asset pack. In this artwork I would like to showcase on of the functions that I like the most: Health and Season. You can get the tree pack here: https://www.unrealengine.com/marketplace/en-US/product/megascans-trees-european-black-alder-early-access

Megascan Season and Health system: To have a great user experience we decided to implement a blueprint that will allow the user to quickly change global parameters. We want to see vegetation in a ecosystem context rather than asset to asset.

Megascan Season and Health system:

To have a great user experience we decided to implement a blueprint that will allow the user to quickly change global parameters. We want to see vegetation in a ecosystem context rather than asset to asset.

- The changes will also be shared across the entire backlog of Megascan plant - With some adjustments this system will even work on every vegetation asset out there as it is based only on the Albedo texture alone.

- The changes will also be shared across the entire backlog of Megascan plant

- With some adjustments this system will even work on every vegetation asset out there as it is based only on the Albedo texture alone.

- With one click you can convert all trees from summer to winter look with barren branches. - For this we switch out the texture set as a procedural approach would lead in a massive overdraw issue in the tree.

- With one click you can convert all trees from summer to winter look with barren branches.

- For this we switch out the texture set as a procedural approach would lead in a massive overdraw issue in the tree.

- Parts of the plant that have already turned to a yellow tone will age faster than parts that are healthy green.

- Parts of the plant that have already turned to a yellow tone will age faster than parts that are healthy green.

- To have the best result I recommend using both health and season sliders to adjust the look you are looking for.

- To have the best result I recommend using both health and season sliders to adjust the look you are looking for.

Health and season explanation: - Health: This parameter will act as if you would cut off the nutrient support for plant/tree. - Season: A global tint going from the outside facing leaves to the more protected clusters in the inside of a tree.

Health and season explanation:
- Health: This parameter will act as if you would cut off the nutrient support for plant/tree.
- Season: A global tint going from the outside facing leaves to the more protected clusters in the inside of a tree.

There is no limitation in colors! You can abuse this system to create strange out of this world pulsating leaves. This example is using a strong tint on the basecolor and than changing the season color from our preset colors to some bright purple.

There is no limitation in colors! You can abuse this system to create strange out of this world pulsating leaves. This example is using a strong tint on the basecolor and than changing the season color from our preset colors to some bright purple.

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