To get the most out of this book
First of all, you need a computer that is powerful enough to run UE5. Even a lower-lever gaming PC or a modern laptop will be sufficient. You don't need previous experience with 3D software or Unreal Engine, but you will need to have basic computer literacy such as using the Windows operating system. For experienced 3D artists making the transition from other software packages to Blender or UE5, this book will help you to make the transition by showing you how to use the equivalent basic tools.
At the time of writing, all the software used in this book is free to download and use for individuals. There might be some licensing terms and conditions, but they are mostly for big studios working on big projects and don't affect individual users. At the time of writing, these are the download links:
- https://www.unrealengine.com/
- https://www.blender.org/download/releases/3-1/
- https://quixel.com/mixer
- https://metahuman.unrealengine.com/
- Instant meshes: https://github.com/wjakob/instant-meshes
- Xnormal: https://xNormal.net/
However, they should be easy to find with a quick internet search. Follow the installation instructions from the software websites.
The book is an equivalent of a foundation course on the most important elements of 3D art in general. We try to teach you the most important industry-standard ways of doing things in order to lay a solid foundation that you can build upon. See this book as the first step. We want to put the first tools in your toolbelt, but it is up to you to learn the subtleties of these tools.
Practice with these tools. Find and explore more tools. Explore the area or discipline you enjoy doing the most. In many cases, this also turns out to be the one you have a talent for. Put the time in, find a mentor, and you too can become a top craftsman and artist in this field.
