Construction Mode & Megascans
🚧 Getting Started with Construction Mode & Megascans
Hey there! Let’s dive into how you can use Construction Mode with Megascans or any other 3D asset kits. Construction Mode works well with assets from any source, but sometimes you need to tweak things a bit to get them ready. The most important thing? Your meshes need to face the positive X direction. I’ll walk you through it using Megascans assets as an example since they usually face the positive Y direction. But no worries—you can easily fix this in Unreal Engine. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Set Up Your Scene
First up, drag all the assets you want to adjust into the scene and select them. Quick tip: You’ll be changing the pivot of the source asset, so if you're already using them in your scene with the original pivot rotation, make sure to duplicate them first and work on the copies. This way, you keep your original setup intact! 🔄
Step 2: Activate Modeling Mode
Head over to Modeling Mode. If you don’t see it, no worries! Just go to Window → Plugins and enable ‘Modeling Tools Editor Mode.’ Easy!
Step 3: Adjust the Pivots
Once in Modeling Mode, select Pivot, and rotate the pivot for all selected meshes so they face the positive X direction. For Megascans assets, this usually means rotating 90 degrees on the Z axis. That’s basically it! However, make sure the pivot is at the front surface of the meshes. Sometimes, depending on the asset pack, it might be at the back. If that's the case, just turn on Snap Dragging in Modeling/Pivot, hold Control, and drag the pivot to the front.
Step 4: Save and Get Ready for Construction Mode
After you're done, save all the assets, and you're all set to jump into Construction Mode. To set the floor heights, hover your cursor over one of the assets to see its dimensions. This helps you adjust the ground and mid-floor heights in Construction Mode.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
A couple of things to note as you build:
Corner Materials: Construction Mode creates corners for the building with a regular plaster material by default. So, if you're using assets like brick walls, you'll need to create a matching material for the corners to keep things looking consistent.
Asset Limitations: While Construction Mode is pretty flexible and works with most assets, it does have some limitations. For example, it treats the bottom of a mesh as the floor and the top as the ceiling. If your model has decorations or parts extending above the ceiling or below the floor level, it can lead to gaps in your building design. If you would like to try out our assets, visit our store here.
And that's it! You’re all set to build amazing scenes with Construction Mode and Megascans. Have fun creating, and happy building! 🏗️
