Atmosphere and Clouds

Atmosphere and Clouds in Unreal Engine create realistic skies and weather effects for your game. These features help set the tone and environment for your world, whether it’s a sunny day, a cloudy afternoon, or a dramatic sunset. Let’s break it down simply!

What Are Atmosphere and Clouds?

• The Atmosphere simulates the sky, sunlight, and overall mood of your scene.
• Clouds add depth and realism by creating dynamic, moving weather elements in the sky.

Components for Atmosphere and Clouds

1. Sky Atmosphere
   • Simulates the Earth’s atmosphere.
   • Creates realistic effects like blue skies, sunsets, and sunrises.
   • Automatically interacts with Directional Light (sunlight).
2. Volumetric Clouds
   • Adds 3D clouds to your sky that look realistic and have depth.
   • They can be static or animated to move across the sky.
   • Useful for creating weather effects like overcast skies or dramatic storm clouds.
3. Exponential Height Fog
   • Adds fog that gets thicker with distance and height.
   • Makes scenes more atmospheric by blending objects into the environment.
4. Sky Light
   • Captures the sky’s ambient light and spreads it across the scene.
   • Works well with Sky Atmosphere for outdoor environments.

How to Add Atmosphere and Clouds

1. Sky Atmosphere
   • Go to the Place Actors panel.
   • Drag the Sky Atmosphere actor into your level.
   • Adjust settings in the Details Panel for effects like haze and horizon color.
2. Directional Light
   • Add a Directional Light to act as the sun.
   • Connect it to the Sky Atmosphere for dynamic day-night cycles.
3. Volumetric Clouds
   • Drag the Volumetric Cloud actor into your scene.
   • Customize the cloud density, shape, and movement in the Details Panel.
4. Fog
   • Add Exponential Height Fog for misty or hazy effects.
   • Adjust fog settings like start distance, density, and color.

Customizing Atmosphere and Clouds

1. Sky Color
   • Change the atmosphere’s color to create different moods, like a warm sunset or a cold, overcast day.
2. Sun Position
   • Adjust the Directional Light’s rotation to move the sun and control shadows and lighting.
3. Cloud Density
   • Increase or decrease the amount of clouds to match your scene’s weather.
4. Wind Speed
   • Set wind parameters to make clouds move across the sky.

Why Use Atmosphere and Clouds?

• Creates a natural and immersive environment.
• Adds realism to your outdoor scenes.
• Helps set the tone and mood of your game, from peaceful to dramatic.

With Atmosphere and Clouds, you can turn a simple level into a breathtaking and dynamic world!