VFX Breakdown – Ground Break Effect
This project was a personal highlight and a solid technical challenge. Created in collaboration with the 1mafx.com community, this ground break effect spans a full 3-part tutorial series focused on procedural mesh destruction, texture detailing, and in-engine VFX integration.
Teasers for each part:
Part 1 – Mesh Creation and Animation
We started in Houdini by creating a procedural ground mesh and simulating its destruction using RBD techniques. SideFX Labs tools helped streamline the workflow and made exporting to Unreal (and Unity) straightforward.
This part focuses on:
- Fracture setup for gameplay timing
- Export pipeline that keeps materials and pivots intact
- Flexible mesh structure for reuse in other effects
Part 2 – Texturing
With the meshes ready, we moved into Substance Designer to texture the fractured ground. The textures bring out cracks, depth, and breakup details that sell the realism of the shatter.
Supporting tutorial:
- Substance Texture Tutorial: Watch Tutorial
Part 3 – Visual Effects and Integration
The final stage brings everything into Unreal Engine. We layered in sprite-based FX like dust bursts and edge glows to complement the mesh animation. Then we integrated everything into the scene with attention to performance and visual clarity.
This part includes:
- Niagara emitters for debris and dust
- Timing systems using blueprint triggers
- Simple optimizations for gameplay scenarios
The goal was to create an effect that feels impactful without being too expensive to run in real-time.
Explore the Full Tutorial
The entire 3-part series is available inside the Tier 1 membership at 1mafx.com. It walks through every step, from mesh creation and destruction to texturing and final scene setup.
You’ll also get access to a growing library of VFX tutorials, covering everything from stylized effects to gameplay integration.
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