Lumen Explained - IMPORTANT Tips for UE5

Probably the most important tutorial I've made for Unreal Engine 5.
This video contains a whole bunch of important information that WILL AFFECT how you create content for UE5 using Lumen. I cannot stress enough how necessary the information here is. I know this video may seem a bit dry but it WILL improve your lighting quality. For the record, the contents of this video apply to Unreal Engine 5 EARLY ACCESS. And things will likely change in future builds, once 5.0 is officially released.

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro
01:15 - Skillshare
02:24 - Project Settings
03:07 - What Lumen Can Do
04:33 - How Lumen Works
05:35 - Surface Cache (SUPER IMPORTANT)
07:21 - Lumen Scene (ALSO IMPORTANT)
08:16 - Limitations & Things to Know
11:18 - Raytraced Reflections
12:29 - Best Practices

---------Cameras and Gear Used To Film This Video -------
DISCLAIMER: This video/description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. As an Amazon and B&H Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

My Streaming / Recording Setup (How this Video was Recorded)

[ianwatson]

Man, I've been a 3D archviz artist for close to 10 years, and after hearing about UE5 and Lumen, I've started experimenting and wow... I believe when UE5 comes out with all the bells and whistles, offline renderers like Vray/Corona/Arnold etc are going to be shaking in their boots. In addition to UE5 being free, they have these amazing free Megascan assets that you'd have to spend 20 dollars for a group of rocks previously, you can now get for free. I feel like traditional 3D artists will start to flock to UE5 in the coming years, I know I am. :) Thanks for the videos, they really clear things up, and your content is amazing. Keep it up!

[JesseTheGameDev]

You should really make this video again with Unreal Engine 5.2. They have fixed/updated a ton of the things you address in this video.

[cosma.]

A new video from 'The Fauche'? I'm here for this...

[paunddeveloper]

You explain incredibly, even if I’m not English, I can understand you even without subtitles, and in a clear and concise way.
Thank you for your contribution to this community!

[ianburke]

You're very good at this William, finding all the information and presenting it in a clear and understandable way. Thank you for saving me so much valuable time.

[davidkerman]

Love your videos. Total newbie here. I'm bashing my head against the wall with flickering shadows, weird artifacts and other stuff. I'd love it if you updated this tutorial covering 5.4. Thanks again. You're the man.

[Isnero_A]

I can't express how much I appreciate your videos. I have a masters in film (nothing to brag about) and I come to you for lighting. I specialize in directing and writing. I taught myself Unreal during the pandemic and have come so far because of your words of wisdom. Again thanks so much.

[nemysisretrogaming]

There's one other thing I noticed with lumen and UE5 from a modelling perspective. If you're going to use geometry that has external and internal lighting make sure that the geometry is closed. Back in UE4 you can just force the geometry as 2 sided. For example a wall that is only meant to be seen from the inside but catches light from the outside must have two opposing faces if it is part of a larger section. Ideally you want a wall that has closed faces on all six sides. You can get away with open geometry for example using a rock or piece of landscape on the ground.

[advaitchougule]

Your YouTube channel the most important for the Unreal Engine learning

[SayakBandyopadhyay]

This was super useful! Thank you so much! And yes, I absolutely despised baked lighting and all the weird shadow artefacts that came with it! Lumen came and saved us! I hope it gets more and more optimised.

[frankerzed]

Great video!
Btw, Lumen Scene is now located under Lit > Lumen > Lumen Scene

[hpkruger]

Maybe this is not the right place to mention it, but I find it great that you do these videos despite your speech handicap. I have a similar issue so I just wanted to show some respect. The content of your videos is great as well. Keep up the good work!

[marianocvart]

Thank you William for all of this high quality information very clean and well presented. I enjoy all of your videos a lot.

[mikhailbo]

Thanks a lot. Official Unreal videos are too long often. I don't have 2 or 3 hours to watch them. Your "short" videos are really useful.

[prinzbach]

Very interesting video, thanks for taking the time to make it! Just a side note > I could not find the "lumen scene" in: show > visualize > Lumen scene. Instead (in my version) it was in: View mode > Lumen > Lumen scene. Hopefully that saves someone 20 seconds ;) (obviously that's not an error on your part. Most likely it's a minor update)!

[michaelperrigo]

I have so much respect for you for using video chapters to let me skip the sponsor! <3

[KeepMaxing]

Thank you William, This is the best YouTube channel I've ever seen. I wish you luck, success, and happiness.

[noiamhippyman]

I'm being dumb and nitpicky but "raytracing" can do the whole clear coat thing really well. We're just talking seconds per frame rather than frames per second. Having something like this in REAL-TIME is really what makes this so amazing. Like I said though I'm just playing semantics at this point. I get that you meant ray-tracing really can't do this at the moment in real time.

Thank you also for taking the time to watch the full event and sharing the info that most of us would be interested in!

[MRDDev]

My man bringing some super important tips right before I start blocking out the environment, thanks for reading my mind and happy holidays

[codeFriendlyART]

Thanks for taking the time to produce this direct-to-the-point synthesis guide for us artists as you do call it - it is amazing! I gotta' love your final expression on the video man, do I feel exactly identify with you, I totally HATE fraking baking lighting! Lumen GI feels amazing in turn and thanks for the hints about the emissive as well 👊 Super useful info. I even paused a few times on the vide just to be able to make notes..