Visual effects (VFX) help create ambience in a level, and when used in a cinematic, they set the scene. Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) uses the Niagara system to create custom VFX.
Here are a few interesting ways you can use custom effects in UEFN:
Attach an effect to the Prop Mover device and move your effect across a section of your island to simulate snow, lightning, or magical effects.
Trigger an effect with the Trigger device to cause surprise, or create a specific atmosphere or mood.
Set off a sequence of effects and devices together with the Pulse Trigger device.
Create an effect that looks like snow, or leaves falling from trees.
If you’re already familiar with the Niagara system tutorial emitters, jump to the firework tutorial below to learn how to use empty emitters. If you aren’t, then refer to the Creating Custom Modules documentation.
All custom VFX can be referenced by Fortnite devices, and can be selected to replace the effects that come natively with UEFN.
You can create your own VFX to:
Add smoke effects to weapons and fires.
Add weather effects like lightning and snow.
Add moving dust particles to a cinematic.
For a deep dive on how the Niagara system works, refer to the following Unreal Engine documents.
Niagara Overview: For information about how to modify and create an effect and its behavior.
Events and Event Handlers Overview: To learn more about using multiple effects together.
Using the Standard VFX
The visual effects that come packaged with UEFN are in the Content Browser inside the VFX folder. All effects inside the folder are locked, meaning you cannot open them or change their configurations.
Click image to enlarge.
Drag these effects into the viewport to use them on your level. Standard VFX packages that come with UEFN include:
| Effect Name | Description |
|---|---|
Campfire Smoke | A curling length of dark smoke that rises. |
Gas Explosion | A burst of firelight and smoke. |
Grenade Explosion | A burst of firelight and smoke. |
Impact | A series of sparks of differing weight and volume. |
Metal Impact | A series of sparks of differing weight and volume, accompanied by smoke. |
Burst Rifle | A burst of flame. |
Rifle Loop | Looping bursts of fire and smoke. |
Shallow Water | Gentle concentric rings and sparkle effects. |
Spawn Effect | Smoke and sparkle effects. |
Stone Impact | A dust cloud and scattering rock effects. |
Torch | A flickering flame and slight amount of rising smoke. |
Wood Impact | A small. translucent cloud of dust and wood splinters. |
Creating Your Own VFX
Learn how to create your own effects by trying the different Niagara Tutorials.
Not all Effect nodes and Emitter settings are available in UEFN. This affects the following tutorials:
Particle Effects: No Actor Component Interface Effect Node.
Beam Effect: No Engine Content or Plugin Content settings.
GPU Sprite: No Emitter, Sphere Location, or settings, but UEFN has additional Sprite Size Modes not available in Unreal Engine.
Sprite Smoke: Requires a smoke material before beginning the tutorial.
Dark Smoke: Depends upon the completion of the Sprite Smoke tutorial.
Steam Effect: Depends upon the completion of the Sprite Smoke tutorial.
To help you understand how effects work, refer to the basic firework tutorial to build a simple fireworks display.