You can import Static Mesh Levels of Detail (LOD) into Unreal Engine from external 3D modeling applications, such as 3DS Max, Maya, or Blender. Although 3DS Max and Maya are used to illustrate this lesson's goal, you can import Static Mesh LODs into Unreal Engine from any 3D modeling application with a save feature.
Prerequisites
- You have access to a 3D modeling application.
- You have a model with LODs created.
Objectives
After going through this guide, you'll know:
- How to set up Static Mesh LODs from external 3D modeling applications.
- How to export Static Mesh LODs from external 3D modeling applications.
- How to import Static Mesh LODs into Unreal Editor from external 3D modeling applications.
The Unreal Engine FBX import pipeline uses FBX 2020.2. Using a different version during export may result in incompatibilities.
Setting-up Static Mesh LODs
1. Select all meshes, from the base LOD down to the last LOD. The selection order is essential for ensuring the LODs are added in the correct order of complexity. Then select the Level of Detail > Group command from the Edit menu.
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1. All meshes are now grouped under the LOD Group.
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1. Select all of the LOD meshes (the order is not important) and then select the Group command from the Group menu.
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1. Enter a name for the new group in the dialog that opens and the click the 
button to create the group.
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1. Click the 
button to view the Utilities panel and then choose the Level of Detail utility. Note: You may need to click 
and select it from the list.
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1. With the group selected, click the 
button to create a new LOD Set and add the meshes in the selected group to it. The meshes are automatically ordered according to their complexity.
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Exporting Static Mesh LODs
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In Maya, select the LOD Group and any collision geometry.
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Go to the file menu and select Export Selection.
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Choose the path where you want to save your mesh. Make sure to give it a name, choose FBX as the file format, and enable the export of animations in the FBX exporter properties. Enabling animation is required for LODs to be exported.
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In 3ds Max select the Group of meshes that comprise the LOD Set and any collision geometry.
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Go to the file menu and select Export > Export Selected.
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Choose the path where you want to save your mesh. Make sure to give it a name, choose FBX as the file format, and then save.
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In the FBX Export window enable animation under the Animation properties. This is required for LODs to be exported.
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Importing Static Mesh LODs
Importing Static Mesh LODs is done a few ways. One option uses the Content Browser, as shown below, and the other is from within the Details panel in the Static Mesh Editor. To learn how to import LOD from the Static Mesh Editor, refer to the Creating and Using LODs documentation.
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In the Content Browser, click the Import button.
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Locate and select the FBX file you want to import.
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Click Open to begin importing the mesh file to your project.
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In the FBX Import Options dialog box, choose the appropriate settings, making sure the Import LODs option, under Mesh > Advanced, is enabled.
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There are two import buttons available to us in the FBX Importer. The first option is the Import button, making it possible to import the currently selected FBX file with your specified settings. The second option is the Import All button; this imports all of the currently selected FBX files with our specified settings.
For more information on the settings in the FBX Importer, refer to the FBX Import Options Reference documentation.
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Click Import or Import All to import the mesh to your project.
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When importing LODs, the name of the imported mesh will follow default Naming Conventions. Refer to our FBX Import Dialog documentation for additional information about all of the settings.
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Your imported mesh will show in the Content Browser, along with any Textures and Materials applied.
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Double-click the Static Mesh to open the Static Mesh Editor. By viewing the imported mesh in the Static Mesh Editor, you can cycle through its LODs using the Auto LOD dropdown.
Now that you have reached the end of this guide, you've learned:
✓ How to set up Static Mesh LODs from external 3D modeling applications.
✓ How to export Static Mesh LODs from external 3D modeling applications.
✓ How to import Static Mesh LODs into Unreal Editor from external 3D modeling applications. -
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