Materials and Textures in Unreal Engine 5

About this course

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. Master the art of materials and textures in Unreal Engine 5 and elevate your game design skills. This course provides an in-depth understanding of Unreal Engine's material system, equipping you with the knowledge to create stunning, realistic environments. Learn to apply techniques that enhance visual storytelling and improve player immersion. The course begins with an overview of materials, textures, and their inputs. You’ll explore key concepts like normal maps, anisotropy, and blend modes. By mastering tools like the Material Editor Toolbar and material instances, you’ll gain the confidence to create dynamic and efficient materials for game development. Next, you’ll dive deeper into advanced topics such as shading models, water materials, texture masking, and material layers. Through practical examples, you’ll learn how to use math and input data expressions, material functions, and UV mapping to achieve intricate and functional designs. Nodes like rotator, panner, and time will teach you how to bring your materials to life with dynamic effects. This course is ideal for aspiring game developers, 3D artists, and professionals looking to refine their Unreal Engine expertise. Basic knowledge of 3D modeling and texturing is recommended. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, you’ll find this course a valuable addition to your skillset.

Course objectives

• provide a comprehensive overview of materials and textures
• develop advanced skills in shading models and water materials
• build proficiency in UV mapping and input data expressions