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Volumetric Fog

The Volumetric Fog feature in Oceanology provides an added level of depth and realism to underwater environments by simulating the way light interacts with particles suspended in water. This feature is available for both BP_OceanologyInfiniteOcean and BP_OceanologyLake and can be customized to match your artistic vision.

Overview of Volumetric Fog Setup

Enabling Volumetric Fog

  1. Make sure you have the ExponentialHeightFog actor from Epic Games placed in your scene.

  2. Locate the Underwater category in the details panel of either BP_OceanologyInfiniteOcean or BP_OceanologyLake.

  3. Set the Underwater Mode to Volumetric Fog.

  4. Assign a Volumetric Fog Material to enable this feature and adjust the settings to suit your needs.

  5. Ensure that Volumetric Lighting is enabled in the ExponentialHeightFog actor to achieve the desired volumetric effect.

Key Parameters for Volumetric Fog

  • Fog Density: Use this parameter to control the density of the volumetric fog, which affects underwater visibility. Higher values create a thicker, more opaque fog.

  • Sun Power: Adjust this setting to control the intensity of sunlight as it penetrates underwater, influencing how bright the volumetric fog appears.

  • Depth Color Absorption: Customize how light is absorbed at different depths, giving a more natural appearance to the fog based on water depth.

  • ExponentialFogColorHigh/Low: Set gradient colors for different fog layers to create a realistic transition from shallow to deep water conditions.

Customization Options

  • You can switch between different Volumetric Fog Materials to achieve unique visual effects.

  • Adjust the color properties such as ExponentialFogColorHigh/Low and Depth Color Absorption to achieve a visually pleasing underwater gradient and enhance immersion.

Lighting Considerations

  • Volumetric Lighting: This feature enhances light scattering through the fog, creating more realistic underwater lighting. Adjust the Sun Power and Depth Color Absorption parameters for optimal light interaction.

  • Test various lighting setups to see how the volumetric fog interacts with sunlight, especially during different times of the day.

Integration with Other Underwater Features

  • Volumetric Fog works alongside the Underwater Post Process Material to create a cohesive underwater visual effect.

  • When using masks for underwater objects, ensure the fog settings are properly configured so that masked objects appear natural within the foggy environment.

Summary

This guide helps you to utilize Volumetric Fog to achieve a visually appealing and immersive underwater experience, enhancing both the mood and realism of your scenes. By adjusting parameters like Fog Density, Sun Power, and Depth Color Absorption, and integrating with other underwater features, you can create a more dynamic and realistic underwater environment for your projects.