Jiayang Xu’s Portfolio

Welcome to my game zone!

Portfolio Introduction

Dive into my portfolio, where each project narrates my evolution in digital artistry. It spans from intricate 3D models and textures to immersive game environments and innovative VFX using Houdini and Unreal Engine 5. From crafting iconic props, designing a historical Unreal scene, and developing a detective board game, to contributing to a multiplayer game, my journey reflects a blend of creativity and technical skill. This collection is not just my work; it's a testament to my passion for pushing the frontiers of digital creation.

Master Sword

Fire Hydrant

Stylized Gun

Magic Wand

3D Modeling

Houdini Procedual Modeling

BookShelf

This HDA, created in Houdini, represents my initial foray into procedural asset creation. The bookshelf is a versatile model where users can adjust its dimensions, including length, width, height, and the number of shelves, as well as the height of each individual shelf. Once imported into an engine like Unreal, this flexibility allows for easy customization, making it ideal for various interior scenes in games or architectural visualizations.

Railroad

Developed using Houdini's curve node, this HDA offers dynamic control over the layout of railroad tracks. When imported into Unreal Engine, users can manipulate the curve to alter the track's direction seamlessly. Additional parameters like track width, sleeper pad density, and spike size can be adjusted, providing a high degree of customization. This HDA is perfect for creating intricate railway scenes in games or simulations, offering both ease of use and detailed control.
curve can be customizable in engine, the railroad tracks should orient to the curve.

Handrail

This HDA, also based on Houdini's curve node, allows for the creation of handrails with adjustable paths. Once in Unreal Engine, users can modify the curve to change the handrail's direction, including vertical movements, adapting to various architectural needs. Parameters like the density of handrail supports can also be tweaked, making this asset highly adaptable for different design scenarios, from staircases to balconies in virtual environments.

Plane Destruction

Utilizing Houdini's RBD (Rigid Body Dynamics) nodes, this HDA simulates the destruction of a floor or plane surface. It's designed to create realistic fragmentation and debris effects, ideal for scenes involving structural damage or destruction in games and visual effects. This asset demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of physical simulation in 3D environments, offering users the ability to create compelling destruction sequences with a high degree of realism.

Digital Game: Light The Way

Environment Design
Chinese Republic's Building

Unreal VFX

Sci-Fi Barrier

The Sci-Fi Barrier is a visually striking VFX creation, utilizing hexagonal patterns in its design. The key to its dynamic appearance lies in the use of a panner node, which animates the material, creating a sense of motion. The sine node is employed to achieve an overall floating effect, making the barrier appear as if it's gently oscillating up and down. The integration of Fresnel and depth fade nodes is crucial for achieving a material effect that gradually becomes transparent towards the center when viewed from different angles, while also ensuring a smooth transition at the edges. This VFX not only serves as a functional barrier in a sci-fi setting but also adds an aesthetic element to the environment.

Sword Slash

This effect is a dynamic representation of a sword slash, designed to add a dramatic flair to combat sequences. After binding to the skeleton, a Niagara system is created to produce a trailing effect that follows the sword's motion. The trail is crafted to fade out gradually, achieved through the use of masks. The effect is split into two distinct parts, each applying different materials. The top part utilizes desaturation, while the lower part combines various noise materials and color multiplication to create a unique visual impact. This VFX not only enhances the realism of the sword movement but also adds a layer of visual excitement to the action.

Space Tear

The Space Tear effect is a captivating visual that simulates a tear in the fabric of space. It's crafted using a radial gradient exponential to define its general shape, with added noise to create a dynamic, fluctuating boundary. This boundary gives the impression of an unstable and shifting portal. The core of the effect uses a custom reflection vector, which creates a sense of depth and spatial distortion, as if peering into another dimension. This effect is particularly effective in conveying a sense of depth and otherworldliness, making the viewer feel as though they are looking into a different space through the material.

Bullet Impact

This VFX project focuses on the creation of realistic muzzle flashes and bullet impacts, emulating the effects seen in first-person shooter games. It involves a combination of basic blueprints and particle systems to simulate the sudden burst of light from a gun's muzzle and the subsequent impact of the bullet. The challenge lies in capturing the brief yet intense nature of these phenomena. The muzzle flash is designed to be sharp and bright, effectively conveying the power of the gunshot, while the bullet impact is crafted to showcase a blend of debris and sparks, adding to the realism of the shooting experience. This project demonstrates my ability to create high-impact, realistic VFX that contribute significantly to the immersion and intensity of first-person shooter gameplay.

Bonfire

This VFX project is a detailed and realistic representation of a bonfire, created using the Niagara system in Unreal Engine. The challenge was to capture the natural movement and color variations of fire, along with the accompanying smoke and ember effects. The fire's flickering flames are crafted to reflect variations in intensity and size, while the smoke is simulated to rise and disperse naturally. The embers add an extra layer of realism, glowing intensely near the fire and cooling as they drift away. This bonfire effect is not just visually captivating but also demonstrates a deep understanding of natural element simulation in a digital environment.

Sparks

In this project, I focused on creating a dynamic spark effect using the Niagara system, simulating the behavior of sparks resulting from metal striking or electrical discharges. The key was to achieve a realistic interaction of these sparks with their environment, including physical collisions and light emission. Each spark is designed to glow brightly upon creation, then fade as it cools, mimicking the behavior of real sparks. The collision physics ensure that sparks react believably when hitting surfaces, creating a shower of bouncing, fading particles. This effect not only adds a layer of realism to scenes involving metalwork or electrical activities but also showcases advanced techniques in particle simulation and environmental interaction.

Hologram

In this ambitious project, I ventured into the realm of Unreal Engine 5 to create a hologram effect, pushing the boundaries of material creation and animation to simulate a futuristic display. The core objective was to render a character in a holographic form, animated and illuminated as if projected by advanced technology.

Drawing inspiration from the techniques used in my Sci-Fi Barrier project, the hologram's material was intricately crafted using a combination of Fresnel and depth fade nodes. These elements were crucial in achieving the characteristic 'holographic' look, providing a sense of depth and dimensionality to the material. The use of the GeneratedBand node played a pivotal role in mimicking the lines and patterns typically associated with holographic displays, enhancing the overall authenticity of the effect.

To further refine the hologram, I employed masks to create a gradient glow, reminiscent of light emanating from a projector. This subtle yet impactful detail added to the realism of the hologram, making it appear as if it were truly being projected into the space.

The final touch to this visual spectacle was the addition of lens flares, which not only augmented the aesthetic appeal but also contributed to the illusion of light interaction, typical of real-world holographic projections. These flares added a layer of polish and sophistication to the hologram, making it not just a technical achievement but also a visually stunning piece.

Overall, this project was a deep dive into advanced material creation and animation within Unreal Engine 5, showcasing my ability to blend technical prowess with creative vision to produce a captivating and realistic holographic effect.

Stylized Fire

The Stylized Fire project represents a creative leap in my journey with Unreal Engine, where I endeavored to craft a unique and versatile fire effect. This project transcends traditional fire simulation, introducing a stylized, artistic interpretation of flames that can be adapted to various visual styles.

Central to this project is the use of dynamic noise textures, which are key to achieving a range of distinct fire effects. By manipulating these noise textures, I was able to create variations in the flames, ranging from an electrified, energetic fire resembling electronic flames, to softer, more subdued styles akin to paper-like fire. This versatility allows the fire to seamlessly integrate into different artistic environments, whether it be a high-tech sci-fi setting or a whimsical, stylized fantasy world.

Furthermore, I explored the impact of altering the shape and form of the flame textures. This experimentation led to a discovery of how different shapes can dramatically change the overall appearance and behavior of the fire. From sharp, angular flames that suggest intensity and danger, to smooth, flowing forms that convey a gentler, more mesmerizing fire, each shape brought a new dimension to the project.

The Stylized Fire project is not just a technical endeavor but also an artistic exploration. It showcases my ability to push the boundaries of traditional VFX, creating fire effects that are not only dynamic and eye-catching but also highly adaptable to various artistic visions. This project stands as a testament to my commitment to innovation and versatility in the realm of visual effects.