Material Instances + DataTable Options

[JMSoares]

Hey guys! I’m new and super noob to UE4 and UE5.

Right now, I’m doing a project for vertex painting in UE4 and I cannot get the material instances in.

I download the ■■■■■■■■ from quixelbrige.com/megascans (showed in first screenshot) already but they won’t show up in the content browser.

And yes, I’ve applied the filters for the material instances and megascans plugin is installed.

Also, when I drag n drop those megascan files into the Content Browser, a DataTable Options window shows up… (second screenshot)

What the heck is DataTable and what options should I pick?

Any generous soul can help me??!!

[ClockworkOcean]

The usual way to install Megascans materials is directly from the plugin. So you download it here

and then use the + button, to add it to the project. The plugin will then take you to a totally unrelated folder, I have no idea why that is

If you want to import textures, a better way is right clicking in the content browser and choosing

( or whatever folder you’re in ). Only choose the textures, and not JSON files, which is probably why you’re getting strange dialogs.

In your example, you only need

[JMSoares]

@ClockworkOcean

ever folder you’re in ). Only choose the textures, and not JSON files, which is probably why you’re getting strange dialogs.

In your example, you only need

Alright, I’ll give it a try.

I know quixel bridge plugin does it automaticaly but it’s only available on unreal engine 5.

On unreal engine 4, I can only get the Megascans plugin.

Thanks for the attention, man !

I’ll keep you updated

[JMSoares]

So, as mentioned, the Quixel bridge plugin is not available for UE4 (unless I’m doing something wrong here…!)

But I’ve downloaded and installed the Megascans plugin into UE4 (there were two plugins: Bridge and Mixer. I’ve done both.)

Then, the Megascans plugin shows up into UE4.

But I don’t know how to bring material instances. Megascans plugin, as far as I could tell, only allows me to create Material Blends, in UE4.

Also, I’ve imported the textures directly into the content browser. And yes, you were right about that .JSON file, that was the one that was bringing up that weird DataTable Options windows.

Still, the texture and map files show up there but not as material instances, which they cannot be seen when I activate the material instances filter in the Content Browser .

According to the tutorial I’m following, it was supposed to be like this (see the screenshot):

(notice the Material Intances filter on).

My question is: how do I make material instances like these?

I feel so powerless and useless -.-’

(sorry to bother you with noob questions, btw…*)

[ClockworkOcean]

All I know, is when you download a material from MS, you get the textures and a material instance generated.

The material instance is an instance of the main MS material

[JMSoares]

Found it !

Okay, I’m too embarassed to admit but the whole problem was that I was downloading the surfaces files from the website and then importing them to UE4. This is not the way.

The proper way to do it is - after installing the Quixel Bridge standalone app - to download the surface files directly from the app, while having my UE4 project opened and, clicking exporting, it will automatically create the megascans folder and surfaces subfolder , as well as generating automatically the material instances.

You’ve mentioned this, yes, but since the Quixel Bridge plugin icon does not show up in the UE4 workspace (as it shows on UE5) , I thought you were mentioning the UE5 workflow.

Dude, I feel dumb. But anyway, it’s fixed !

Regardless, thanks for everything, man

[ClockworkOcean]