# Why the distance field visualizer and functionality doesn't work?

**URL:** <https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-the-distance-field-visualizer-and-functionality-doesnt-work/2592049>\
**Category:** Rendering\
**Tags:** distance-fields, unreal-engine, question\
**Created:** [July 5, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-the-distance-field-visualizer-and-functionality-doesnt-work/2592049 "2025-07-05T17:32:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Texn0krat](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Texn0krat](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Texn0krat)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-the-distance-field-visualizer-and-functionality-doesnt-work/2592049/1 "2025-07-05T17:32:48Z")

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Hello. I’m trying to use distance fields to deform my mesh by this [tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzvq8aonDYQ), but in some moment my distance field visualizer just stopped working. I should see black-white image with it, but for now I’m seeing this:

 ![изображение](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/f/3/f/f3f5db172785cdf3df0c371cc1b11f94809dd936.jpeg)  
here’s the original scene without visualizer:  
 ![изображение](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/5/e/6/5e6d0f840b8db56b20d42b1f1431f2cf148c334f.jpeg)  
And the second problem - distance field functionality just doesn’t work for me: at the beginning I’ve got just very ugly result following that tutorial, but for now it’s just doesn’t work at all. Here’s my material (for better visualization I’ve connected result to base color) - there is just no distance fields:  
 ![изображение](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/a/7/8/a78f27f23753261b5273013857a34e6f2cee6904.jpeg)  
 ![изображение](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/4/d/3/4d3d467db77ce3ffc322a1b61a95a432278eafa0.jpeg)  
P.S. I’ve tried to change RHI from DX12 to Vulkan and setting “Generate Mesh Distance Fields” is enabled.  
 ![изображение](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/8/0/f/80f53d4d097b5dbcf5f6b00f4385c1f185d2ee29.png)  
What am I missing?

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**Author:** ![jblackwell](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@jblackwell](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/jblackwell)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-the-distance-field-visualizer-and-functionality-doesnt-work/2592049/2 "2025-07-05T19:47:13Z")

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I can answer your first question: the mesh distance fields are colored as a visualization upgrade, so it’s easier to tell individual SDFs apart even when they’re intersecting. That’s not a you issue, that’s just how the new engine does things.

As for your second problem, could you post a few different screenshots of your visualization modes to help diagnose? Mesh distance fields, Global distance field, and DFAO?

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**Author:** ![Texn0krat](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Texn0krat](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Texn0krat)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 7:58pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-the-distance-field-visualizer-and-functionality-doesnt-work/2592049/3 "2025-07-05T19:58:38Z")

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Thank you! Previous version was more clear for me…  
Default lit:

 ![изображение](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/c/2/4/c24b26d576b2d57b3267a3ff6202385baa94b7d8.jpeg)  
Mesh Distance fields:  
 ![изображение](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/6/f/1/6f1cc4fc48267e9b70ce4244fed947080b2fd039.jpeg)  
Global Distance field:  
 ![изображение](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/8/4/7/8475f155d2c491473e86581101f9ce1cd5534b14.jpeg)  
DFAO:  
 ![изображение](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/e/8/c/e8c1244c2cd616480c7832289214501f9552a67d.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Texn0krat](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Texn0krat](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Texn0krat)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/why-the-distance-field-visualizer-and-functionality-doesnt-work/2592049/4 "2025-07-06T17:39:47Z")

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I found the main source of the problem! I forgot to uncheck “Affect Distance Field Lighting” setting in static mesh settings!