Bipul Mohanto

Bipul Mohanto

Research Assistant, Real-Time (Foveated) Path Tracing

Variable Rate Shading with Unreal Engine 4.23.1 and HTC Vive Pro Eye

1 minute read

Published:

I have divided the instructions into three sections:

  1. Hardware, software, and driver prerequisite
  2. Cloning and building Unreal Engine 4.23.1
  3. Working with dynamic VRS in VR

Part 1: Hardware, Software, and Driver Prerequisite

  • see Marios Bikos tutorial. Technically, any latest hardware and driver should work
  • You need the SteamVR and SRanipal runtime.

Part 2: Cloning and Building UE 4.23.1

  • git clone --single-branch --branch VariableRateShading-4.23.1 https://github.com/ViveSW/UnrealEngine.git. For cloning as I will suggest you choose any simple director, e.g., C:\
  • Caution: This part was ignored in the original tutorial. Replace the existing Commit.gitdeps.xml file with the latest download: https://github.com/EpicGames/UnrealEngine/releases/download/4.24.2-release/Commit.gitdeps.xml. The existing Commit.gitdeps.xml has a problem and it will generate an error message if you try Setup.bat
  • Now, open cmd/Windows PowerShell (run as administrator) and you can run the Setup.bat. Or, you can also run directly the Setup.bat as Run as administrator
  • If you are using cmd/Windows PowerShell, run the GenerateProjectFiles.bat -2017, or you can run the GenerateProjectFiles.bat
  • Then, open the UE4.sln with Visual Studio 2017 Community.
  • Under Engine, select the UE4 Set as a startUp Project and build.
  • Caution: search unreallightmass in Solution Explorer and build. Later, when you will work on the project, the Lighting build failed error may pop up. You can do this step later if you’re facing the error.

Part 3.1: Super Runtime Animation Pal

  • First, Download and configure SteamVR
  • Then, you need the SRanipal runtime, download and install with msi. Here you can download, will need a vive account. Check this is the updated runtime.
  • I am using 1.3.6.11 version. I will suggest to install the latest version through Vive Port
  • After that, download the SRanipal SDK. I read online forums the latest versions may have some bug. The latest stable version is 1.3.6.6. You can find that in archive or google a bit.
  • I am using version 1.3.6.6.

Part 3.2: Working with dynamic VRS in VR

  • I am working with SRanipal 1.3.6.6, copy and paste it under Plugins
  • You need to restart the UE
  • Edit» plugins
  • Project Settings » Plugins » VRS Settings

SRanipal

Resources:

  • Marios Bikos’ Tutorial
  • https://docs.vrcft.io/docs/hardware/VIVE/sranipal
  • UE 5.4, I still do not find the dynamic VRS, only static VRS is there for optimization.

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Path tracing aka. Physically based rendering (PBR) is a discrete light simulation that approximately imitates the continuous real-world light interaction using the approximate physics and calculus algorithm. The goal of this repository is to gather available resources that will help beginners start working in path tracing (PBR).