This tutorial will show you how to properly use decals in Unreal Engine. You will also learn how to make your own decals and use them in UE5.
Applying Decals
I make a folder for my decals and then import them
I will be using a decal I downloaded from Art Station
I also have a decal that I made myself using a photo – if you want to learn how to make a decal yourself, stick around after this section of the tutorial
I start by making a material for the decal – renaming it
I open the material and change the Material Domain to Deferred Decal – this holds the material that will be used as the decal
I also change the Blend Mode to Translucent – this will blend the full material
I drag in the PNG, right-click on it and choose Convert to Parameter – this will allow me to use a material instance to change the material later [image]
I connect the RGB pin to the Base Color and the Alpha to the Opacity
I apply and save it
In the level, I use the Add Menu and under Visual Effects, I choose Decal Actor
I drag-and-drop the material onto the Decal Material slot in the Details Panel
It is important to note that the decal must always be facing the proper axis so it won’t stretch
If I rotate it along the Y-Axis, it will no longer be stretching
I right-click on the material and choose Create Material Instance – this will allow me to change the decal quickly without making a new material
I can open the Material Instance, activate the Image option and load in another decal
Using the ALT key, I can duplicate the decal and drag-and-drop the Material Instance onto the Decal Material slot in the Details Panel
Creating Decals
I’ll be using Affinity Photo but any photo editing software will work
I crop the image to just the part that I want to use
Using the Selection Brush Tool, I select the parts of the image I want to keep
Using ALT, I can remove some of the selection
Using CTRL, I can add to the selection
I use CTRL J to separate my selection and CTRL D to deselect everything
I then crop the image to size
I export the image as a PNG