M4 has three different distances that we can change the texturing for each Automaterial Layer. This allows us to have separate texturing for the areas closest to the player, mid range distances, and the distances farthest away.
This, somewhat more advanced feature, further helps to break up texture repetition and offers more control of how things look in the distance.
Near, Mid and Far
These are the three different levels of distance variation for each of the Automaterial Layers. Here, we’re just showing its use on the Flatlands:
Near: The area closest to the Camera/Player.
Mid: The area slightly further away.
Far: The area that is furthest in the distance.
Changing the Transition Distances
Each of the three transitions can be changed in the blending amount and how far away they start/end.
Near the top of the Landscape’s Material Instance, we’ll find a dropdown menu called “Texture Variation Distance Settings“. With the sliders found in here, we can change the transitions:
Distance of Transition Start: Controls the distance from the player that the Mid and Far range distances start.
Transition Sharpness: Controls the amount of blending and smoothness between the transitions.
Changing the Distant Texturing
The Automaterial Layers also have their own visual settings for each of the three distances.
This allows us to change things like the texturing, coloring, size, etc. of each distance, on each Automaterial Layer.
If we type in “Distance Based Variation” into the search field at the top of the Material Instance, it will show us all of the Distance Variation settings.
Near: If any slider has the word [Near] at the end of it, that means it changes the visuals nearest to the player.
Mid: If any slider has the word [Mid] at the end of it, that means it changes the Mid range visuals.
Far: If any slider has the word [Far] at the end of it, that means it changes the visuals farthest from the player.