UDK – Part 3. LightMassImportanceVolume

Posted by Ironspike on May 30, 2010 in General | 1 comment

So, you’re new to the UDK and you start building your levels. You’re done adding all the bells and whistles and click on the build button. You get the cryptic “No Importance Volume Found” error below.  

Lightmassimportancevolume build error

If you were like me you where totally lost on what it was referring too. 

That error is in reference to calculating “light” in the current level. In essence an “importance volume” is a container that holds everything in your level. This way when the system goes to calculate light it knows the ‘boundaries’ of where the light is actually going to be seen/not seen. 

When the volume is not defined the system has to calculate the light for everyone in the ENTIRE viewport. Needless to say, it massive so it just throws an error. 

Here is how to add the importance volume. 

Right click on the Volume Buttom. 

Volume Button

Next, click the add “LightMassImportanceVolume” selection. 

LightMassImportanceVolume

It should automatically enclose your scene. If not you can change the size of it. 

Adding the Light Mass

Now rebuild and your error should be gone. 

Rebuilding with a Importance Volume