Quick Start

From install → First Volumetric Scene in Less Than Five Minutes

Installing Into a Current Project
If you're installing into a project that has already been in development, it would be best practice to copy your project to make sure there aren't issues with visuals, performance, or compatibility. When using it out of the box, it's setup to automatically create folders and add a foldering structure in the Outliner and in the Content Browser. It's been tested in established projects with no issues, but err on the side of caution with any new plugin.

1. Install and enable

Install PVLK from the Epic Games Launcher and enable it in your project (Edit → Plugins, search "PVLK", check Enabled, restart). Full options - including the per-project install for teams - are on the Installation page.

Once installed, the toolbar icon should show on the level editor's toolbar.
Optional: You can also find the plugin under Window → PVLK Light Menu at the bottom of the menu.

2. Opening and using the PVLK Light Menu for the first time

1. Click the PVLK button on the level editor toolbar.
2. Click the Add Volumetric Setup button. (If another Post Process Volume or Exponential Height Fog already exists, you will be prompted to overwrite)
3. Select your desired preset for your light type.
4. Click the "+" button to add your light to the level.

1. Click the PVLK icon in the toolbar.
2. Add Volumetric Setup.
3. Select your desired preset.
4. Click the "+" button to add your light to the level. That's it!
PVLK supports full undo (Ctrl + Z) actions when spawning in lights or the volumetric setup. This is to help keep your workflow flexible and intuitive within reason. Certain actions aren't undoable, like renaming or saving an asset. This is how Unreal Engine works under the hood. So keeping the default behaviors is ideal for a more bug-free environment.

3. Customize the light and save your settings

1. With the light selected, you will see the PVLK Light Settings category at the top of the Details panel with the controls that matter: intensity, color, temperature, attenuation, volumetric scattering, and more. Change the settings until it looks right. Everything updates live.

2. If you like your settings and want to save them, press Duplicate Blueprint at the top of the light's Details panel. Your tuned light becomes a reusable blueprint in the Content Browser, named after its preset combination, saved to your PVLK folder. It will then appear in the panel's Light Library dropdown, ready to be added to the level.

Light Settings
1. The PVLK Light Settings on all PVLK light actors
Duplicate Blueprint
2. The Duplicate Blueprint button keeps your settings and saves it in Content Browser in the PVLK Folder location.
That's the whole loop: setup → spawn → tweak → duplicate → reuse. This loop helps keep you productive and create faster iterations, with a more streamlined workflow.