This is a menu concept I am developing which allows for seamless animations of 3d menu items without using render targets. This concept is fully functional in Unreal Engine. Here I am drawing the UI in front of the camera then drawing the 3D Items in front of the UI. The Items are lit by their own lights as well as the scene lights so they can smoothly transition from a menu space to a gameplay space. In the video I am also showcasing the DOF and FOV transition to the menu. All of the 3d object animations are done using blueprints instead of keyframes so each item can smoothly interpolate to any number of locations at any time.
Additionally I used this concept as a place to explore UI motion effects. The bottom button shape and hover effect are entirely procedurally generated within the material.
Additionally I used this concept as a place to explore UI motion effects. The bottom button shape and hover effect are entirely procedurally generated within the material.
I also explored having the button select set visibility on scene lights which produce a lighting effect behind the 3d items to imitate emissive light coming from the UI.
I explored mouse position based effects creating a subtle glow that effects the button backgrounds and edges differently further producing a faked bounce light effect.
The UI as well as the corresponding 3d objects dynamically adjust to different screen aspect ratios.
*Scene and character are Unreal Engine defaults not created by me. The menu design and functionality is.