Easy Foliage for Games using SpeedTree & Unreal Engine by FastTrackTutorials

On May 9, 2026

Author:FastTrackTutorials

Duration:11h 18m

Release date:2022

Publisher:Skillshare

Skill level:Intermediate

Language:English

Exercise files:Yes

Software:SpeedTree 9, Maya 2022, Unreal Engine 5, Marmoset Toolbag 4, Photoshop

Course URL:https://www.skillshare.com/en/classes/easy-foliage-for-games-using-speedtree-and-unreal-engine/

Learn to create a complete library of game-ready foliage, from ivy and grass to trees and shrubs, using SpeedTree, Maya, and Unreal Engine 5.

This course is a straight shot into building a professional foliage library for games. You’ll work through the entire pipeline, from collecting reference textures to placing the final assets in an Unreal Engine 5 scene. It’s all about practical, efficient workflows that get you results fast.

🎯 What you’ll learn

Create a wide variety of foliage types in SpeedTree.
Set up and balance foliage materials in Unreal Engine 5.
Generate custom leaf and branch textures using photogrammetry.
Optimize your foliage for real-time game performance.
Place and compose a natural environment scene.

✅ Requirements

Skills: Familiarity with 3D modeling tools and Unreal Engine basics.
Tools: A 3D modeling application (Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max).
Hardware: A computer capable of running Unreal Engine 5 and SpeedTree.

📝 Description

This isn’t a theory-heavy lecture. It’s over 11 hours of real-time, step-by-step instruction where you build a complete foliage library from scratch. You’ll start by gathering textures from Megascans and Textures.com, then jump straight into SpeedTree to create ivy, grass, shrubs, water lilies, ferns, and trees.

The course focuses on practical, game-ready techniques. You’ll learn how to set up efficient foliage materials in Unreal Engine 5, balance your textures for a cohesive look, and optimize your assets for performance. A dedicated section covers creating custom leaf and branch textures using photogrammetry, giving you full control over your art. The final modules show you how to place everything into a scene and even include a timelapse of a bonus cabin environment.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

Environment artists looking to build a solid foliage creation workflow.
Game developers who want to create their own custom vegetation.
3D artists transitioning into real-time asset creation.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

FastTrackTutorials is run by Emiel Sleegers, a senior environment artist. He’s worked on major titles like The Division 2 at Ubisoft and Forza Horizon 3 at Playground Games. The studio focuses on publishing high-quality, production-focused 3D art courses.

🏁 Final Result

A complete, optimized library of game-ready foliage assets.
A populated Unreal Engine 5 scene demonstrating your new skills.
Custom leaf and branch textures created from scratch.

Curriculum

📋 Course content

Module 1: Introduction & Planning
- Introduction2:01
- Project Explanation8:00
- Collecting All Our Textures26:29
Module 2: Ivy Creation
- Creating Our Ivy Part123:33
- Creating Our Ivy Part227:09
- Creating Our Ivy Part320:42
- Setting Up Our Foliage Materials And Test Scene24:32
- Balancing Our Ivy Material19:14
- Creating Generic Ivy Variations20:18
- Creating Our Unique Ivy25:13
- Placing Our Ivy18:36
- Creating Our Ivy Roots Decal26:57
Module 3: Grass & Water Plants
- Creating Basic Grass25:47
- Creating Grass Variations26:50
- Creating Our Tall Water Grass Part124:54
- Creating Our Tall Water Grass Part235:36
- Creating Our Lilys Part117:34
- Creating Our Lilys Part225:06
Module 4: Shrubs & Ferns
- Creating Our Shrubs Part127:28
- Creating Our Shrubs Part221:32
- Creating Our Fern Part117:30
- Creating Our Fern Part216:52
Module 5: Scene Assembly & Optimization
- Placing Our Foliage In Our Scene Part123:35
- Placing Our Foliage In Our Scene Part223:45
- Optimizing Our Foliage8:34
Module 6: Custom Textures & Trees
- Creating Our Custom Leaf Texture Part14:11
- Creating Our Custom Leaf Texture Part232:11
- Creating Our Custom Branch Texture24:15
- Creating Our Trees Part119:17
- Creating Our Trees Part227:13
Module 7: Bonus – Cabin Scene
- Cabin Scene Part1 Timelapse21:30
- Cabin Scene Part2 Timelapse12:26