Guides

So in order to learn how the Road Tool in Dash works you can either watch this tutorial 👆 or read the summary of the video 👇

Getting Started
The Road Tool for Unreal Engine 5 can be used on a terrain, an object, or a plane, you just need to have a curve/spline to use the Road Tool. So let's use a terrain in this example, creating terrains in UE5 is super easy with Dash, just type Terrain, and voila you will have gotten yourself a terrain. You can adjust this terrain however you see fit, creating some turbulence/hills is a great way of seeing how powerful the Road Tool can be.  

Using the Curve Tool
Now, let's utilize the Curve Tool to define the shape of our road. And of course, Dash makes creating splines in UE5 easier than ever, just type Curve, choose the Draw Curve option, and start drawing. Draw out your preferred road shape, and press "Enter" to stop drawing. The Curve Tool will create conforming line work over the terrain, which will be useful shortly.

Exploring the Road Tool
Next, enter "road" into the Dash prompt bar and press "Enter" to bring up the Road Tool. This tool offers a variety of options that showcase its power. Initially, the road may appear distorted, but fear not - it is easily fixed.

Customizing the Road
Ensure that the curve is selected and click the plus sign in the curve options to add it to the road tool calculations. By adjusting the density and width values, you can refine the appearance of the road. A density value of 0.9 is a good starting point, matching the roundness of the curve. Increasing the smoothness of the road will help it align better with the drawn curve.

Projecting the Road onto the Terrain
Now, select the terrain and click the plus icon next to "surface." This will project the road mesh onto the terrain. To avoid any visual glitches or Z-fighting with the terrain, increase the sink value to raise the road above the terrain level. Zooming out will reveal a well-defined road mesh that seamlessly integrates with the environment.

Adding Materials
To enhance visibility and aesthetics, it's time to add materials to the road. Open the Dash Content Library and drag and drop a terrain material and a road material. Adjust the settings of these materials according to your preferred look and feel with the Material Edit icon. Take your time to experiment with different options and fine-tune the appearance of the road.

Customizing the Road
There exist a few settings in the Road Tool and some are more useful than others. Hovering over them will show a short description of what they mean. But you will come a long way by playing with the Density, Width, Smoothness, and Sink values. 

Interactivity and Non-Destructive Workflow
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Dash Road Tool for Unreal Engine 5 is its interactivity and non-destructive workflow. Any changes made to the curve or terrain mesh are automatically accounted for in real time. This allows for endless, non-destructive iteration, empowering you to unleash your creativity without the fear of spending excessive time reworking complex road structures.