Create dynamic material and animate a parameter at runtime

Pattern: EventBeginPlay → GetMesh → CreateDynamicMaterialInstance(ElementIndex=0) → SetVariable(DynMat=ReturnValue). Then on Tick or timer: SetScalarParameterValue(ParameterName='Opacity', Value=SinWave). Or for color: SetVectorParameterValue(ParameterName='Color', Value=MakeLinearColor). Key: CreateDynamicMaterialInstance is called on the COMPONENT (GetMesh), not the actor. Must store the result before using Set*ParameterValue. ParameterName MUST match the name in the Material asset exactly.

SetScalarParameterValue — set a float parameter on a dynamic material

ParameterName must match the parameter name in the Material exactly (case-sensitive).

SetVectorParameterValue — set a color/vector parameter on a dynamic material

Array: build dynamic list, iterate, find and remove items

ADD: Array Add (Target Array=MyArray, New Item=newElement). READ: Array Get (Target Array=MyArray, Index=i) → use 'Item' output. FIND: Array Contains (returns bool) or Array Find (returns index, -1 if not found). REMOVE by index: Array Remove (Target Array=MyArray, Index=i). REMOVE by value: Array Remove Item (Target Array=MyArray, Item=value). ITERATE: ForEachLoop(Array=MyArray) → 'Array Element' output is the current item. LENGTH: Array Length (returns int). Key: Array nodes operate on the array BY REFERENCE — always connect the array variable directly.

SetVectorParameterValue on dynamic material — change vector/color material parameter

UMaterialInstanceDynamic method. Used for color changes (BaseColor, EmissiveColor).

SetScalarParameterValue on dynamic material — change float material parameter

UMaterialInstanceDynamic method. Parameter name must match material graph.

Change material color at runtime using dynamic material instance

Pattern: BeginPlay → CreateDynamicMaterialInstance(MeshComponent, 0) → store as variable DynMat. On trigger → SetVectorParameterValue(DynMat, 'BaseColor', LinearColor). Create MID once in BeginPlay, reuse variable. Parameter name must match Material parameter exactly (case-sensitive).

SetTextureParameterValue on dynamic material — change texture parameter at runtime

CreateDynamicMaterialInstance — create runtime modifiable material

UPrimitiveComponent method. Store result in variable and reuse. Create once in BeginPlay.

CreateDynamicMaterialInstance — create a runtime-editable material copy

Must call this before SetScalarParameterValue/SetVectorParameterValue. Store the result in a variable for reuse.