Gen AI

Creating A Custom Skybox

Worlds Creator Academy

Hands-On Challenge: Creating A Custom Skybox

Generative AI Overview
Generative AI Skybox Generation Tool
Meta Horizon Creator Forum⁠

Hands-On Challenge Overview

This challenge introduces you to the Generative AI Skybox tool in the Meta Horizon Worlds desktop editor. You'll learn how to create stunning, immersive skies for your worlds using text prompts, and how to match the skybox to the theme of your environment.
You’ll learn how to:
  • Use the Generative AI Skybox tool to create a skybox from a prompt.
  • Experiment with different skybox styles to achieve a specific look.
  • Iteratively refine prompts to create a skybox that matches a themed scene.
  • Save a generated skybox to your asset library.
Estimated Time: 1 hour

What You'll Need:

  • Windows PC
  • Access to the Worlds Desktop Editor
  • Blender for 3D modeling of LODs
  • A world you have created, preferably one with a variety of objects and textures

Challenge Steps:

1. Set Up a Simple Scene

  • Before creating a sky, let's set a mood. Go to the "Public Assets" tab in your Asset Library.
  • Find a few simple props and drag them into your world to create a small scene. For example, you could create a spooky vibe with a "tombstone" and a "dead tree," or a peaceful vibe with a "bench" and "flowers."
  • Arrange the objects to create a small, themed area. The goal is to have a scene that you can try to match with a skybox.

2. Open the GenAI Panel

  • In the top toolbar of the editor, select the GenAI icon.
  • From the dropdown menu, choose "Skybox" to open the generation panel.

3. Generate a Skybox to Match Your Scene

  • In the prompt field, describe the sky you want to create for your scene. Be descriptive!
    • For a spooky scene, you might try: "A dark and stormy night with a full moon and eerie clouds."
    • For a peaceful scene, you could try: "A beautiful, clear blue sky with a warm, setting sun."
  • Select a "Style" from the dropdown menu. "Photorealistic" or "Skydome" are great starting points.
  • Click "Generate." The tool will create several skybox options based on your prompt.

4. Preview, Iterate, and Refine

  • Click on the different generated skyboxes to preview them in your world. See how each one changes the mood of your scene.
  • Don't stop at the first try! The key to a great skybox is iteration.
    • Try a different style: Generate the same prompt again but with a different style (like "Digital Painting" or "Anime") to see how it changes the result.
    • Refine your prompt: Add more detail to your prompt. Instead of "stormy night," try "swirling purple storm clouds with distant lightning flashes."
  • Spend some time experimenting with prompts and styles until you create a skybox that perfectly complements the scene you built.

5. Save Your Creation

  • Once you have a skybox you love, hover over its thumbnail in the GenAI panel.
  • Click the "Export to asset library" icon to save it. Now you can use this skybox in any of your worlds!

Level Up:

  • Try to create a series of skyboxes that show a time-of-day progression for a similar scene: sunrise, midday, sunset, and night.
  • Use a very abstract prompt to see what kind of unexpected and creative skies you can generate. For example, "a world made of cotton candy" or "the inside of a computer circuit board."
  • After placing a skybox in your world, use the "Environment" settings to adjust the lighting and fog to perfectly match the atmosphere of your new sky.

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