> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://dvs-studio.gitbook.io/dvs-studio-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://dvs-studio.gitbook.io/dvs-studio-docs/documentation/getting-started/quick-start.md).
# Quick Start
Get Earth Atlas 80K ready for use in a few minutes using the included default scene or by creating a new scene from scratch.
Choose one of the two setup methods below:
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{% tab title="Use the Included Scene" %}
Earth Atlas 80K includes a fully configured default level, ready to use as soon as you open the project.
By default, the project opens `L_EarthAtlas80K_Default` automatically. The scene already contains the Earth, environment, camera rig, and a basic Level Sequence.
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### BP\_Earth
The main Earth actor. It controls the globe itself, including resolution mode, Earth rotation, cloud settings, the selected country, and the optional night-side rim highlight.
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### BP\_EarthCameraRig
An optional camera rig that provides additional tools for positioning and controlling the camera around the Earth, including geographic positioning, distance and altitude controls, camera presets, following Earth rotation, and quick navigation to the selected country.
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Earth Atlas 80K does not require the included Camera Rig. Standard Unreal Engine cameras and Cine Camera Actors can be used freely.
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### BP\_EarthEnvironment
Provides the default lighting, atmosphere, and space environment. It includes controls for sunlight, solar declination, night-side fill lighting, exposure, stars, and nebula appearance.
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### LS\_Default
A basic Level Sequence included as a ready-to-use starting point for cinematic animation and rendering.
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### Earth Style Manager
Opens the Earth Style Manager, which controls the visual appearance of country and province visualization, including borders, fills, labels, falloff settings, and reusable styles.
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**Country selection vs. visualization**\
The active country is selected in `BP_Earth`. Its visual appearance — including fills, borders, province borders, labels, and related styling — is configured in the Earth Style Manager.
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### Documentation
Opens the Earth Atlas 80K documentation.
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The default level is already configured as a complete starting scene. You can use it as-is, customize its appearance, or continue to the sections on country visualization, animation, and rendering. You can work in Unreal Engine's standard **Lit** viewport mode or switch to **Path Tracing** for high-quality cinematic preview and rendering.
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{% tab title="Create a Scene from Scratch" %}
You can build a clean Earth Atlas 80K scene in a new empty level using the included Blueprint actors. `BP_Earth` and `BP_EarthEnvironment` provide the core scene setup, while `BP_EarthCameraRig` can optionally be added for additional camera tools.
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### Create an empty level
In Unreal Engine, select **File → New Level**, choose **Empty Level**, and click **Create**.
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### Add BP\_Earth
Drag `BP_Earth` from the Content Browser into the level and reset its Transform.
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### Add BP\_EarthEnvironment
Drag `BP_EarthEnvironment` from the Content Browser into the level to provide the default lighting, atmosphere, stars, and other environmental components. Reset its Transform.
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### Add a camera
Use any standard Unreal Engine Camera Actor or Cine Camera Actor, or add the included `BP_EarthCameraRig` for additional Earth-specific camera controls. If you use `BP_EarthCameraRig`, reset its Transform as well.
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**Using BP\_EarthCameraRig**\
The included Camera Rig is optional. It is designed to simplify common globe-camera workflows such as geographic positioning, orbiting the Earth, controlling altitude and distance, and following Earth rotation.
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### Set the Earth Reference
If you use `BP_EarthCameraRig`, assign the `BP_Earth` actor to its `Earth Reference` property.
Select `BP_EarthCameraRig` in the Outliner, then set `Earth Reference` in the Details panel to the `BP_Earth` actor in the current level.
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**Required for Camera Rig features**\
The Earth reference is required for Earth-relative camera controls such as geographic positioning, orbit targeting, following Earth rotation, and jumping to the selected country.
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### Lock the core actors
To prevent accidental transform changes, lock the movement of the Earth Atlas 80K Blueprint actors in the scene:
* `BP_Earth`
* `BP_EarthEnvironment`
* `BP_EarthCameraRig` (*if used)*
In the Outliner, right-click each actor and enable **Transform → Lock Actor Movement**.
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**Important**\
Earth Atlas 80K is designed to control the Earth, environment, and Camera Rig through their exposed parameters rather than by transforming the Blueprint actors directly. Keeping these actors locked helps preserve the intended Earth-centered setup and prevents accidental changes to lighting, atmosphere, and camera calculations.
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### Pilot the Camera Rig (optional)
To look through the Camera Rig directly in the viewport, pilot `BP_EarthCameraRig`.
Select `BP_EarthCameraRig` in the Outliner, then open the viewport camera menu and choose **Pilot → Pilot 'BP\_EarthCameraRig'**.
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**Your scene is ready**
A complete Earth Atlas 80K scene created from an empty level.
The scene is now ready for customization, animation, and rendering. You can work in Unreal Engine's standard **Lit** viewport mode or switch to **Path Tracing** for high-quality cinematic preview and rendering.
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