Discover S.A.M : A New Free Tool to Improve Your Animation Workflow in Unreal Engine 5.8
- Stephane B
- Jul 14
- 3 min read
Working on animations inside complex Unreal Engine scenes can quickly become challenging.
Between detailed environments, multiple lights, effects, cameras, and additional actors, it can sometimes be difficult to stay focused on the most important element: the animation itself.
This is exactly the problem that S.A.M (Solo Animation Mode) was created to solve.
S.A.M is a free Unreal Engine Editor Utility Widget designed to help animators isolate their work, reduce viewport distractions, and create a cleaner and more efficient animation workflow.
In this video, discover how S.A.M works, how to integrate it into your projects, and how it can help improve your daily animation process inside Unreal Engine.
A Tool Designed for Unreal Engine Animators
S.A.M was created around feedback and needs shared by many Unreal Engine animators.
The idea behind the tool is simple: quickly isolate the elements you need and focus entirely on your animation.
With just a few clicks, you can hide unnecessary elements, clean your viewport, and create a more comfortable working environment.
S.A.M works as an Editor Utility Widget that can easily be migrated into any Unreal Engine project through a single folder containing all required dependencies.
Once installed, the tool can be launched directly from the Unreal Editor and docked wherever you prefer in your workspace.
Isolate Characters and Actors in One Click
The main feature of S.A.M is its isolation system.
Simply select an actor in your scene, click Isolate, and all other elements will temporarily disappear, leaving only the selected object or character visible.
This allows you to:
focus on a specific character without distractions,
review animations more easily,
improve viewport readability,
work more efficiently in complex scenes.
When isolation is activated, S.A.M creates temporary helper actors:
a dedicated camera,
a custom lighting setup,
a simplified environment,
a post-process volume.
These elements are automatically removed when restoring the scene, ensuring that your original level remains clean and untouched.
A Dedicated Camera for Better Animation Review
S.A.M includes its own camera system designed specifically for animation work.
The SAM camera provides a clean and consistent view of your character with a directional light attached directly to the camera.
This makes it possible to inspect your animation from any angle without being affected by the original scene lighting.
You can also quickly switch between:
the SAM camera for detailed inspection and adjustments,
the active Sequencer camera for normal shot playback.
This workflow helps avoid accidental keyframes, especially when Auto Key is enabled.
A Cleaner Viewport for Better Focus
In large production scenes, visual clutter can quickly become a problem.
Camera icons, Blueprint sprites, and additional viewport elements can make animation work harder than necessary.
With S.A.M, these elements can easily be hidden to create a cleaner and more focused workspace.
Small improvements like these can make a significant difference during everyday animation tasks.
Silhouette Mode: Analyze Animation Readability
S.A.M also includes a Silhouette Mode designed to help animators focus on the character’s shape and movement.
This mode allows you to customize:
silhouette color,
background color,
overall viewport appearance.
It is especially useful for:
checking poses,
improving animation readability,
analyzing composition,
focusing on the character’s overall shape.
Isolation by Tags: Manage Complex Scenes Faster
Beyond the classic selection workflow, S.A.M also includes an Actor Tag system.
This feature allows you to create custom groups and isolate actors automatically using tags.
For example, you can create tags for:
different characters,
specific props,
groups of assets,
layout elements.
Instead of manually selecting multiple actors every time, you can instantly isolate the elements you need.
This becomes especially useful when working on large scenes or complex animation setups.
A Fully Accessible and Customizable Tool
S.A.M is not only a ready-to-use tool. Its complete architecture is also available for exploration and customization.
The project includes:
the full Editor Utility Widget,
materials,
camera system,
environment assets,
required Blueprints.
The Designer and Blueprint Graph remain accessible, allowing users to understand how the system works, modify the interface, or add their own features.
The goal was to provide a clean and easy-to-understand foundation that animators can build upon.
Compatible with Unreal Engine 5.7 and 5.8
S.A.M works with:
Unreal Engine 5.7
Unreal Engine 5.8
Support for spawnable actors in Sequencer has also been added, allowing these dynamically created actors to be properly detected, hidden, and isolated during the workflow.
Download S.A.M for free and discover a new way to focus on animation inside Unreal Engine.
Watch the full video to see the complete workflow and explore all features in action.
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