Graphics Magic Lightmap Switcher - Storing, Switching and Blending Lightmaps in Real-Time

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Hello everyone!

I want to show you a new asset that is still in development, but is already fulfilling some of its capabilities. Its main goal is to save lighting data for a scene (light probes, lightmaps, reflection probes, position and parameters of light sources) and instantly or smoothly switch between them. However, it seems to be capable of more, such as switching or blending lighting data for specific parts of the scene (buildings, rooms, or individual floors of the same building).

This is still in development, but what is already ready:

Blending four lightmaps (night, morning, day, evening) in real time at the shader level to simulate the Day-Night cycle. Blending occurs for lightmaps, light probes, and reflection probes. URP support is done.

Switching Demo

Blending Demo

I would be grateful for any comments. Good luck to everyone with your projects!

Discord Server
Magic Lightmap Switcher Manual

 

As far as I understand it there is a gap in precomputed realtime GI solutions since Enlighten is being deprecated.

It looks like this would be really useful for mimicking it, e.g. by blending between lighting datasets based on rotation of a directional light.

I'm definitely interested.

 

Yes, I'm just trying to get this to work in a build. Everything works well in the editor. Updates coming soon.

 

Nice!

I had been eyeing Magic Light Probes for quite some time now vs continuing down the faked GI path. The potential of Switcher was enough to get me to pull the trigger on buying it. The sale didn't hurt either.

 

Thanks! And yes, the sale will end very soon.

 

I'm continuing to develop the asset and it's time to mix the reflection probes!
The baked reflection probes are saved for different times of day and blend smoothly in real time at the shader level.

 

Would it support HDRP?

 

Yes, I'm just working on SRP support.

 

Is that last video really with baked lighting??

 

Yes, these are 4 lightmaps (Night, Morning, Day & Evening).
Mixed mode light source. Blending at the shader level. Just finished URP support. Further HDRP.

P.S.

Actually, there is a bug, terrain blending was disabled.

 

Blending four lightmaps (night, morning, day, evening) in real time at the shader level to simulate the Day-Night cycle. Blending occurs for lightmaps, light probes, and reflection probes. URP support is done.

 

So pretty.

Since this is being performed at the shader level, will it be possible to use incorporate it into existing custom shaders with relatively minor changes?

 

Yes, but I don't know yet how difficult it will be, I'm trying to make it enough to replace a few lines, but who knows what exactly and how is written in the custom shader. I will try to make clear instructions for this.

 

Much appreciated!

One potential option that would be useful if possible/feasible would be an Amplify shader node.

 

Oh, I'll see what I can do. However, such support is definitely needed.

 

HDRP support implemented. Thus, we have support for Standard, Universal, and High Definition rendering pipelines. Full set. The next step is code optimization and organization. And then I will try to add support for the Bakery.

 

Hi everyone! The asset is currently in beta testing, but for now I've compiled a demo scene.

The scene was built using the Standard Render Pipeline. Four sets of lighting data are blending in real time, this data contains - lightmaps, light probes, reflection probes for static and dynamic objects, fog settings, intensity, position and color of the main light source.

Download Playable Demo

 

The guide is already in development.
Magic Lightmap Switcher Manual

 

Nice.
Does it works with Bakery Lightmaps with different Directional Modes and L1 probes?

 

Hi! No, I haven't implemented work with RNM and SH yet, but it will definitely be. And yes, it works with L1 probes.

 

T

Most wanted.)
Very nice.
HDRP and Bakery would be great.
Ask Mr F when you face a problem.

 

We are in constant contact with the developer of the Bakery, there should be no problems there.

 

In case you search a complex test environment.
Today i converted ArchViz Pro Vol 3 Interior HDRP Time Demo to Bakery for fun.
He has an additional Time Demo (downloadable on his website) which completly loads 3 different baked scenes.

PLM needs 10h+ when it does not crash or is falling back to CPU
Bakery around 1.5h for more HQ Lightmaps and all 3 sets.

The scene load for next scene takes around 4s.
With blending it should be faster .) if memory can handle this amount of textures.










In the Light Explorer (Screenshot) you can see the active realtime and baked lights light for each scenario.

night lights


day lights


Blending also these varying realtime lightvalues would make it complete.

e.g. every baked Area Light form the windows has also an an additional Realtime Area Light.
For interior use cases like this an blending of them would be great.

 

I just need a good informative screenshot for MLP, as it is nominated for the best development tool at the Unity Awards 2020, maybe this scene would help me. I would also be happy to test the "Switcher". I will try to contact the developer and see if he will allow me to use his scene.

 

And the winner is.)

The scene is hard to find.

In the Asset Store there is only the HDRP version with daylight.
The Time of Day demo you can unlock only on the website with the invoice number....

https://oneirosvr.com/

 

Looks like I have to buy it

 

I usually have

4 differrent
Lightmaps, Probes and Reflection Probes + Directional Lights
bake sets.

• Overcast
• Sun
• Evening
• Night

for the car exterior




For the car interior it becomes more crazy because you have additionally
around 8 sets of Lightmaps, Probes and Reflection Probes + around 12 interpolating realtime interiour lights for different night design light variations.

I could make a nice car related demo when it becomes ready for HDRP.

 

You should.
The scene is very well organized with 3 different bake setups.

I think it s doable in a few hours.

The more tricky think is to interpolate the light and the setups from post processing volumes too for absolut smooth transitions.
This could be done in Timeline but it would be great to simplfy it by putting the lights and post volumes into your UI to to do the blend of the variables.

.

 

I already have a mechanic that allows me to mix things other than lightmaps, light probes, reflections and fog settings. For example, it can be a variable responsible for the position of the light source, in the same way it can be any other variable, including data from the post-processing volume. This way, you can get smooth blending between any parameters of scene lighting and its post-processing, and all this without costing performance.

 

One more thing.
The needed additional texture memory for blending several precalutaed sets you could solve with the texture streaming who is out of preview soon.

I did a similar protype in unreal some years before.
You could upload the different lightmaps sets to 16k to 64k virtual texture tiling sets.

At the end you would save lots of texture memory by providing serveral baked light setups.
There could be only one big lightmap for one light setup who is streamed.

But therefore the unity devs from texture streaming must deliver some extra work for lightmap streaming and interpolation.
Meantime, in Unreal you can stream lightmaps but in Unity i don t think they plan it out of the box.
I asked several times for it one year ago but i got no answer.
Mostly because Unitys Progressive Lightmapper is a big mess since years and it will be the same the next years and
generating hq lightmaps is simply not possible for working people with deadlines.)
Bakery changed that.

Just saying. When you ask now for it you will get probably in 6 to 18 months.)
I could support such an proof of concept by voting and by trying to convince some Unity Devs.

 

This looks very cool! Do you know how long until you're ready for a release? I was looking for quick and easy solution to switching between lightmaps when flipping a light switch.

 

I expect to have it out before the new year. SRP ruins my life very much.

 

Beta testing continues. Spot light is placed on the test scene. Blending occurs in real time for 4 directional lightmaps, reflections and light probes.
Thanks to all beta testers!

 

Nice. For sure.
I will start with HDRP in
Unity 2020.2.1 Bakery and PLM
Unity 2020.1.17 PLM
Unity 2019.4.17 LTS PLM

 

This asset looks incredible. When do you think it will be available? I can't wait to use it and I admit I really need it for my projects ^^

 

Hey! Thank you for your interest!

I wanted to release it earlier this year, but I ran into a huge number of problems supporting all the nearest SRP versions. Now I’m almost finished. Soon the asset will go through new stages of beta testing. I expect to release it in the next month (at least BETA RELEASE)

 

Ok, so I have to be patient so. I'm working with the Built in render pipeline ; Does it work well with that ?

 

Yes, the built-in pipeline has been fully functional for a long time

 

how can i get this package ? could anyone help me to find out the package

 

Very cool thing!
I suggest the next demo should provide some toggles or even better sliders to blend between the lightmaps, at least as an option.

 

The plugin is under development at the moment. I have already postponed the release dates several times, as SRP ruins my life. This time, I hope to release it in a month.

 

There are switches and sliders in the interface. And even a preview of blending in editor mode.

 

Do you have a release date? Could you please release the built in pipeline version? I don't need SRP support - it's an unstable pipeline on mobile.
Also, could you release a demo where we can control the blending and move the camera and drag some objects around? I want to see how shadows interact with dynamic objects.

 

Hey! The version for the built-in pipeline is already done. I'm currently in the middle of supporting multi-scene workflow. I hope to finish this on a week. Please connect to the discord server and write me a private message. Let's discuss which example you need. Maybe I can do it pretty quickly.

 

This is what Unity lacks out of box, geniusly done, can't wait for URP support

 

Thanks!
I know that I have been promising a release for a very long time. I just try to avoid as many bugs as possible at the start. I'm at the finish line, there are very few left.

Initially, a version with support for the built-in pipeline only will be available, as a separate asset in the store. Then, as soon as possible, an expansion pack to support URP + HDRP, also as a separate asset in the store.

 

The first release of Magic Lightmap Switcher has been sent to the Asset Store!
This version is for the built-in rendering pipeline only, the SRP version is in development and will be available later.

 

because of the day-night lightmaps,i study the shader for several days panfully.its very hard.and i cant understand how URP lit shader work.so i hope your tool can release asap veriy mush!im watching this post every day!forgive my english!

 

i cant find it in asset?

 

Hey!
The asset is still in the publish queue. This is a lengthy process. The version that will be released only supports built-in rendering, support for URP and HDRP will be a little later. This is a huge problem indeed. SRP shaders look like ground beef.