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Only the Outline of the vfx graph particles are appearing

Discussion in 'Visual Effect Graph' started by robinhood14501, Jun 29, 2022.

  1. robinhood14501

    robinhood14501

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2021
    Posts:
    17
    upload_2022-6-29_14-1-4.png

    I am not getting any errors in the console, and am unsure as to what could even be causing the problem.

    I am on Unity version 2020.3.13
    Both the URP and Visual Effects Graph are version 10.5.1

    My laptop has the following specs:
    Processor 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-11900H @ 2.50GHz 2.50 GHz
    Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.7 GB usable)
    System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

    The specific particle in the image is from this package if it matters \/ (this issue happens with all vfx graph particles, not just this one)
    https://assetstore.unity.com/packag...ium=affiliate&utm_source=partnerize-linkmaker
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2022
    robinhood14501, Jun 29, 2022
    #1

  2. Vita-

    Vita-

    Unity Technologies

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2019
    Posts:
    121
    Hi, by any chance your project uses 2D Renderer? If so, VFX Graph supports 2D Renderer features from 21.2.

    Let me know, if this does not solve your problem
     
    Vita-, Jul 4, 2022
    #2

  3. robinhood14501

    robinhood14501

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2021
    Posts:
    17
    Upgrading to Unity 20213.5f fixed the problem. Thank you!
     
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2022
    robinhood14501, Jul 4, 2022
    #3
    Vita- likes this.

  4. csumsky3

    csumsky3

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2014
    Posts:
    13
    Hello! We're having this same problem in our project, Unity version 2021.3.7f1, Visual Effect Graph version 12.1.7. I've tried looking all over the forums for this answer, but does VFX Graph just not yet support lit effects in the 2D URP pipeline?

    I'll start with that quick question first, but can follow up with more details if needed. Thank you!
     
    csumsky3, Jul 29, 2022
    #4

  5. csumsky3

    csumsky3

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    Jan 29, 2014
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    13
    csumsky3, Jul 29, 2022
    #5

  6. Qriva

    Qriva

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    Jun 30, 2019
    Posts:
    1,336
    Qriva, Jul 29, 2022
    #6

  7. csumsky3

    csumsky3

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    Jan 29, 2014
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    Oh good find! Man I've been really struggling to find where information like this exists, it seems very scattered. There's the roadmap of course (which, even that, it took me forever to land on), but that doesn't have any estimated releases or timelines for specific features like this. Anyways, thanks for the reply!
     
    csumsky3, Jul 29, 2022
    #7

  8. fleity

    fleity

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2015
    Posts:
    350
    I have encountered problems like these multiple times because I was stupid and vfx were turned off for the viewport specifically inside this menu (but overall the button was set to active, or the other round)
    upload_2022-8-4_17-57-41.png
     
    fleity, Aug 4, 2022
    #8

  9. csumsky3

    csumsky3

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2014
    Posts:
    13
    Ha yea, unfortunately it wasn't that for me this time, but that's definitely happened in the past! Appreciate the check though.
     
    csumsky3, Aug 4, 2022
    #9

  10. VladVNeykov

    VladVNeykov

    Unity Technologies

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2016
    Posts:
    550
    @Qriva I think vfx instancing just landed in 2022.2.0b4.2765 5 days ago :)
     
    VladVNeykov, Aug 4, 2022
    #10
    Qriva likes this.

  11. Qriva

    Qriva

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    Jun 30, 2019
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    Nice! I will gladly test it in my spare time. Can you outline capabilities? - what is possible and what is not possible to do with this feature?
     
    Qriva, Aug 4, 2022
    #11
    VladVNeykov likes this.

  12. Vita-

    Vita-

    Unity Technologies

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2019
    Posts:
    121
    Hi @Qriva!

    Credits for Gabriel&Julien who kindly shared their knowledge.

    What is VFX instancing supposed to do?

    Batches similar effects to reduced amount of draw calls. We can batch effects into one draw call or render one by one but all together.

    Many VFX instances are rendered in a single batch when:
    • No indirect drawing is present (no sorting, no transparents)
    • No immortal particles or spawning from GPU events
    Instances are rendered one by one in all the remaining scenarios.

    Instances can be batched together only if the same amount of particles are rendered for each instance. When indirect drawing is not used, the entire capacity is rendered.

    How to enable it?

    It is enabled by default when possible (if instancing can not be enabled check Inspector of VFX asset for the reason) except on pre-existing VFX. To manually enable instancing:Make sure that:
    • Allow Insatancing is enabled in VFX component

    • Make sure that Instancing Mode is set to Automatic batch capacity/Custom batch capcacity


    Features that are supported by instancing at the moment (green - supported; red - not supported right now):

    - Transparents. ☑
    - Uses sorting. ☑
    - Use any ShaderGraph material ☑
    - Has particle strips ☑
    - Uses GPU particle mesh output ☑
    - Exposes Gradient, Curve properties ☑
    - Uses Output events ☒
    - Uses GPU events ☒
    - Has Mesh outputs ☒
    - Exposes variables that are Texture, GraphicsBuffer, Mesh Output or Skinned Mesh ☒

    Bits about performance:

    • With high capacity systems becomes less relevant
    • Once GPU bound is reached, performance gain will not be seen on FPS. GPU gain can be seen on very small particle systems.
    • Reduced draw call count is expected
    • Compute shaders for Initialize and Update are batched too
    • Reduced CPU timing, especially in Update dispatch
    • Less commands with instancing (for instance: commands are skipped when VFXs are not visible by the camera)
    Let us know, if you have any questions:)
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2022
    Vita-, Aug 8, 2022
    #12
    fleity, Qriva and VladVNeykov like this.

  13. fleity

    fleity

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    Oct 13, 2015
    Posts:
    350
    does "not supported right now" mean they are just not finished yet but expected to make it into a soonish release or are these hard constraints that probably will never get instancing support?
     
    fleity, Aug 8, 2022
    #13

  14. koirat

    koirat

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    Jul 7, 2012
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    2,079
    I'm a little surprised that " Mesh outputs" are not instanced and "Exposes variables that are Texture".
    Does this mean that VFX that are using the same texture but this texture is exposed are not instanced ?
     
    koirat, Aug 8, 2022
    #14

  15. Vita-

    Vita-

    Unity Technologies

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    Jul 2, 2019
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    @fleity We want to extend support for more features such as GPU Events, unfortunately don't have ETA on how soon it will happen. Judging from the roadmap there are no plans to extend it in 23.1, will double check with the team and get back to you (this will take a bit).

    @koirat Yes, that's correct for CPU Mesh Outputs (developers rescued GPU Output Particle Mesh - it works with instancing). About the texture bit - also correct, once texture property is exposed in the blackboard - instancing is disabled for that asset.
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2022
    Vita-, Aug 8, 2022
    #15

  16. Qriva

    Qriva

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    Jun 30, 2019
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    Separate thread for this feature would be useful :D

    I am a bit confused, what is GPU and CPU mesh output?
    I understood it this way: any output block can be instanced as long as their things (parameters/outputs) are "baked" into graph (it is not possible to set them from outside).

    Also what means transparents in their contexts, there is "(no sorting, no transparents)" and then later transparents ☑
     
    Qriva, Aug 8, 2022
    #16

  17. Vita-

    Vita-

    Unity Technologies

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2019
    Posts:
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    Unused calling outputs by their real names, here's the screenshot illustrating what I meant. Apologies for confusion.

    upload_2022-8-8_18-26-18.png

    That transparency set in Blend mode is supported by instancing.

    Let's clear the confusion! This one meant that many instances can be batched into a single drawcall unless indirect drawing is introduced. If Alpha Blend Mode is set to Alpha (for example) - we introduce indirect drawing here and then instances are rendered one by one but all together. You may want to give a try for Frame Debugger or Render Doc it will clearly show what's behind the curtains.

    Let me know if there's anything else I could clarify.:)
     
    Vita-, Aug 8, 2022
    #17
    Qriva likes this.

  18. Qriva

    Qriva

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    Jun 30, 2019
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    Thank you, but these:
    For me these two things are contradiction - alpha blend mode is supported, but at the same time it's not?
    You mean different blend modes cannot be instanced or something completely else?

    One more question - is it required that graph asset is the same? If I made two identical (or nearly identical) graphs with different names, then they are not going to be batched. (I guess)
     
    Qriva, Aug 8, 2022
    #18