[Released] MegaSplat, a 256 texture splat mapping system..

I suggest going through the tutorials, they will walk you through the basic process..

 

The tutorials are worthless for what I'm seeing. Tiling I figured out. The brush doesn't work as expected and is extremely laggy.

For example this pic I'm painting with the green texture, you can sort of see it's highlighted. The brush is so slow it's only reading where it's at like once a second or less. I painted here with just two strokes. Also not sure why it's painting two textures when I just have a single selected?




Node canvas is just doing nothing. It fills with one of the textures when first activated but then I can't get it to output anything else after. Mesh is selected, it compiles, just not change in output.

 

This is a new error with node canvas. Can't find colors in the stream in NodeMegaSplatOutput.cs line 385.

The vertex stream component I can't find anything on how it should correctly be added for use in the node canvas. The painter has a button to do it there. If I add it there, I get the above error. If I don't, then the mesh doesn't show under prepare in node canvas.

The mesh does have a colors array. I ran it through your conversion (It's procedural I had to copy out your process method to my own code given where it is, using won't work).

 

Ok so finally got it working by making sure to create the vertex stream component with the painter AND paint something with the painter.

 

So I think I remember this was a bit tricky with MS. Which is smooth texture blending. How much work would it be to make that work well without the add noise approach? We have a very stylized look and I don't want to be limited to add more noise as a solution. Modifying the shader is fine as long as it's within reason.

This is how height blending looks on our delaunay triangulation.



Looks like it's using a centroid for height?

Using normal angle doesn't seem to blend at all, which would be a hard blocker.

 

Hi @jbooth
I have some questions according MegaSplat. We're using Unity 2018.4 LTS and the standard render pipeline, no LWRP, HDRP or SRP. We need a workflow with meshes instead of terrain. MegaSplat seems to fit perfectly but I don't know if it is compatible with current consoles (PS4, NX, XB1).
Can you give me some information about this?

 

So being we already use Unity terrains as part of our workflow for meshes, would it work to simply use node canvas on the terrain then just create a copy of the material for the mesh and set the type to mesh? Our triangulation results in geometry that doesn't match exactly, but it doesn't really need to the art style being what it is.

 

Even better would be if we could use microsplat on terrain then transfer that to the mesh.

 

I don’t really have a way to test these platforms but I know people have used it on them before and have done a few fixes for PlayStation in the past.

 

If your mesh conforms to landscape topology (essentially a height field) then this works fine. I do have an unreleased mesh module- but basically you’d need to rewrite the MicroSplatTerrain component to be for meshes, which is not to hard.

 

What does the low level api for manipulating splats look like? Ie could I use that to solve things like blending exactly how we want where we want?

 

Depends; the actual blending between control points is handled in the shader. However, each control point in a two layer shader is 2 texture indexes into the array and a blend weight between them, so you can do really wide/soft blends between the layers.. the data structure is described in the docs.

 

Ya I was digging through the shader and noticed how it handles blending.

Really what we need is what splat maps do. Be able to set the power of a texture at any point (as defined by the resolution of a splat/control texture). Your approach to blending and clusters simply doesn't fit what we need. But given the options out there, yours is the only shader I would even consider modifying (vs rolling our own).

Is there a somewhat reasonable approach to just bypass your blending and assign what to render via a splat approach? Not expecting the details of how it would be done, more like if you needed it would you modify MS or create a custom shader?

 

Well if you want traditional splat maps this is what MicroSplat does.

 

I can't seem to get emissive maps to work on the cracked lava terrain to the left and right of the lava. I have Emissive/Metallic array enabled. I've assigned the emissive map to the terrain texture (all black, white areas for emissive), I've assigned the emissive/metal array and I can see the emissive texture in the array. But alas, no glow. In addition, how do you adjust the emissive power value?

 

Emissive maps are full RGB, btw. If this is MegaSplat there currently isn’t an emissive power value; I just added that to MicroSplat though.

 

Hi, Wondering if anyone knows if megasplat and mapmagic are known to work alone or together on 2018.4.9.f1 ?

Not sure what i'm doing wrong but the splat_control texture is constantly in conflict with unity editor. Requesting that changes are applied to it. When I do that, its converted from ARGB to RGB and I can't find any setting that would stop unity from doing that.

Painting with Terrain painter or using mapmagics custom texture shader both have this issue.

I'm hoping there's a check box I've missed.

 

hi Jason , i have a question regarding normal+Smotth+AO

RGBA

S = B
AO = A

to get the normal what is the calculation i need to with (R and G)
Amplify now has Nodes for Texture Array and i'm trying to make a shader with it.

 

Sometimes I pack them in SNyAONx format as well, so basically move the normals Red channel to the alpha and pack smoothness into R and AO into B. Under most compression formats this gives the highest quality to the normal, since texture compression formats are designed around color and green is the color we see best, and the alpha channel is packed separately from the color channels.

Anyway, once you have your normal channels, you need to remap them to a -1 to 1 range, then compute the Z component of the normal from them. I think Amplify has an UnpackNormal node which will do this (and expects input as NormalY in G and NormalX in A, so you can just give it the raw float4)

 

So,
I discovered that MapMagic's Custom shader out of the box has partial implementation that basically doesn't work.
It sends the blend to zero and ultimate provides invalid colour data.

I can now drive megasplat with mapmagic.

I managed to implement a small fix by updating CustomShaderOutput.cs in MapMagics source code.

[Edit] Support biome.

Code (CSharp):

1.  
2. public static void ProcessMegaSplat(CoordRect rect, Chunk.Results results, GeneratorsAsset gens, Chunk.Size terrainSize, Func<float,bool> stop = null)
3.   {
4.    #if __MEGASPLAT__
5.    if (stop!=null && stop(0)) return;
6.    //creating color arrays
7.    Color[][] colors = new Color[2][];
8.    colors[0] = new Color[MapMagic.instance.resolution * MapMagic.instance.resolution];
9.    colors[1] = new Color[MapMagic.instance.resolution * MapMagic.instance.resolution];
10.    
11.    //creating all and special layers/biomes lists
12.    List<Layer> allLayers = new List<Layer>(); //all layers count = gen num * layers num in each gen (excluding empty biomes, matrices, etc)
13.    List<Matrix> allMatrices = new List<Matrix>();
14.    List<Matrix> allBiomeMasks = new List<Matrix>();
15.    List<Matrix> specialWetnessMatrices = new List<Matrix>(); //special count = number of generators (excluding empty biomes only)
16.    //List<Matrix> specialPuddlesMatrices = new List<Matrix>();
17.    //List<Matrix> specialDampeningMatrices = new List<Matrix>();
18.    //List<Matrix> specialBiomeMasks = new List<Matrix>();
19.    //filling all layers/biomes
20.    foreach (CustomShaderOutput gen in gens.GeneratorsOfType<CustomShaderOutput>(onlyEnabled: true, checkBiomes: true))
21.    {
22.     //loading biome matrix
23.     Matrix biomeMask = null;
24.     if (gen.biome != null)
25.     {
26.      object biomeMaskObj = gen.biome.mask.GetObject(results);
27.      if (biomeMaskObj == null) continue; //adding nothing if biome has no mask
28.      biomeMask = (Matrix)biomeMaskObj;
29.      if (biomeMask == null) continue;
30.      if (biomeMask.IsEmpty()) continue; //optimizing empty biomes
31.     }
32.     for (int i = 0; i < gen.baseLayers.Length; i++)
33.     {
34.      //reading output directly
35.      Output output = gen.baseLayers[i].output;
36.      if (stop!=null && stop(0)) return; //checking stop before reading output
37.      if (!results.results.ContainsKey(output)) continue;
38.      Matrix matrix = (Matrix)results.results[output];
39.      if (matrix.IsEmpty()) continue;
40.      if (textureList.clusters == null)
41.      {
42.       Debug.Log("CSO MegaSplat clusters are not assigned");
43.       continue;
44.      }
45.      if (i >= textureList.clusters.Length)
46.      {
47.       Debug.LogError("Cluster out of range");
48.       continue;
49.      }
50.      //adding to lists
51.      allLayers.Add(gen.baseLayers[i]);
52.      allMatrices.Add(matrix);
53.      allBiomeMasks.Add(gen.biome == null ? null : biomeMask);
54.     }
55.     //adding special
56.     /*
57.     object wetnessObj = gen.wetnessIn.GetObject(results);
58.     specialWetnessMatrices.Add( wetnessObj!=null? (Matrix)wetnessObj : null );
59.     object puddlesObj = gen.puddlesIn.GetObject(results);
60.     specialPuddlesMatrices.Add( puddlesObj!=null? (Matrix)puddlesObj : null );
61.     object dampeingObj = gen.displaceDampenIn.GetObject(results);
62.     specialDampeningMatrices.Add( dampeingObj!=null? (Matrix)dampeingObj : null );
63.     specialBiomeMasks.Add(gen.biome == null ? null : biomeMask);
64.     */
65.    }
66.    //if no texture list found in any of generators - returning
67.    if (textureList == null || allLayers.Count==0) return;
68.    //processing
69.    int allLayersCount = allLayers.Count;
70.    int specialCount = specialWetnessMatrices.Count;
71.    for (int x = 0; x<rect.size.x; x++)
72.     for (int z = 0; z<rect.size.z; z++)
73.     {
74.      int pos = rect.GetPos(x + rect.offset.x, z + rect.offset.z);
75.      // doesn't use height, normal, but I'm not sure how to get that here..
76.      Vector3 worldPos = new Vector3(
77.       1f * (x+rect.offset.x) / MapMagic.instance.resolution * rect.size.x,
78.       0,
79.       1f * (z+rect.offset.z) / MapMagic.instance.resolution * rect.size.z);
80.      float heightRatio = results.heights!=null? results.heights.array[pos] : 0.5f; //0 is the bottom point, 1 is the maximum top
81.      Vector3 normal = new Vector3(0,1,0);
82.      // find highest two layers
83.      int botIdx = 0;
84.      int topIdx = 0;
85.                     float blend = 0;
86.                     int lastIndex = 0;
87.                     float lastVal = 0;
88.                     float biomeModifier = 1;
89.                     for (int i = 0; i < allLayersCount; i++)
90.                     {
91.                         biomeModifier = allBiomeMasks[i] != null ? allBiomeMasks[i].array[pos] : 1f;
92.                         if (i == 0)
93.                         {
94.                             lastIndex = topIdx = allLayers[i].index;
95.                             botIdx = allLayers[i].index;
96.                             lastVal =  1 * biomeModifier;
97.                         }
98.                         else
99.                         {
100.                             float val = (1 + allMatrices[i].array[pos] ) * biomeModifier;// Current layer input value.
101.                             //val *= biomeModifier;
102.                             if (val > lastVal)
103.                             {
104.                                 botIdx = lastIndex;
105.                                 topIdx = allLayers[i].index;
106.                                 lastIndex = topIdx;
107.                                 lastVal = val;
108.                             }
109.                         }
110.                     }
111.                     topIdx = textureList.clusters[topIdx].GetIndex(worldPos * clusterNoiseScale, normal, heightRatio);
112.                     botIdx = textureList.clusters[botIdx].GetIndex(worldPos * clusterNoiseScale, normal, heightRatio);
113.                     blend = 1 - lastVal ;
114.                     if (smoothFallof) blend = (Mathf.Sqrt(blend) * (1 - blend)) + blend * blend * blend;
115.                     colors[0][pos] = new Color(topIdx / 255f, botIdx / 255f, blend, 1.0f);
116.                 }
117.    
118.    //pushing to apply
119.    if (stop!=null && stop(0))
120.     return;
121.    results.apply.CheckAdd(typeof(CustomShaderOutput), colors, replace: true);
122.    #endif
123.   }
124.  

 

Thank you. I ended up getting it to work. I currently only need it for lava cracks in my game, so I just multiplied the Emission * _LavaColorHighlight which works great for my needs. I'll probably redo it later though and set the emission to 1 by default, and then have a Per Texture Properties override for the emission value, 0 to 10 would be sufficient. A emission color tint would be good to have as well.

 

After update MicroSplat asset I am getting this errors, and couldn't load scripts in
my Project (Unity 2018.2.5f1 (64-bit)).

Any sugestion?

 

Doesn't make much sense, terrainData exists as a structure on terrain all the way up to the current betas. Maybe the error is wrong? Do you have another class declaring itself as Terrain somewhere in your project?

 

Actually I do have Terrain class, when try to compile it I am getting this:

This is little strange to me because I didn't have any problem until updating
assets.

 

If you are going to have 2 classes called Terrain, then they need to be namespaced from each other, and any code using both of them would have to be explicit about which one is included. Since most Unity classes are in UnityEngine, and almost all your code is going to include UnityEngine, it's likely wise not to name things the same as Unity's classes.

 

Hi,
is megasplat supported for 2019?

I'm following your documentation but cannot get the vertex painter tool to operate. I opened a clean project for testing and am working in the mesh.unity example scene.

When selecting texture cluster and having tool "active" set true, it does not disable unity gizmo. So no painting.

Also, if you toggle vertex data, it turns selected mesh unlit black.

No errors or warnings. Fill mode does work.

edit : I think I answered my own question. Everything working as expected in LTS. If there is some bug requiring special attention for 2019, migiht want to note that in asset store page as it can be misleading.

 

There are 3 major branches of 2019 with one branch being beta, and dozens of versions of 2019 in each branch, so this isn’t really specific enough for me to investigate.

 

Yeah no worries I using LTS anyhow. I just mention cause on product page it simply says 5.6+ compatibility. I realize also that 2019 latest version just came out like, a week ago.

Version I was using is Unity 2019.2.5f1 (64-bit).

Probably some major issues beyond that because the lighting and fog was broken in the example scene as well.

 

Hi there, I am looking to make trails in snow, from skiers and was looking at your product (Tessellation, in general). Is MircoSplat ideal for real time, multiple player, mesh deformation?

Is there such a thing??!
Thanks

 

there’s not a system for this in MegaSplat; I wrote something like this for MicroSplat but haven’t finished and released it yet

 

Thank you.
Any timeline?

 

No, have been working on other things but will likely get back to it at some point

 

Hi there,

I purchased this asset today with the intention of using it with the game VRChat, unfortunately all terrain appears white within the game - possibly due to VRChat blocking third party scripts (it however works in the unity game preview). I was under the impression that everything was compiled down to shader code so no scripts would be needed for it all to work.

I don't make games, but do enjoy making maps for this particular game, so don't have much use for the asset otherwise! So really hope I haven't wasted my money Do you have any ideas what might be the cause if not due to scripts?

Thanks!

 

For terrains there's a small amount of script necessary to set the data on the terrain, but for meshes it doesn't require any scripting.

 

Hello, we are happily using megasplat, but we have some files I wonder what is recomended practice with git.

Some asset files keep being rebuildt on every workstation on the team. Is there a setting/reason for this? The team keep committing them and creating unnessesary commits.

Two of the files are binary, the other has had a line change where tit seems to have been given a new hash.



Also, is there a discord? I saw you recomended discord for tech support on a review for megasplat about 6 months ago, but cant find a link or server name anywhere.

Thanks in advance!

 

if your users are on different versions of Unity or different platforms (target platforms, windows or OS X) then it will recompress these arrays on load. For the most part though you can ignore these changes unless you’ve actually changed them on purpose.

https://discord.gg/HVuZ3sN

 

Hi @jbooth I have a couple of questions.

I'm wondering how well MegaSplat performs with PBR/Triplanar attributes. To give you a bit of context, I created a PBR/Triplanar shader in AmplifyShader and plugged that into my terrain. Visually it looks nice, but really taxes my GPU, spiking Gfx.WaitForPresent in my profiler. It go from 90fps using the basic built in shader to 45fps with the Amplifyshader PBR material. Does MegaSplat have this big of a GPU hit as well?

My second question. Do you foresee any issues with MegaSplat applied to lots of individual small terrain tiles in a single scene? I don't have a single terrain, massive in scale like most games. Instead I have lots of small terrain tiles that get re-positioned in front of the player as they walk. Would this be a headache to setup?

 

MegaSplat and MicroSplat both have a fixed cost regardless of how many textures your terrain uses, where I'm betting your custom shader samples all the terrain textures no matter if they exist on that pixel or not. For speed, MicroSplat is going to be faster on your use case- it samples 4 texture sets (packed in 2 arrays, so 8 samples in total) per pixel even when you're using 32 textures on the terrain (though has options to sample less). For triplanar this is tripled, so assuming fastest packing and best blend quality (4 textures sets per pixel) it's 24 samples per pixel for triplanar. A traditional version of that shader with 8 textures in use would be 48 texture samples, assuming you pack the full PBR spec into just 2 textures.

MicroSplat + triplanar is going to cost you only $5 too. And with either there shouldn't be much trouble with lots of smaller terrains.

 

Thanks for the quick reply @jbooth. I picked up Microsplat along with a few of the additional packs and playing with it now.

I noticed how much faster my scene is when I use non-triplanar vs triplanar for obvious reasons. Though seeing this made me wonder about something.... In my case, I only need 4 textures on my terrain, one of which being a rocky cliff side. In the end, I really only need the triplanar option being applied to this cliff side texture. Which makes me wonder, would there be any performance improvements if the triplanar option could be applied to just a couple of texture sampels at the users discretion?

 

you could roll a custom shader to do that, but it’s not as easily done in a more general architecture and the optimizations I use because you’d have to have a fixed code path where only texture N gets triplanar.

 

Same issue here, but after changing namespace from "JBooth.MegaSplat" to "AmplifyShaderEditor" in C# scripts those nodes apear in ASE editor.
There are also some errors in included "ASE_SingleLayer.shader"...something like "ArgumentException: Requested value 'All' was not found." ...but after manually recreating shader nodes according youtube video it is working again with latest Amplify Shader Editor

 

Hi @jbooth

Just a quick question: a while ago there was talk about extending the runtime proc. texturing module to allow for more than just a single biome mask texture map. Has this been/is this going to be implemented, or has the idea been scrapped?

 

Haven’t done it yet..

 

Hey @jbooth

I just bought "Stochastic Height Sampling Node for Amplify Shader Editor", as I can't find any dedicated forum, I'm posting here :

I'm currently working on a system to match everything I model with Blender to Unity, with the help of amplify shader. I can see you have ported your node to Amplify, shader graph, but also UE4.
Is Blender considered ? I think it could work great on the Blender market

 

Didn't even know there was a market for blender plugins. Likely wouldn't be hard to port..

 

Yes, Blender is becoming the Unity of 3D modeling right now I think.
On the market you have an "anti-tile" node plugin https://blendermarket.com/products/anti-tile
But it's not as good as the Stochastic method.

Yes, even me, who does not know how to code shaders without graphs, I can see how it could be possible. You can basically write your shader using the blender node input and output api : https://docs.blender.org/manual/fr/2.79/render/cycles/nodes/osl.html

 

Good evening.
Somebody know why i can't check the distance resampling in the MegaSplat Shader Compiler.
I use the v1.73 of MegaSplat.
Thx.

 

Hi there,
Rain Drop is not work fine with last version of MegaSplat.
I think maybe something wrong with UV control...

 

This might be off topic, but I can't seem to get the Stochastic Height Sampling Node working with 2019.2.9f1, is there any way to fix this? The assembly updater seems to be working, but I am still getting this error:

Assets\StochasticNode\Editor\StochasticSamplingNode.cs(30,66): error CS0535: 'StochasticSamplingNode' does not implement interface member 'IGeneratesBodyCode.GenerateNodeCode(ShaderStringBuilder, GraphContext, GenerationMode)'

 

maybe uninstall the node, shut down Unity and restart it, then reinstall it again.