[RELEASED] Photo Session - Ingame Precision Screenshot Utility

Photo Session got released to the Asset Store and has a -50% release discount!

Overview

Photo Session allows you to pause the game, move around with the camera and capture screenshots. It works in the Editor's Play mode and in the Build. It allows you to create awesome looking screenshots and give focus to your asset. Extremely useful for capturing exciting moments and to create media for advertising.

Photo Session
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Features

Among the various features of Photo Session are:

• Photo Mode during gameplay
• Hotkey for entering and exiting Photo Mode
• Capture higher than native resolution screenshots
• Various image file formats
• Flat and 360 degree capture
• Camera adjustments during Photo Mode (eg Field of View)
• Manual and Auto Focus for Depth of Field effect
• Overlay with statistics
• Composition Guides (eg Rule of Thirds, Fibonacci)
• Customizable navigation speeds
• Variable time scale (continue game in slow motion during capture)
• Register camera positions and jump there
• Auto Setup
• Source code available
• ...

Please take a look at the screenshots and videos on the Asset Store page to get an idea how Photo Session can be used.

Please also take a look at the requirements and limitations. Photo Session works with all Render Pipelines, however since Unity is limited in that regard (currently we are at HDRP version 15 and counting), there might be some adaptation needed. Example: Earlier HDRP versions had issues with the Automatic Exposure, using Fixed Exposure worked. It's nothing that isn't solvable, it just needs tweaking because of the way Unity is releasing their software.

 

Some examples:


As video:

 

Auto-Focus:

 

High resolution option. These screenshots were actually taken on a 2K screen with the high resolution option.

Here's 4K, click to enlarge:



And attached one in 10K:

 

Here's one more:

But please check out the asset store description to see even more examples. It's so much fun to pause the game and fly around and take screenshots of your favorite moments.

This is especially useful for publishers in order to take high precision screenshots and give focus on assets.

 

I thought I'd show how easy it is to create screenshots using Photo Session from directly inside the Editor. I used Animation Preview Pro for the staging of the scene with Synty Assets. The relevant part is just at the end of the video, so you may skip ahead as well. But staging the scene was fun as well, so I thought I'd share it all

Here's the screenshot in 4K that I took at the end of the video:

 

If you scroll down you'll see a dedicated button for capturing a screenshot directly in the editor:

 

The Create button currently exists only for HDRP, I should add one for URP. Essentially all it does is what you can do manually quickly and easily: Create a volume and add the Depth of Field effect there and assign it:

The volume:



Assignment:


This basically activates the Volume with the DoF effect while you are in Photo Session mode.

 

I just pushed Update 1.1.1 to the store which will have that Create button for URP: It allows you to create a volume at your convenience.

 

Thank you so much - you are the best.
I have already tested your updated asset 1.1.0 with HDRP in Unity 2022.1.11f1.
The screenshots taken with DOF looks amazing.
Thanks a lot for creating this asset.

 

Share some shots please

 

Thanks. Will wait for it, then.
Now the version in Asset Store is 1.1.0
What about built-in pipeline?
Does the button for creating a DOF volume is there?

 

Built-in pipleine works similarly. The Create button isn't there, but the mechanism is. What's required is Unity's Post Processing. You set up the post processing as usual, create a dedicated volume, add Depth of Field to it and assign it to the Volume slot in Photo Session:




Is it a problem or should I create a dedicated Create button there as well? I updated the doc with that information.

 

Ok, thanks for the explanation.

 

Below is my tests:
First one looks nice.

 

Then I want to capture a screenshot with DOF using Animation Preview Pro.
The DOF does not work without starting Play mode,
so I get this:

 

I have clicked on Play button, but of course pose applied with Animation Preview Pro
was not kept and characters just started to play some other animations (probably first in the list
in the AC previev controller.
Then I get a screenshot with DOF, but a bit strange.
I do not understand, how the selecting of the object for DOF work, yet.

 

That's because DoF is disabled. It must be. You don't want it in your game all the time. Once you enter Photo Mode it'll be enabled, then it'll be disabled. If you want DoF shots in the editor you need to activate DoF.

Here's how I set it up:



And here's what comes out using the "Capture Screenshot" button. The small version:



Or click the 8K file to get the one that was actually saved.

 

You need to disable the animator. Otherwise it would just play in play mode, that's how Unity works.

 

It will be awesome, to have possibility to either take a screenshot with DOF without Play mode,
or freeze animation with poses choosen with Animation Preview Pro,
then start Play mode and take a screenshot with Photo Session with DOF applied.

 

Ok, disabling the animator solved the problem with changing the poses.
Thanks.
Still trying to figure out setting of the DOF.

 

What is the requirement for the object to be found as DOF target?
I see, that the props work as a DOF target, but my characters not,

 

A raycast is sent to determine the distance, so a collider is requied. You can use DoF without autofocus though.

 

Ok, I have added a capsule collider to my characters and finally got DOF effects.
I also got understanding the F key idea - pressing it repeatedly cause
cycling through available Auto Focus Mode and enable DOF effect marks.
Green color of the marking means, that the target for DOF was found.
I do not understand what "Photo Camera" do in "Camera" parameter
of Photo Session, yet.
Screenshots below was taken with None (camera) which is a default state
of Photo Camera field in inspector.

 

Very nice! And Castle Valley is always excellent to show off, such an awesome must have asset

Taking photos requires a camera. By default your game camera is used. But you can swap that for a dedicated one with different parameters, eg the far distance set to 1000 while in your game you have 300.

About focus maybe check this one out:

Personally I only use Manual Focus anymore. Hit the M key and move the mouse around. The focus will be set to the one marker's collider target. Along the target. Not just the first raycast hit. It gives you much finer control.

 

Thanks a lot.
I will practice Manual Focus, as well.

 

My latest trials some with manual and some with auto focus.

 

New update is live.

* added Create button for URP Volume
* added option for Output Path



Base path is the application, user or absolute path. Sub path is what's appended to the base path or it's the absolute path in case that option is selected.

 

Thanks a lot for the update.
Now is much more convenient to take screenshots with DOF in URP.
Below are my attempts from URP.

 

Just want to write some short description about how have I took my screenshots with DOF in URP.
Please correct me, if I am wrong.
1. Add Photo Session prefab from Rowlan\PhotoSession\Resources\Prefabs
2. Be sure, that in the Hierarchy of the scene exist Post-process Volume.
I have copied one from the SampleScene of URP sample project.
3. Add Override: Post-processing | Depth Of Field. Change its Mode to Bokeh.
4. In Camera of the scene put the check mark on Post Processing under Rendering section.
5. In PhotoSession prefab in the Hierarchy, mark Depth of Field under Effects
and click on Create button to have DOF volume created.
6. Click Play button in Unity Editor to preview the scene and take screenshots by pressing F12.
Move around the view by keeping right mouse button depressed and press W, A, S, D, Q, E to move.
Press M or F to find the target for DOF.
Click left mouse button to take pictures.

 

ad 1) I tend to add the prefab via right mouse button > Photo Session > Add Prefab.
ad 2,3,4,5) Yes, but should be easier now with the Create button in URP
ad 6) F12 toggles the Photo Session mode. You can move with the keys you specified and have custom ones as well configured in the UI, from the doc:



Your screens look very nice. I prefer to get even closer. Someone wrote a review that they wanted a collider so that you can't move against walls and what not, but I prefer not to have one. That would be preventing me from taking my perspective of choice for awesome shots.

 

I am still doing something wrong.
I prepared another scene in URP and have done:
1. Added the prefab via right mouse button > Photo Session > Add Prefab.
2. Clicked Create button for add DOF
3. In play mode pressed F12, but could not get any DOF effect,
despite the box/boxes going green.
Below are my settings for Camera and Photo Session prefab.
What am I doing wrong. Please help. Thanks in advance.

 

When you click at the Volume (Photo Session Volume), Unity directs you to the volume itself. How does it look like? It should have DoF included. By the way, if there's another Volume in there with DoF added and higher weight, then that one will take precedence in play mode. You can test that volume by simply activating the post processing overrides in it. It should show DoF. That's just how the post processing works in Unity.

That asset looks awesome by the way, ideal for showing off. Which one is it?

 

@Artini oops, apologies, i missed something. The default DoF setting is Off. Set it to Bokeh please:



Or in the DepthOfFieldModuleEditor script for URP set the effect.mode variable:

Code (CSharp):

1.             // create the effects
2.             DepthOfField effect = VolumeProfileFactory.CreateVolumeComponent<DepthOfField>(effectVolume.profile, true, false);
3.             effect.mode = new DepthOfFieldModeParameter(DepthOfFieldMode.Bokeh, true);

I'll upload a fix.

 

Thanks, it works finally but needs to have Global Volume in the scene
and enable Post Processing on Camera.
The asset is Toon Harbor Pack:
https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/industrial/toon-harbor-pack-188250#description
It has a conversion to URP, but its demo scene does not contain PostProcessing volume.

 

Which Unity / URP version are you using? When I create the Volume via the Create button it is set to Global for me. Using Unity 2021.3.7f1 and the URP version that comes with it.

Thanks for the info about the asset, I'll have to check it out. Looks really nice.

 

You are right.
The problem was, that the Post Processing was not enabled on the camera.
Awesome, just less clicks to prepare the Photo Session.
I am using Unity 2021.3.7f1 and the URP version that comes with it.
Below is another example made in URP.

 

That's an awesome shot

Thank you for your contribution, I added that info to the doc.

 

Thanks. I just can't stop playing with your assets.
And that is just a beginning. I need to master your YAPP, as well.

 

Night scenes looks great, as well. Created in URP.

 

Very nice! Keep on sharing.

Btw one thing I noticed is that in the Harbor asset you mentioned Bloom is missing as well as Tone Mapper ACES. You might want to look into that. And maybe a tad Vignette and Ambient Occlusion. But I'm used to that from HDRP. Not sure if that's suitable for URP as well, the look in URP is usually different.

Which asset are you using there?

 

Thanks for the tips and kind words.
It is Toon Desert asset:
https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/3d/environments/urban/toon-desert-163719#description
What do you recommend about how to add Vignette and Ambient Occlusion.
Shall I create another Global Volume with them?

 

I have added to the Photo Session Volume overrides: Vignette, Tonemapping ACES and Bloom.
I could not find Ambient Occlusion in overrides, though.
Below is the result. What do you think?

 

Toon Harbor with overrides: Tonemapping ACES, Bloom and Vignette.

 

Very nice night scene, definitely works in motion. But for a still a bit too dark for me personally. Can be improved with car light beams. Also, I'd toy around with Bloom and increase the light intensity, but light beams may just be enough. It's an iterative process to see what works. And one gets other ideas while doing so.

Here's a doc about AO:

https://docs.unity3d.com/Packages/c...iversal@15.0/manual/post-processing-ssao.html

But keep in mind that this aims more towards realism. A look not always intended in URP.

I'm gonna toy around with another asset of the SICS Games publisher you're using your assets from. You really got me motivated to check them out

 

Thanks. I like assets of SICS Games publisher a lot, that's why I have purchased them, as many, as I could.
I have figured out, how to apply DOF in built-in with Photo Session myself, thanks to your description.
I will be using that a lot, because I can create many different looking terrains
and DOF adds so much to the screenshots.
Thank you again, for creating such a wonderful asset. You became my favorite publisher on Unity Asset Store.
Below are 2 Photo Session screenshots taken in Unity 2021.3.7f1 with built-in pipeline.

 

Thank you very much!

Wow, those are really good. I love the near blur and far blur giving focus to the actual content you want to emphasize.

A note on the first vs second: Try the guides in Photo Session. The G key. There's a bunch of information about Rule of Thirds, Fibonacci etc available on the Internet. Although both images are almost the same the first one will appear more pleasant to the viewer for a reason.

 

@Artini have you tried Toon Fantasy Nature yet? Also from SICS Games. I combined it with the Stylized Bear from Blink and the Forest Golems from Malbers. I think those 3 assets work quite good together. Staged the scene characters with Animation Preview Pro:

 

Here's a comparison with the DoF effect and without. I can't tell which one I like more. The DoF one emphasizes on the Bear. The one without DoF has a different expression:




It's really a matter of artistic choice and what one wants to express.

 

Thank you. I also like the first one best.
As far as I know, the best looking shots with DOF are those, where there is no blur in the middle of the area.
It is not so easy to achieve such effect, with the default settings of DOF.