VertexDirt - Per vertex Ambient Occlusion baking [WIP]

Thanks for explaining that. Also, if it can be used as just a component then it can be applied to an existing prefab as well? I read something in the docs mentioning I would need to use this tool before creating the prefab.

 

Yes, you are rigt, if you using prefabs, you have to save them before. This is the working way right now, but I'm wokring on it to make it better. If you have trouble using VertexDirt with prefabs, feel free to write me in private and I will help you by tailoring VD scripts for you.

 

I'm curious if this can be done at runtime? Time taken is of no matter.

 

if time is not matters, then it could be, yes. The core calcualtions are not depends on editor functions.
It is not tested recently, but early versions did it well.
But please note, no component or function available in the package that can trigger a baking at runtime right now. You have to implement it.

 

Any idea why does it give grey output on both 5.2.2p3 (VD 1.59.2) and 5.3.2 (VD 1.59.3). Fresh project, example sphere scene ? Spheres are baked properly when I load scene but using your tool gives plain grey result. Win7 DX11.

 

hi, there is a sampling slider which sometimes shows zero. Sliding it up to maximum will fix it.
Sorry about that! (making that slider was a bad idea anyway...)

 

Definitely as you sample whole 64x64 texture to take first element of ReadPixels array from ... MIP controlled by slider ? It's supposed to take always highest MIP level (readpixels array should be then of length 1) to benefit from Unity auto MIP texture. Plug this slider to texture size (2^blur level) rather. Update docs maybe. Thanks for the free L11 plugin anyway. Took me quicker to debug your pipeline than writing my own baker .

Tom

 

The pleasure is mine.

 

I can't seem to get anything useful out of this.
I followed the pdf and I also tried in the example scene but no matter what I do the output is just a solid grey.
So in the spheres sample that makes them a flat grey because the shader is an unlit one, and in my scene I'm using the diffuse but it's again just a grey diffuse, no AO.
I tried min, max and between settings on the sliders.
Do I need to set up the camera in a special way? I must be missing something to not even get the sample to work.

 

Hi, sorry to hear that.
What is your unity version?

 

5.3.2f1

 

Try to set "Sample Blur" slider to at least 7. On example scene it helped Then try to play with "legacy" / "compatibility" toggles but they didn't make any difference for me.

Tom

 

Thanks tomaszek for helping. New package with the bugfix was sent for review.
Can I ask about your project working on with VertexDirt? New RTP feature?

 

No, it's game project we hopefully showup soon.

Tom

 

Nice! Looking forward to it!

 

@tomaszek I am evaluating different approaches of baked Ambient Occlusion at the moment. Sorry if I missed anything, but could you show a screenshot in which I can see the wireframe and the polycount?

 

Thanks guys, getting some good results now.

 

Good to hear that!

 

@ZFarago Could you provide some explanation for the 'sample blur' feature? There is no information for this feature in the documentation. Thanks.

 

It was an experimental feature, mainly for debugging reasons, and removed from the next version. It soon be accepted in the store.

 

Really loving the asset but I'm having trouble when I build out to Android. Runs fine in play mode but the included unlit shader breaks in my build (i.e. all pink).

 

Well, that is an old shaderlab shader, but it should work on android anyway. Maybe the new unity versions dropped that support. Write me in private, I send you a surface shader immediately.

 

@ZFarago

Hi there. I have just purchased the asset (version 1.59.31), imported into my Unity 5.3.4 project, and tried it on the included Cornell box and sample scene assets like the steering wheel. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work as intended. Nothing is baked into the vertices aside from uniform light gray values, no matter the settings.

Here is how the sample scene asset looks in it's original, unmodified state:



Here is the result of baking - despite running for ~60 seconds, it's completely blank:



Compatibility mode changes nothing, aside from prolonging the bake by another 20 seconds.
The only way to get any results out is to use the legacy mode, which results in this:



I'm not sure why there is such a stark difference in contrast between your own included bakes and the bakes produced on my side in the legacy mode, though. Also, legacy mode triggers this error:

Code (csharp):

1. Releasing render texture that is set as Camera.targetTexture!
2. UnityEngine.Object:DestroyImmediate(Object)
3. VertexDirt:Dirt(Object[]) (at Assets/Plugins/VertexDirt/Scripts/VertexDirt.js:188)
4. VertexDirtWindow:OnGUI() (at Assets/Plugins/Editor/VertexDirtEditor/VDAmbientOcclusionWindow.js:64)
5. UnityEditor.HostView:OnGUI()

P.S.: Also, your PDF document is possibly a bit outdated - there is nothing about the modes, and it mentions the possibility of modifying camera near/far clipping settings through the static class properties, which I'm not seeing exposed in the current version of VertexDirt class. Taking out a mention of a nonexistent "scripting reference" or creating that reference would be neat too.

 

Hi!

Please use the legacy mode, and it will work fine. I used a medium-to-dark grey when baking the samples, that's why you experienced a slight contrast differences on your bakes.
I had only a little time on the past months to work on VertexDirt, and sorry about that. Bugfixing and docs refreshing very soon. Please be patient.

 

Hi @ZFarago How's the performance on Mobile ?
I'm trying to create similar effect of object color as Chameleon Run... Please let me know if this is possible.

 

Hi!

VertexDirt do not have realtime baking, so it can not updates the shades dinamically. Chameleon run using some nice lighting rig and maybe image effects I think.

 

Hi @ZFarago what do you think Chameleon run use ?

 

Hi, I just bought your plugin. I tested on a MacBookPro 15 10.10.5 and UnityV5.3.2f1 with a basic cube from UnityEditor in a basic scene.
When I click on the "Start" button, I got this error
"
Releasing render texture that is set as Camera.targetTexture!
UnityEngine.ObjectestroyImmediate(Object)
VertexDirtirt(Object[]) (at Assets/Plugins/VertexDirt/Scripts/VertexDirt.js:188)
VertexDirtWindow:OnGUI() (at Assets/Plugins/Editor/VertexDirtEditor/VertexDirtWindow.js:64)
UnityEditor.HostView:OnGUI()"
And nothing is baked. Any idea ?

 

Hi!

Releasing render texture that is set as Camera.targetTexture!
That is just a temporary bug, going to fixed in the next version. Should'nt affect the results imho.
Would you please send me more screenshots about the scene or the project via pm?

 

Hi,
It works now. I thought there was an error due to the error message of course, and also because the first try I made with "real scene" has led to a deletion of the targeted game object. The "test" cube object I used after didn't show any change, due to the position of the light. Thanks, I will proceed to other tests

 

Hi,

is there any chance to get this plugin working with skinned meshes?

 

+1

 

Hi Synean, hi ZJP,

Well, it is definitely planned. It is quite an actual question, because I have just finished the thickness baking function.
With that, you can have nice translucent surfaces, like human skin or so. And this function is shout for skinned mesh support (and AO baking also gets it soon ofc.)

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Is the quality of AO going to be linked to the number of polygons of my model? I have pretty low poly models but wouldn't want any visible seams or artifacts.

 

If the topology is fine (the vertices arranged evenly and no big differences in triangle size and no too narrow triangles), then the results should be acceptable even at low poly cases.
I think your pine will be fine



Low poly pine tree test - default settings.

 

Wow that is some killer support right there. Buying right now!

 

Thanks!

If you'll have more questions in the future, feel free to contact me in email or PM!

 

New version in the asset store!

key improvements:

- improved baking. Better quality, shorter baking times
- new sample scenes and new manual!
- progress bar during bake
- prefab support
- able to multiple to existing vertex colors,

Enjoy!

 

Have you deprecated this asset? Its no longer working for me in Unity 5.6, all the objects I apply it to turn a shade of green... Do you know what might be going wrong?

 

Hello!

It is not deprecated, and it should work. Try changing the parameters or reseting the editor layout, or try to bake in other versions. If you can provide some test project, please send me via email.

Apologise for your trouble,

 

VertexDirt 1.6 in the asset store!

key improvements:

- Complete rewrite to c#
- improved baking. significally shorter baking times
- many bugs fixed

Enjoy!

 

Does this work on Oculus Quest?

 

Yes. I actually use it in my quest projects.

 

Hey guys,

I am using Unity 2019.3.4f1 and the Universal rendring piepline (for Quest dev) and just downloaded the asset.
I am trying it on a simple cube for test, but it takes ages... (or seems to be stuck).
Is it compatible with this version of Unity ?
Beside just selecting the object I want to bake, is there anything to do ? I used the default settings...
Thanks !

 

Hello,

The results can be seen in SRPs, like the Universal rendring piepline, but unfortunately the bake process will not work in SRP.
I working on the solution. Please feel free to contect me via email for further assistance.