VFX Graph Sorting Layer with sprites

I am making a 2D game with URP.
After some problems, I've found out that the particles are rendered on the Default Sorting layer.

Now the problem is that I can't modify where the particles will be rendered based on the sprites Sorting Layer (the problem is not between 2 particle graphs, but between a particle graph and the sprites).

I want some particles to be rendered on the foreground (in front of the player), others on the background of the sprites

 

I really hope this get addressed.

 

I'm facing the same issue. No way to manage sorting and order in layer with Sprites and in Images in UI. I really hope it will be fixed very soon !

Thanks

 

Sorry to bump,

Just want to be sure - So if I use URP + VFX + Sprites or Images (meaning sorting layers and order in layers) there is no way to manage what should be in front or behind ? I tried to change emission world position, visual effect transparency priority etc. but without any success.

Is it doable or definitely URP + VFX + 2D is dead ?

 

Hello,

Glad to hear that ! Is that something we can expect in the first 2020 release ?

I did not try to the solution you mentioned because not sure how it is related to my issue. How to relate sorting layer to "Transparent + N" value ?

Thanks.

 

Thanks a lot ! I'll check that tomorrow morning !

 

Hello,

I tried to copy-paste the file, so erased the orginal one, at /Library/PackageCache/com.unity.visualeffectgraph@7.3.1/Editor/Models/Contexts/Implementations but as soons as I restart Unity the file is restored as its original version. I also tried to modified manually the file but sam things happened.

Am'I missing something ? Thanks.

 

Hum, next time I'll read twice !

I'm going to do that, thanks.

 

So, I moved the package, the modification stays, that's good. But I'm unable to have VFX in front of UI images (UI layer) whatever render queue value I set. I'm really disappointed here.

 

Hello,

Actually I do use Canvas with Screen space - Camera and it does not work. I tried to put everything in the default layer and the default sorting layer. I set the custom render queue to 400 to all my VFX and all I can see is the bounds of the particles in the scene view.

Is there anything else I should do ?

Thanks

 

Hello,

I'm confused here because I have some VFX running on top of Sprites which means SprireRenderer which mean Layer, Sorting Layer and order in layer -> same as Image so what it does not work with them ?

anyway, thanks for you help and you time. But to be honest I'm disappointed that a whole concept (2D, Sorting layers etc.) has been put asides like that and not ETA when it will be handled.

 

Hello,

I tried to put everything on Default layer, Default Sorting Layer and put VFX with an absolutely huge customRenderQueue value, like 4000 ,and the VFX stays behind SpriteRenderers and Images. So not sure how to make this works.

 

Hello,

I'll try to do that ! This is client project so I do have to make the smallest repro projet as possible and avoid my client assets.

Thanks

 

Hello @VladVNeykov,

I just dm you a repro scene, I hope it works and helps understand what's going on.

Thank you very much.

 

Hi @VladVNeykov ,

Where can I find the VFX Package folder that should be copied to my project's Packages folder? Is it supposed to be located in my Unity installation folder?

Thanks!

 

Great, thanks for your help!

 

Hi There!

I wanted to check in regarding this issue as I haven't found a good workaround. I can place certain sprite sorting layers either in front or behind the Default layer which the VFX particles render on but there's no way for me to render certain VFX particles in front of sprites and certain VFX particles behind sprites.

I tried using the file @VladVNeykov provided and received the following error:

Code (CSharp):

1. Library\PackageCache\com.unity.visualeffectgraph@10.2.2\Editor\Models\Contexts\Implementations\VFXMeshOutput.cs(25,50): error CS0115: 'VFXMeshOutput.outputUpdateFeatures': no suitable method found to override

I diffed the file with my working directory and tried to keep only the changes that looked like made sense to me and I was able to get the render order dialog to appear however I was still not able to control the particle system rendering either behind or in front of specific sprite order layers.

VFX graph is absolutely incredible and I was even able to render 70k particles on my 200 dollar Android phone at max speed without issues... this is honestly the only problem preventing me from using this feature in my game.

Does anyone happen to have an alternative solution or an estimate of when sorting layers will be implemented?

Thank you very much!

 

Got it!

I found the following post:
https://forum.unity.com/threads/hdrp-visual-effect-renderer-priority-via-c-scripting.1035745/

Which seems to talk about a similar issue however the solution offered in post #6 did not satisfy my layer problem with sprites.

I wondered if the VFX renderer itself had the same sorting layer name / order properties as the sprite renderer and it does! The following code will allow you to set the render order / layer of a VFX particle system so they play nicely with sprite shapes:

Code (CSharp):

1. var renderer = gameObject.transform.Find("VFX").GetComponent<Renderer>();
2.  
3. renderer.sortingLayerName = "SomeRenderLayer";
4. renderer.sortingOrder = 10;

Leaving this here for anyone else that happens to google this issue and come across this post

 

Blows my mind that unity didn't create this already:
1.) Create a script named SortOrder.
2.) Replace the code with this.
3.) Drag and drop it onto any VFX Object.
4.) Instantly have full control over sorting order in the editor, and game.

No incompatibility issues can occur, because its merely adjusting the sort order.
This should have been unity's first answer.

Code (CSharp):

1. using UnityEngine;
2.  
3. public class SortOrder : MonoBehaviour
4. {
5.     public int sortingOrder = 570;
6.     public Renderer vfxRenderer;
7.     void OnValidate()
8.     {
9.             vfxRenderer = GetComponent<Renderer>();
10.             if (vfxRenderer)
11.                 vfxRenderer.sortingOrder = sortingOrder;
12.     }
13. }

 

Small performance correction: If you have this on every VFX Object in your scene, pls cache the renderer like so, since GetComponent is notoriously slow and should be avoided whenever possible:

Code (CSharp):

1. using UnityEngine;
2.  
3. public class SortOrder : MonoBehaviour
4. {
5.     public int SortingOrder = 570;
6.     public Renderer VfxRenderer = null;
7.  
8.     private void Awake()
9.     {
10.         VfxRenderer = GetComponent<Renderer>();
11.     }
12.  
13.     private void OnValidate()
14.     {
15.         if (VfxRenderer)
16.             VfxRenderer.sortingOrder = SortingOrder;
17.     }
18. }

 

Is it possible to achieve the effect done in this tutorial, but for VFX Graph's?

 

Sorry for been late, but i guess i have answer for you.

Code (CSharp):

1. GameObject effectGO;
2. var tmp = effectGO.AddComponent<VisualEffect>();
3. tmp.visualEffectAsset = effect.effectAsset;
4. tmp.GetComponent<Renderer>().sortingLayerName = "Foreground";

Last line changes sorting layer, then first 3 creates game object with visual grath and binds VFX asset to it.