Best practises when modelling "textured planes" for extra detail? (Blender, Unity)

AetherGauntlet · Feb 2015

I'm not entirely sure I'm using the correct term, I'm referring to the way things like bushes and trees are normally modelled, with a solid trunk and then a series of planes that have textures of leaves - giving the feel of a fully modelled tree for a fraction of the vert count.

The way I'm currently doing it is with two planes, with overlapping verts and normals facing opposite directions.

I'm not however certain this is the "best" way of doing it. Thoughts?

Thanks!

oglu · Feb 2015

you can do it this way yes...
or you have a special shader for foliage in the engine...
those shaders are double sided and can simulate sss...

AetherGauntlet · Feb 2015

I see, so it's not the model that needs to be tweaked to simulate textures on both sides but the game engine itself that should take care of it. Thanks, that helps quite a bit!

Butthair · Feb 2015

It's cheaper to handle the doubled side plane via geometry than by shader.

GlowingPotato · Feb 2015

Butthair wrote: »

It's cheaper to handle the doubled side plane via geometry than by shader.

+1 and you can edit those vertex normal to achieve better lit.

AetherGauntlet · Feb 2015

Thanks for the advice!

JustMeSR · Feb 2015

Butthair wrote: »

It's cheaper to handle the doubled side plane via geometry than by shader.

Good to know.:thumbup:

I would also like to point out that you may (not necessarily for foliage) want to use doulble-sided shader in some cases as you can "mask" out backfaces and make them behave differently.

Best practises when modelling "textured planes" for extra detail? (Blender, Unity)

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