Basic VFX Graph

tags: Blog Tutorial

• Basic VFX Graph
  • I. Introduction to VFX Graph in Unity
  • II. Project Setup
  • III. Making a Basic VFX Graph
  • IV. Fire & Smoke VFX from VFX Package Samples
  • V. Advanced VFX Samples
  • VI. Conclusion

I. Introduction to VFX Graph in Unity

• Particle system is not only tool available in Unity to create VFX

• The visual effects graph is a another tool (and even more powerful) to create stunning visuals in unity projects. The visual effects graph uses nodes and blocks workflow that's quick to learn and familiar to users who have use Unity Shader graph

• The visual effect graph and the existing particle system will co-exist because the both have different advantages & disadvantages. Below is the difference between them that is explained in the Visual Effect Graph - Realtime visual effects In Unity 2018.3 Video in Youtube

• Some VFX suited for VFX Graph:

  • environment lit smoke
  • fluid simulations
  • detailed spell effects

• Some VFX suited for the Current Particle System:

  • debris
  • sparks
  • projectiles

• To learn more on VFX graph, visit Visual Effect Graph

II. Project Setup

• So to make our VFX graph, first, we need to make a new project and remember to use the URP since the renderer cannot work in the regular pipeline. Let's call our project "VFXGraphTutorial"

• Now, let's delete the examples assets except the floor from the default scene of the URP

• Next, import the VFX Graph Package

III. Making a Basic VFX Graph

• Now, let's start creating our VFX Graph. Create the directory & the Visual Effect Graph file named "TestVFX"

• If we drag the VFX to the scene as an object, we can already see the effects that it makes

• To edit the VFX Graph, double click it from the directory & we can see the node based strucuture just like what we saw in the Shader Graph.

• First, let's try to manipulate the Spawn Rate in the 1st to 16000 & the Capacity in the 2nd node to 320000

• Suddenly, we can see that the amount of bubbles in the VFX is increased. So that is the function of the spawn rate & capacity

• Edit back the Spawn Rate to 16 & the Capacity to 32. And let's try to add a gravity block in the update node

• Suddenly, we can see that the bubbles fall

• Let's remove the gravity and random blocks

• Now, let's add a set lifetime, set velocity & set position block inside the Init node

• We can see that our bubbless shoot straight up in the scene, just like what we set in the VFX graph

• Since our current VFX is a bit boring, let's add a new sine wave node & connect its output to the x input of the position block

• Try to modify the value of the input and we can see the position where the bubbles spawn will be changing

• To make the change constantly happening, we just add a total time node and connect its output to the input of the sine wave node

• Now, we can already see some OK VFX

• We can also add property like in the shader graph. Let's try it by making a sineMax property from the blackboard & edit the contents to this

• Drag the sineMax to the graph and make a connection to the Max input of the Sine Wave node

• Now, we can edit the Maximum value of the Sine Wave node directly in the inspector panel through the use of the sineMax property. Remember to tick the property to override its default value

• Because we use the property feature, we can now duplicate the VFX object & make direct individual edit of the parameter without affecting the other object and editing the contents of our VFX graph

• Next, let's make our VFX more interesting by giving some colors. Add a new gradient property

• Now, connect the the output of the new property node to the input of the set color over life block

• Let's add some cool colors

• We can also edit the spawn rate

• Let's also edit the Main Texture

• And we have some cool VFX with colors. Of course to make it more beautiful, we need to do more work

IV. Fire & Smoke VFX from VFX Package Samples

• Now of course we do not have to make our own VFX from scratch everytime. Unity actually provide us some basic VFX from the package. To use them, first import the VisualEffectGraph Additions package

• Next, navigate to the sample VFX directory to see some premade VFX

• Here, we have a bonfire VFX from the sample asset

• We also have a smoke VFX from the sample asset

• To further study the insides of the sample asset VFX graph, just double click it and we can see how it works

V. Advanced VFX Samples

• Besides the provided VFX sample in the VFX graph package addition. Unity has also provided some advance VFX samples from Unity's Official Github.

• To download the project, visit https://github.com/Unity-Technologies/VisualEffectGraph-Samples

• Next, open the project from Unity Hub

• Now, we can load & study some really cool VFX like this morphing face down here

VI. Conclusion