grass shadow multiplier, color

[werner.poetzelberger]

Hello,

 

I am wondering if there is a possibility to adjust the multiplication of the shadow on the grass, and the color.

 

I couldnt find a parameter for this. Does the shadow always apply 100% ?

Would like need to control it.

 

Another thing would be, to control the blurryness of the shadow on grass. Sometimes it would be nice to have a smooth blurred shadow or a downsampled shadowmap, not as sharp as somewhere else.

As well the shadow, the grass is casting could be softer.

 

As well if possible it would be great if the grass material would have a Normal Map slot to get in additional Detail, away from a flat grass blade.

 

What do you think?

 

Best.

 

werner

[nat.harrold]

Hi Werner.

 

 it would be nice to have a smooth blurred shadow or a downsampled shadowmap, not as sharp as somewhere else.

As well the shadow, the grass is casting could be softer.

 

I concur!

 

Do you mean objectgrass? and grass_base material?

 

If so, probably the answer is no to all your queries at this stage. (except the colour multiplier - sort of).

 

simple ways I get around it:

use colour_noise with a decent scale in combination with a desaturated diffuse texture (I typically use a greyscale/destaurated image for the grass - with AO and shaded contrast in the texture.)

use SSAO (for soft self shadowing)

disable shadow casting for grass objects/materials

 

But as you have the challenge of such an arid environment and no luxury of casting shadows onto the grass from trees, perhaps mesh_leaf_base could open up more options.

You could make a few plants and paint them around as mesh cluster.

 

Cheers,

N.

 

* EDIT: another way I have done the different shadows (hard for some and soft for others) is...

 

2 suns...

 

dun dun dun...

 

and viewport masks. that way you can control the softness settings of the shadows on the grass objects excluded form the 1st sun.

 

my 2cents.

 

N.

[werner.poetzelberger]

Right. I havent delt with the viewport masks ... will look at them.

 

Yes, if I dont see any satisfying results on the grass object itself, I will use some custom models.

 

Atm. I have some promising stuff going, but lets see.

 

One very nice thing is the flexibility of the grass.

 

Best.

 

Werner