An example of what is theoretically possible when you are able to control every UDS parameter in weather states
An example of what is theoretically possible when you are able to control every UDS parameter in weather states. Featuring my custom lens flares.
Debug tools I used whilst developing the new LUT format
Ultra Dynamic Sky modifications
21 November, 2024
I've been a user of Ultra Dynamic Sky (UDS) since around 2022, and as good as the asset is, I've found a few ways to improve it since then.
I spent about a month at the tail end of 2024 working to actually implement these changes, and when I was done I sent a message to the Everett Gunther, the original author of UDS, describing the improvements I had made and offered to share my diffs with him.
These suggestions consisted of 3 main points:
- Weather presets should have some parameters intended for art-direction
An example of what is theoretically possible when you are able to control every UDS parameter in weather states
An example of what is theoretically possible when you are able to control every UDS parameter in weather states
A baked representation of this radial cloud formation
- The X-axis of the Cloud Profile LUT texture should be completely arbitrary and assignable in weather presets, not mapped to cloud density
Debug tools I used whilst developing this new LUT format
What this formation looks like normally
A snapshot of the material graph for the new cloud profile LUT
- Cloud Wisps should move away from a texture stored in polar coordinates to a top-down texture with clever UVs applied to it
The implementation of my cloud wisps
A visualisation of the cloud wisps' UVs
A snapshot of the material graph for the new cloud wisps' UVs
The texture I used for the cloud wisps during development
As it turns out, Everett was already working on implementing something to the effect of my first suggestion.
This is something I've actually already done some work on for 8.5. The sky modifier system is expanded to include everything it possibly can on UDS. That is, every color/float that is actively applied/involved in cached properties.
This was then included as the headline feature of UDS 8.5, released on November 21st, 2024.
- Added a new Sky Modifier Editor utility, a tool for creating and working with sky modifier assets,
- A sky modifier can now be selected on a weather preset asset directly, and it will be applied to UDS based on how that preset is affecting local weather. Associating custom presets with sky modifiers allows weather to effectively take control of anything on UDS exposed to the sky modifier system.