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Question by DoctorWhy · Dec 19, 2012 at 10:43 PM · shadows

Soft Shadows look terrible

I have been messing around with a bunch of the soft shadows with directional lights, but no matter what I have tried (various combinations of resolution, strength, bias, softness and shoftness fade) , they look terrible (see the picture). Is there some type of setting that I am missing that fixes the graininess?

EDIT: So apparently, Unity thinks this is "good"... http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/162791-Soft-Shadow-Jagged-Edges

So if you want good dynamic shadows, don't use Unity's. Good lesson to learn here. Are there alternatives to good looking soft shadows that are not too demanding?

alt text

(The image keeps disappearing, so let me know if it is here or not)

shandows.png (40.3 kB)
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avatar image DESTRUKTORR · Dec 19, 2012 at 11:30 PM 0
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The image you included doesn't appear to still be there. Can you post a screenshot of these "grainy" shadows?

Chances are they have something to do with your graphics settings, or the textures on the objects you're using.

avatar image DoctorWhy · Dec 20, 2012 at 12:00 AM 0
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I have no idea what happened, but I reuploaded it.

avatar image Eric5h5 · Dec 20, 2012 at 10:35 PM 0
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If you read that topic, then you know that's how Unity's shadows work; there's nothing to "fix". I've seen non-Unity games that use the same technique. Try using an actual texture ins$$anonymous$$d of a flat-shaded surface and it's much harder to tell.

avatar image DoctorWhy · Dec 21, 2012 at 05:30 PM 0
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So basically, Unity doesn't offer good shadows on solid textures? Good to know...

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Answer by sparkzbarca · Dec 20, 2012 at 05:00 PM

I dont know much about lightmapping. Or unitys.

BUT raycasted soft shadows can have graininess (which is what that looks like) if you dont sample enough.

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avatar image DoctorWhy · Dec 20, 2012 at 05:08 PM 0
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And how do you change the sample amount?

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