This tutorial explains how to create complex 3D shapes inside volumetric shaders. Signed Distance Functions (often referred to as Fields) are mathematical tools used to describe geometrical shapes such as spheres, boxes and tori. Compared to traditional 3D models made out of triangles, signed distance functions provide virtually infinite resolution, and are amenable to geometric manipulation. The following animation, from formulanimation tutorial :: making a snail, shows how a snail can be created using simpler shapes:
- Introduction
- Part 1. SDF Sphere
- Part 2. Union and Intersection
- Part 3. SDF Box
- Part 4. Shape Blending
- Part 5. Smooth Union
- Part 6. SDF Algebra
- Conclusion
You can find here all the other posts in this series:
- Part 1: Volumetric Rendering
- Part 2: Raymarching
- Part 3: Surface Shading
- Part 4: Signed Distance Fields
- Part 5: Ambient Occlusion
- 🚧 Part 6: Hard and Soft Shadows
The full Unity package is available at the end of this article. 📦
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