New Land – Stylized Shader Explorations in Unity

Objective:

This project showcases a series of shaders developed as part of a personal exploration of visual techniques in Unity. Each shader was created without a specific brief — simply as a way to test ideas and better understand how stylized effects can be built and used in real-time game environments.

Triplanar Texture Projection Shader

Overview:
This shader automatically applies textures to a 3D object based on the orientation of its faces, removing the need for traditional UV mapping. It’s especially useful when working with modular or complex geometry.

What it does:

• Detects face orientation (X, Y, Z) and applies different textures accordingly

• Allows for object rotation, scaling, or movement without visual inconsistencies

• Saves time in scenes where texture detail is important, but production speed matters

Best suited for:
Terrains, rocky surfaces, modular structures, voxel environments

Wave Interaction Shader

Overview:
A stylized water shader that simulates wave motion only at the edges where the water meets other objects. The goal was to create a subtle, dynamic effect without complex physics.

What it does:

• Animates a base texture using noise to simulate water movement

• Wave motion appears only at object intersections, giving the illusion of interaction

• Adds a sense of life to water surfaces without heavy computation

Best suited for:
Boat gameplay, coastal scenes, water-based levels with light interaction

Portal Transparency Shader

Overview:
This shader creates a classic portal-style visual effect, allowing for partial transparency on a 3D object using texture masks. It’s a flexible technique with a wide range of creative applications.

What it does:

• Uses textures to define areas of transparency on an object

• Can reveal or hide parts of a mesh dynamically

• Works well with animation, masking, or distortion effects for more complex visuals

Best suited for:
Teleportation mechanics, magical doorways, visual storytelling elements