> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cainos.net/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cainos.net/pixel-art-top-down-village/water-rendering.md). # WATER RENDERING The water effect is achieved through a custom shader combined with a Renderer Feature. Below is a breakdown of the rendering process. The water shader `ASE Top Down Pixel Water` is made using [Amplify Shader Editor](https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/tools/visual-scripting/amplify-shader-editor-68570). If you own this asset, you can open the shader as a graph to see how it is made.

### Water Color Render terrain and water-touching objects defined in `Terrain Layer Mask` into a texture named `Terrain Tex`. Apply a gaussian blur to the alpha channel of `Terrain Tex` using parameters from `Water Color Blur Setting`, creating `Terrain Blurred Tex`.

Terrain Blurred Tex Overlayed by Terrain Tex

Then we can use the grayscale of `Terrain Blurred Tex` to lerp between `Shallow Color` and `Deep Color` to create a gradient from shallow water near the shore to deep water far from the shore.

### Shore Line Shift the alpha of `Terrain Texture` down by one pixel size (1/32 in world space as this asset is 32x32 per unit), color it with `Foam Color` and blend it with the base water color.

### Refraction First we need to create a mask texture `Under Water Mask Tex` in the same way as we create the `Terrain Blurred Tex` in the Water Color step, but with parameters from `Under Water Mask Blur Setting`. For the content to be refracted, we use the `Terrain Tex` and move it down twice, each by `0.4` tile size, mix them together and color it with `Under Water Color`.

For the distortion effect, apply time-animated Voronoi noise to UV coordinates when sampling from `Terrain Tex`. Then we can mask the result with `Under Water Mask Tex` to create a fading effect and blend it to the base water color.

Under Water Content with Noice Distortion

### Foam We use a foam texure `TX FX Water Foam` from this asset, sample it with the UV multiplied by `2.0` in the vertical direction to match the perspective of the top down scene, and disturb it with a time-animated noise. For the mask, we use the maske value from `Under Water Mask Tex`, but move it down by `0.5` tile size and power the value by `2.5` (make the white part wider).

### Highlight The highlight pattern is made by multiplying two noise with different size and moving direction, then powered with `6.5` to extract the most light color, and stepped by `0.3` to make it flat. The UV of the noise is multiplied by `20` in the vertical direction to make it much wider horizontally.

Two Noise Multiplied Together and Powered by 6.5

Then we can use this as a mask to add `Highlight Color` to the water to create the final water effect.