How comprehensive is Amplify Shader Editor with Sprites/2D?

[VictoriaMac]

We're looking at Amplify Shader Editor as a candidate for a 2d unity game we're working on. WIth that said, we'd like to make sure that we're not throwing money away.

How comprehensive are the features with amplify shader editor for 2d sprite shaders working with orthographic cameras vs 3d shaders? Would I be able to create distortions, sprite outlines, shader animations, and the effects showcased in the demo videos on a 2d sprite as well?


Thanks,

Victoria

[Amplify_Borba]

Hello Victoria, thank you for getting in touch and for your interest!

ASE supports 2D Sprites, Particles, UI and Image Effects through our Shader Templates, and even though we provide Default Templates for your convenience, you may build your own from scratch and to suit any specific needs or workflows!

We also release frequent updates aimed at both 2D and 3D shader development, and a couple of our recent additions were the UI-Sprite Effect Layer function and Orientation Based Sprite sample.





For more specific examples, be sure to check out Sons of the Void as they make extensive use of our editor for all types of effects. Some ASE powered games actually combine 3D and 2D assets, Party Hard 2 and The Last Night being the best references.

How comprehensive are the features with amplify shader editor for 2d sprite shaders working with orthographic cameras vs 3d shaders?

When working specifically with Orthographic cameras, and depending on the type of effect you create, some shaders might require specific considerations as these cameras work differently with depth, since their values are stored in the depth buffer as linear depth value.

Would I be able to create distortions, sprite outlines, shader animations, and the effects showcased in the demo videos on a 2d sprite as well?

Definitely, although we don't provide presets for 2D specific effects at this time, you are able to develop those effects through the aforementioned Shader Template feature.

Also, depending on your knowledge of shaders, there are some concepts that you will have to learn in order to make the most out of a shader editor. I recommend looking into the Unity 5.x Shaders and Effects Cookbook book, as it's a great place for quick tips and specific information on how to achieve common effects.

Please let me know if you have any further questions, thanks!