{"author_name":"Omiya Games","cat":"LD #32","comments":[],"epoch":1429733940,"likes":2,"metadata":{"p_key":"17800","p_author":"Omiya Games","p_authorkey":"20557","p_urlkey":"53106","p_title":"How to make the graphics for Star Driller Ultra","p_cat":"LD #32","p_event":"LD32","p_time":"1429733940","p_likes":"2","p_comments":"0","p_status":"UPD5","us_key":"20557","us_name":"Omiya Games","us_username":"\/author\/taro\/","event_start":"1429228800","event_key":"27","event_name":"LD32"},"text":"

[Cross-posted from ma blag<\/a>]<\/p>\n

So a lot of praises has been made about the graphics in Star Driller Ultra<\/strong><\/a>. How did we make such beautiful graphics in a short amount of time?<\/p>\n

Well, actually, it’s a lot easier than you think.<\/p>\n

Part 1: Making the model in Blender<\/h2>\n

First, open Blender.<\/p>\n

\"Easy<\/a>

Easy enough…<\/p><\/div>\n

Next, click on “File” on the menu bar, then “User Preference.” Tap the “Input” tab, and change the “Select With:” from the dreaded default Right to the far more sensible Left. Finally, click “Save User Settings.”<\/p>\n

\"You<\/a>

You will thank me later.<\/p><\/div>\n

Uhh…where were we? Oh, yes: make a shape.<\/p>\n

\"Way<\/a>

Way ahead of you. See? A cube!<\/p><\/div>\n

Select that shape with the left mouse button, then go to the right pane and click on the gear tab (called Modifier).<\/p>\n

\"Modifier<\/a>

Modifier selected<\/p><\/div>\n

Click on “Add Modifier”, and select “Wireframe.”<\/p>\n

\"And<\/a>

And this is where the magic is about to start!<\/p><\/div>\n

Now your shape is a wireframe!<\/p>\n

\"It<\/a>

It doesn’t look that nice, though.<\/p><\/div>\n

After that, it’s just a matter of adjusting the thickness value on the modifier.<\/p>\n

\"That's<\/a>

That’s more like it!<\/p><\/div>\n

Now you can save this model in your Unity project’s Assets folder, and let the game engine do the rest.<\/p>\n

Part 2: Toon shading in Unity<\/h2>\n

Next, we need to import some toon shaders in Unity. Open Unity, then click on “Assets” under the menu bar, and select “Import Package -> Effects.”<\/p>\n

\"It's<\/a>

It’s a poorly-worded location to put toon shaders into.<\/p><\/div>\n

Open the Unity project, and drag your new model into the Scene.<\/p>\n

\"Wait<\/a>

Wait a minute…that’s not toon shading!<\/p><\/div>\n

On the Inspector panel, there’s the Material component properties displayed on the bottom. Scroll down there, and change it’s shader to “Toon -> Lit”<\/p>\n

\"Ooooh!<\/a>

Ooooh! So many shaders!<\/p><\/div>\n

The cube will still look a bit ugly because it doesn’t have a ramp set. Change the ramp to a horizontal monochrome gradient that’s 2 pixel tall, and 256 pixels wide. This will act as the gradient applied to the object in response to the lighting.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

A very sharp gradient as a toon ramp.<\/p><\/div>\n

For Star Driller Ultra<\/strong><\/a>, we used the ramp below:<\/p>\n