MODIFY SHADERS AND RENDER TEXTURES ON CURVED SURFACES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15588/1607-3274-2025-4-19Keywords:
game development, shaders, spline, rendering, custom raycaster, curvilinear surfaces, user interface, visualizationAbstract
Context. The display of curvilinear surfaces on flat screens is a complex task. The development of an interface for such surfaces is a relevant task that requires the solution of numerous issues. This paper presents an approach to UI development for curvilinear surfaces and shader modifications for the creation of realistic landscape elements. The object of the research is the development of an interface system based on a custom raycaster to ensure interactivity and create an immersive effect within the game environment.
Objective. The purpose of the paper. The primary objective of this research is to create, optimise and adapt shaders on curved surfaces to achieve more efficient rendering with high-quality visualisation.
Method. The development of user interfaces (UI) for curvilinear surfaces requires consideration of geometric parameters. To resolve this issue, a custom component based on BaseRaycaster was developed, enabling the computation of the intersection between the camera ray and the physical surface. To provide correct and efficient interaction with the canvas a custom component based on BaseRaycaster was created. The developed component solves the problem by identifying the ray intersection point from the camera with the canvas surface. The implementation of this component involves an algorithm for detecting the camera’s ray intersections with colliders, using a mathematical model to process the detected elements, according for their depth to ensure proper interaction.
Results.This approach facilitates the creation of interfaces on arbitrary static curved surfaces that are applicable in various gaming and interactive scenarios.
Conclusions. The use of splines and modified shaders ensures the placement of text on curvilinear surfaces and the natural arrangement of roads and other landscape elements according to the terrain contours. This approach is important for developing openworld games or games with complex geometry, where the UI on curvilinear surfaces appears natural and integrated into the environment.
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