A visual guide for shadows, shading, depth and noise

[rtobby]

This guide is outdated. To visit the new visual guide on shadows, shading, depth, noise and more, click this.

Hello! This is a guide on shadows, shading, depth, and noise. This guide will show you examples of correct and incorrect usages of the shadows, depth, etc. I tried to use the least text that I could to save you from lots of reading, and visual help is usually much more helpful.
Note: X means "incorrect", and the checkmark means "correct".



Part 1: Shadows

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Make sure the shadow is a horizontal line! Also, the shadow should go through the back of the building.

plugintutorial2.png (3.24 KiB) Viewed 17745 times

Shadows can also be cast on walls. Don't forget that when making more complicated shapes!



Part 2: Shading

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Don't forget to separate the left side from the right side! The left side is lighter, while the right one will be darker.

plugintutorial4.png (3.34 KiB) Viewed 17745 times

And one more thing about the light, it will always come from the left. The rightmost parts should be the darkest!



Part 3: Depth

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Adding depth to the windows can make your plugin look so much better! I feel like it's very obvious from the example I've given

plugintutorial6.png (2.07 KiB) Viewed 17745 times

If you're doing flat roofs, make sure to add a lighter pixel above the walls. It gives more sense of depth and just looks good.


Part 4: Noise

plugintutorial7.png (3.5 KiB) Viewed 17745 times

Noise can help make your plugin look less like a plastic brick, but make sure not to add too much noise, or else your building will look very ugly. Noise can be made by adding in a few lighter/darker pixels on your building. It doesn't have to be very obvious.


Part 5: Extra stuff
So, after the visuals I've shown to you with a little bit of text, let's compare a building that uses little to no shadows, shading, etc., to a building that uses the said stuff!

plugintutorial8.png (5.58 KiB) Viewed 17745 times

As you can see, the turquoise building is extremely ugly and will most likely require you some eye bleach
The blue building is just much nicer to look at, doesn't look as ugly and effortless, and has more detail than the turquoise building.


I hope you've learned or remembered something from this tutorial/guide, have a nice day!

PS: If you've found a mistake or know another trick that can help, feel free to post it here! I'll make sure to update this post. Cya!

[Imran M]

I wish this existed when i first started, these are very simple things and tricks that could have been done to upgrade my old buildings

[The New Anthony]

Shadows has always been a problem with me.

[FVI]

(long post)

Thank you! This tutorial is very useful Now that I have a practical guide, I can create more satisfying plugins

[FVI]

Mine - This is my plugin, don't reuse any contents of it without my explicit permission.

Please don't use it.
Hello. I need help because the noise I can't do it. How much should be the parcentual difference between the base color and the noise Please?

Milano.png (1.32 KiB) Viewed 16720 times

[erionit]

Mine - This is my plugin, don't reuse any contents of it without my explicit permission.

Please don't use it.
Hello. I need help because the noise I can't do it. How much should be the parcentual difference between the base color and the noise Please?
Milano.png

since the difference between the shadow and the sunny side is about 20 percent (+-), I use somewhere 5-9 percent of the difference between the main color and the noise colors. to darken and lighten the windows, the percentage difference is 20-30 in different situations

[FVI]

Mine - This is my plugin, don't reuse any contents of it without my explicit permission.

Please don't use it.
Hello. I need help because the noise I can't do it. How much should be the parcentual difference between the base color and the noise Please?
Milano.png

since the difference between the shadow and the sunny side is about 20 percent (+-), I use somewhere 5-9 percent of the difference between the main color and the noise colors. to darken and lighten the windows, the percentage difference is 20-30 in different situations

Thank you so from 5 to 9 per cent?

[erionit]

Mine - This is my plugin, don't reuse any contents of it without my explicit permission.

Please don't use it.
Hello. I need help because the noise I can't do it. How much should be the parcentual difference between the base color and the noise Please?
Milano.png

since the difference between the shadow and the sunny side is about 20 percent (+-), I use somewhere 5-9 percent of the difference between the main color and the noise colors. to darken and lighten the windows, the percentage difference is 20-30 in different situations

Thank you so from 5 to 9 per cent?

from 5 to 9 percent of the difference in noise (if your question is translated into my language has 2 meanings, so if I misunderstood you, excuse me)

[CommanderABab]

Mine - This is my plugin, don't reuse any contents of it without my explicit permission.

Please don't use it.
Hello. I need help because the noise I can't do it. How much should be the parcentual difference between the base color and the noise Please?
Milano.png

probably 5-10%.

[Rad]

@The26 You are a lifesaver thanks,now my plugins will look way better

[Dongwertycii64]

maybe this is the reason the plugin is hard to get approved, if i create a plugin i have to be careful

[Vax]

Oh no i didn't even know you need to make a shadow:( now my big Apartment will get dissaproved

[CRUtheLegend]

My all plugins are disapproved