Here are some techniques I discovered through 14 years of shader programming:

Orchard vec3 p,v=normalize(FC.rgb*2.-r.xyx),c=v/v.y;c.z+=.5*t;for(float z,i,b,g,m;i++<5e1;z+=.8*max(b=length((p.y-m)/1e2/(abs(sin(c.xz/.1))-.05/v.y)),min(4.-m,g=length(sin(p.xz)+1.-.1*(1.+sin(p.y-p.zx*.5))*m))-b),o.rgb+=(.7-v)/(g+b))p=z*v+1.,p.z-=t,m=abs(++p.y);o=tanh(o/5e2);

Reef for(float z,d,i;i++<5e1;z+=d,o+=(.9+sin(i*.1-vec4(6,1,2,0)))/d/d/z+d*z/vec4(4,2,1,0)){vec3 p=z*normalize(FC.rgb*2.-r.xyx);for(d=0.;d++<9.;)p+=.4*sin(p.yzx*d-z+t+i)/d+.5;d=length(vec4(abs(p.y+p.z*.5),sin(p-z)/7.))/(4.+z*z/1e2);}o=tanh(o/2e3);

Port vec3 w,p;for(float z,d=.1,i,f;i++<1e2;o+=.03/abs(mix(p,w,.1).y+vec4(0,1,2,3)/1e2)*d,z+=d=.3*(length(cos(p.xz))-.4))for(p=z*(FC.rgb*2.-r.xyy)/r.y+1.,w=p,f=0.;f++<5.;)w+=sin(w.zxy*f-9.*exp(-d/.1)+t)/f;o=tanh(o);

The start of greatness: for(float i,d,z...

Game devs, look at your game in grayscale. How does the contrast look? Is lighting used intentionally (e.g. to separate elements from the background)? Also use texture sharpness for focus points and lower detail for backgrounds

vec3 rotate(vec3 pos, vec3 axis, float angle) { return mix(dot(pos, axis) * axis, pos, sin(angle)) + cos(angle) * cross(axis, pos); }

Structure Normals Here's a quick thread of raymarching tricks, tested on this scene. First, how to compute normals...

It's with a very heavy heart that we share the news of YoYo Games founder and original CEO, Sandy Duncan's passing. GameMaker would not be where it is today without Sandy and our hearts are with his family at this very difficult time. Rest in peace. www.linkedin.com/posts/sandyd...

Drip vec2 p=(FC.xy*2.-r)/r.y*vec2(10,1), a=vec2(.5,.1), f=fract(vec2(p.x,p.y+t*4./PI+sin(ceil(p.x)/.1+t)))-a, m=1.-max(f/(1.-a),-f/a); o+=tanh(.1/(1.-m.x))*m.x*m.y;

Particles vec3 p,v;for(float d,z,i,f;i++<6e1;p=z*normalize(FC.rgb*2.-r.xyy),p.z+=9.)z+=d=.4*max(f=abs(z-5.)*.05,length(vec4(dot(sin(p),sin(p/.6))-length(p)+5.,sin(p/.1+t)*cos(p.yzx/.1+t)*.3))-f),o+=(cos(p.y+i*.2+d/.2+vec4(0,1,2,3))+1.1)/d;o=tanh(o*o/3e5);

Structure vec3 q,p;for(float d,i,l;l++<1e2;p+=normalize(round(FC.rgb)*2.-r.xyy)*d)for(q=p-8.,d=q.y,i=1e2;i>.4;i*=.3)q.xz*=.1*mat2(8,6,-6,8),d=max(d,min(min(q=i*.8-abs(mod(q,i+i)-i),q.y).x,q.z));o=vec4(1,1.2,1.4,1)-fwidth(ceil(p.z/.1));

Mainframe vec2 p=abs(FC.xy*2.-r)/r.y/.4,v;for(float i,l,f;i++<9.;o+=.02/(l=length(sin(v)))/l*(cos(i*.3+l-vec4(4,5,6,0))+1.))for(v=p-i*.2,f=0.;f++<7.;v=(v+sin(ceil(v.yx+i*.1)*9.+t)/f).yx);o=max(tanh(o+(o=texture(b,(FC.xy+r.y*.05*sin(FC.xy+FC.yx/.6))/r))*o),0.);

Buffer vec2 p=(FC.xy*2.-r)/r.y; float l=length(p)-.6,a=atan(p.y,p.x)+t*.5; o=tanh(.3*(.7+vec4(-p,p))*dot(p,cos(t+vec2(0,2)))/length(vec2(min(l*4.,l)*4.,cos(a*8.)-.9)));

Coloring 0: Capped brightness

vec2 p=(FC.xy*2.-r)/r.y,v; o=tanh(.03*vec4(2,1,1.+p) /(.05+max(v+=length(p)-.5,-v/.1)).x /(.1+abs(p.x-p.y)));

Frames vec2 p=(FC.xy*2.-r)/r.y/.4,v;for(float i,l,f;i++<9.;o+=.04/abs(l=length(v)-1.)*(cos(i*.3+.1/l+vec4(0,1,2,3))+1.))for(v=p,f=0.;f++<7.;v=(v+sin(v*f/.6+i*.3+cos(i+vec2(0,2)+t/2.))/f).yx);o=max(tanh(o+(o=texture(b,(FC.xy+r.y*.02*sin(FC.xy+FC.yx/.6))/r))*o),.0);

Phoenix vec2 p=(FC.xy*2.-r)/r.y/.4,v;for(float i,l,f;i++<9.;o+=.01/(l=length(v*v.yx))*(cos(i/4.+v.y+vec4(0,1,2,4))+1.))for(v=p,f=0.;f++<9.;v+=cos(ceil(v.yx*f+i*.1)+t/2.)/f);o=max(tanh(o+(o=texture(b,(FC.xy+r.y*.05*sin(FC.xy+FC.yx/.6))/r))*o),.0);

Event 2 vec2 p=(FC.xy*2.-r)/r.y/.3,v;for(float i,l,f;i++<9.;o+=.1/abs(l=dot(p,p)-5.-2./v.y)*(cos(i/3.+.1/l+vec4(1,2,3,4))+1.))for(v=p,f=0.;f++<9.;v+=sin(ceil(v.yx*f+i*.3)+r-t/2.)/f);o=max(tanh(o+(o=texture(b,(FC.xy+r.y*.04*sin(FC.xy+FC.yx/.6))/r))*o),.0);

Event 1 vec2 p=(FC.xy*2.-r)/r.y/.3,v;for(float i,l,f;i++<9.;o+=.03/max(l=length(p)-2.-1./(v.y-v.x),-l*9.)*(cos(i/3.+.1/l+vec4(0,1,2,3))+1.))for(v=p,f=0.;f++<9.;v+=sin(ceil(v.yx*f+i*.7)+r-t/2.)/f);o=max(tanh(o+(o=texture(b,(FC.xy+r.y*.03*sin(FC.xy+FC.yx/.6))/r))*o),.0);

RAM

Observer vec2 p=(FC.xy*2.-r)/r.y/.2,v;for(float i,l,f;i++<1e1;o+=.03/max(l=length(v)-i,-l*3.)*(cos(t-i*.4+.1/l+vec4(0,1,2,3))+1.1))for(v=p,f=0.;f++<9.;v+=sin(ceil(v*f+i*.9)-t/2.)/f);o=max(tanh(o+(o=texture(b,(FC.xy+r.y*.05*sin(FC.xy+FC.yx/.6))/r))*o),.0);

Rocaille 2 vec2 p=(FC.xy*2.-r)/r.y/.3,v;for(float i,f;i++<1e1;o+=(cos(i+vec4(0,1,2,3))+1.)/6./length(v))for(v=p,f=0.;f++<9.;v+=sin(v.yx*f+i+t)/f);o=tanh(o*o);

Rocaille vec2 p=(FC.xy*2.-r)/r.y/.3,v;for(float i,f;i++<1e1;o+=(cos(i+vec4(0,1,2,3))+1.)/6./length(v))for(v=p,f=0.;f++<9.;v+=sin(v.yx*f+i+r+t)/f);o=tanh(o*o);

One person who is skilled in multiple relevant domains is more valuable than a team with independent skills. If you're a programmer, learn art/design. If you're an artist, learn code

I'm going to be available for new freelance projects at the end of march, so if you have any design, illustration, animation, game design, UI/UX or pixelart needs, feel free to give me a shout! I should also finally get around to adding the last few years of work to my folio!

vec2 p=abs(FC.xy/r-.5); o=p.xyxy/p.yxyx/vec4(3,6,9,1); o=tanh(o+.1*length(o));

I want to become the best shader artist in the world if I can

Portfolio update. New shaders!

Electro vec2 p=(FC.xy*2.-r)/r.y; float d=.9-dot(p,p); o=tanh(.3/abs(tan(p.y*sqrt(max(d,-d*.1)/.3)+p.x+t+vec4(6,0,9,0))));

This is a pretty incredible opportunity for all you #GameMaker developers out there. There's a guide on how to get started here: github.com/reddit/devvi... Good luck, everyone!

Cleanse vec2 p=(FC.xy*2.-r)/r.y/.3;for(float f;f++<1e2;p+=.02*sin(p.yx+.5*t))o+=(cos(f/27.+vec4(0,1,3,0))+1.1)/length(sin(p*sin(r+f)/.7));o=tanh(o*o/4e4);

2026 will be a wild year. It will not be boring

Stairs for(float i,z,d;i++<55.;o+=vec4(9,4,2,1)/d){vec3 p=z*normalize(FC.rgb*2.-r.xyy);for(d=0.;d++<9.;p+=sin(ceil(p/9.).zxy+t));z+=d=.1*abs(p.z+40.);}o=tanh(o/6e3);

Artifacts for(float i,z,d;i++<77.;o+=vec4(z,z,9,1)/d){vec3 p=z*normalize(FC.rgb*2.-r.xyy);p.xy+=t; for(d=0.;d++<9.;p+=sin(round(p)+d*3.).zxy); z+=d=abs(p.z/30.+.2);}o=tanh(o/8e4);

#genuary5 wrapping paper: void mainImage(out vec4 o,in vec2 u){u*=0.1;for(float i=1.;i<32.;i*=2.)u.yx+=i*sin(u.xy*0.2/i+iTime)-5.;u.y=mod(u.y,10.);o=vec4((((u.y>5.)?0:(u.y>4.)?898651:(u.y>3.)?829147:(u.y>2.)?571082:(u.y>1.)?832731:0)>>int(u.x+31.))&1);} www.shadertoy.com/view/WcVfWG

I've updated my Development Essentials #gameassets pack which now includes 4×4 pixels, noise, gradients and more. The pack is (obviously) CC0 licensed and can be used by anyone for anything. Please leave feedback or ideas on what to add! 🙇‍♂️ kenney.nl/assets/devel...

Scatter 2 vec2 p=(2.*FC.xy-r)/r.y+.02/fract(dot(FC,sin(FC.yxyx))); o=tanh((p.xyyx+p.xxyx+1.)*.01/abs(max(abs(p.x),abs(p.y))-.5));

Scatter vec2 u=(r-2.*FC.xy)/r.y,c=ceil((u*1e2+sin(u*3e2-t))/(.1+length(u))),p=u+.01*tan(dot(c,sin(c.yx)));o=tanh(tanh(vec4(p-.3,p))*.1/(abs(length(p)-.6)));

shaders are so gdam cool

raymarching through a 3D texture in Godot #godot #shaders

Finally, someone got shaders running on the Vegas sphere! Next step: let’s make this happen in mixed reality so everyone can write shaders on a virtual version of the sphere 😃 (credits to @xordev.com for the video)

Combustion vec2 p=FC.xy*6./r.y; for(float i;i++<1e1;i) p+=sin(p.yx*i+i*i+t*i+r)/i; o=tanh(.2/tan(p.y+vec4(0,.1,.3,0))); o*=o;

I have no idea how this shader works, but reducing the iteration count in the second loop kinda looks nice too.

ayyy it's @xordev.com on the sphere!

Lily for(float i,z,d;i++<6e1;o+=vec4(z,9,1,1)/d/d){vec3 p=round(z*normalize(FC.rgb*2.-r.xyy)/.1)*.1;p.z-=9.; for(d=0.;d++<9.;p+=.2*sin(p*d-t+z).yzx);z+=d=length(cos(p)-1.)/20.;} o=tanh(o/3e5);

Trying a new voxel scene to test memory vs compute GPU performance in my raytracer, using @xordev.com's dot noise: mini.gmshaders.com/p/dot-noise

Nether for(float i,z,d;i++<6e1;o+=vec4(19,z,1,1)/d/d){vec3 p=z*normalize(FC.rgb*2.-r.xyy);p.z-=t;p=round(p/.1)*.1; for(d=0.;d++<9.;p+=.2*cos(p*d+z).zzx);z+=d=abs(abs(p.y)-3.)/20.;} o=tanh(o/7e5);

Porting shaders to C/C++: by @tsoding.bsky.social youtu.be/xNX9H_ZkfNE