Underwater Rendering for Stylized Water 3 (Extension) v3.2.5 extends the Stylized Water 3 shader asset with advanced underwater rendering and effects. It introduces a waterline lens effect that works for partially submerged cameras, eliminating the need to snap the camera above or below the water surface. The extension is compatible with the Dynamic Effects extension, meaning ripples and shoreline waves influence the camera’s water line.
Key improvements include a complete rewrite for Unity 6’s Render Graph, redesigned support for defined underwater areas using box collider triggers, and a particle effect controller that allows effects like sunshafts to follow the camera up to a specified depth. Transparent materials are now easier to integrate, with customizable render queues. A revised shader for underwater transparency supports particle effects, and the technical design has been optimized to avoid full-screen post-processing. Mobile hardware compatibility is supported, and the extension includes sub-graphs to enable underwater fog for transparent Shader Graphs and ASE shaders.
Features include underwater fog based on shallow and deep water colors, dynamic waterline rendering, scene lighting translation into underwater fog with support for subsurface scattering, caustics rendering on geometry with directional projection, and correct shading of the water’s underside for seamless transitions.
Limitations include support only for oceans, lakes, and ponds—dioramas or aquariums are not possible. The extension cannot mask underwater areas (e.g., submarine windows) and is not a volumetric fog/light solution, relying instead on depth-based rendering. It requires a single, fixed water level and is incompatible with rivers or planetary surfaces.
Underwater Rendering for Stylized Water 3 (Extension) v3.2.5