How can I create a gradient color background for my game, without using skybox?

[martygrof3708]

I cannot use skybox as my camera angle is top down, so the player would never see the horizon and thus never see the gradient.

I just need a static 2d gradient color background which doesn’t change when the camera moves. If a shader script is needed, I need some guidance as I am new to shaders.

[toddisarockstar]

you can simply use a 2d plane with your background assigned as a texture. just parent it to the camera

[LilGames]

Try this asset:

Fantasy Gradient Skybox | 2D Sky | Unity Asset Store

[cyavictor88]

For people that stumbled upon here, you can try this script to test a gradient color background

   // GradientBg.cs
    // This script demonstrates how to create a gradient color background for the main camera.
    // to use this script:
    // 1. have Main Camera is in the scene
    // 2. create an Empty GameObject in the scene
    // 3. attach this script to the Empty GameObject
    // 4. press play
    // 5. if you see a green to cyan box, good, now just change the BackgroundPlaneVerteices to fill your camera viewport
    using UnityEngine;
    using UnityEngine.Rendering;
    
    public class GradientBg : MonoBehaviour
    {
        void Start()
        {
            // put the backgorund plane in front of camera (you can change this later);
            this.transform.position = new Vector3(0, 0, 1f);
    
            // position and orient main camera and the background plane 
            this.transform.rotation = Quaternion.identity;
            Camera.main.transform.position = Vector3.zero;
            Camera.main.transform.rotation = Quaternion.identity;
            Camera.main.clearFlags = CameraClearFlags.SolidColor;
    
            //set background's plane transform parent to be the camera's transform, so the plane doesnt move as camera moves
            this.transform.parent = Camera.main.transform;
           // create the background plane
            MeshFilter mf = this.gameObject.AddComponent<MeshFilter>();
            MeshRenderer mr = this.gameObject.AddComponent<MeshRenderer>();
            Material mat = new Material(Shader.Find("Sprites/Default"));
    
            // set the proper renderering order for the background plane
            mat.renderQueue = ((int)RenderQueue.Background);
            mat.color = Color.white;
            mr.material = mat;
            mr.enabled = true;
    
            // setting the background plane's 4 corner positions ( you def want to change them later )
            Vector3[] BackgroundPlaneVerteices = new Vector3[4];
            BackgroundPlaneVerteices[0] = new Vector3(0, 0, 0) * 0.25f;
            BackgroundPlaneVerteices[1] = new Vector3(1, 0, 0) * 0.25f;
            BackgroundPlaneVerteices[2] = new Vector3(1, 1, 0) * 0.25f;
            BackgroundPlaneVerteices[3] = new Vector3(0, 1, 0) * 0.25f;
    
            //define the order in which the vertices in the BackgroundPlaneVerteices shoudl be used to draw the triangle
            int[] trianglesArray = new int[6];
            trianglesArray[0] = 0;
            trianglesArray[1] = 1;
            trianglesArray[2] = 2;
            trianglesArray[3] = 2;
            trianglesArray[4] = 3;
            trianglesArray[5] = 0;
    
            mf.mesh.vertices = BackgroundPlaneVerteices;
            mf.mesh.triangles = trianglesArray;
    
            // here to create gradient color 
            Color[] colors = new Color[mf.mesh.vertices.Length];
            colors[0] = Color.green;
            colors[1] = Color.green;
            colors[2] = Color.cyan;
            colors[3] = Color.cyan;
            mf.mesh.colors = colors;
    
    
        }
    
    
    }