Soft particles, depth texture, Unity-free.

So when enabling soft particles in the Quality settings, Unity warns “Soft particles require using Deferred Lighting or making camera render the depth texture.”

I understand the first part of that statement, but even after reading Camera’s Depth Texture and Using Depth Textures, I’m having a hard time understanding the second half of that statement.

I know in this answer, it was stated that soft particles require deferred lighting, and thereby, Unity pro, but what about rendering the depth texture? Is that a Unity Pro only feature? I have tried enabling the depth texture on my camera in the Start function like so:

this.camera.depthTextureMode = DepthTextureMode.Depth;

but nothing changes even though my shader has a soft particle factor slider (and it’s all the way up).

Unfortunately, I think depth textures are pro-only. But if you’re after soft particles for indie, i suggest looking at this thread: http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/204481-FXLab-Unity-Effects-(Does-NOT-require-Unity-Pro) Somehow, FXLab worked out how to do soft particles (and it’s really impressive!)

If you also want image effects, you can either use FXLab’s package, or you could come to my thread: http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/198568-Epic-Radial-Blur-Effect-for-Unity-Indie I have posted a new indie effects package there for you to try! (AND it’s free!)

Good Luck!

TheBlur