The Problem with Materials with No Texture

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 86 views

Introduction

SimpleBake is a powerful tool in Unity that allows artists and developers to bake lightmaps onto materials, enhancing the overall visual quality of a scene. However, when working with materials that have no texture, SimpleBake may not work as expected. In this article, we will delve into the issue and explore possible solutions to get SimpleBake working correctly for materials with no texture.

Understanding SimpleBake

SimpleBake is a feature in Unity that allows you to bake lightmaps onto materials, which can be used to improve performance and reduce the number of draw calls in a scene. When you bake a lightmap, you are essentially creating a 2D representation of the 3D scene, which can be used to calculate lighting and other visual effects. This process can be time-consuming, but it can also lead to significant improvements in performance and visual quality.

The Problem with Materials with No Texture

When working with materials that have no texture, SimpleBake may not work as expected. This is because SimpleBake relies on the texture of a material to determine how to bake the lightmap. If a material has no texture, SimpleBake may not know how to proceed, leading to incorrect or incomplete lightmaps.

Initial Shader Graphs

For testing purposes, we will use two materials with different shader graphs. The first material has a simple shader graph with a single color input, while the second material has a more complex shader graph with multiple inputs and a texture.

Material 1: Simple Shader Graph

Shader "Custom/SimpleShader"
{
    Properties
    {
        _Color ("Color", Color) = (1, 1, 1, 1)
    }
    SubShader
    {
        Tags { "RenderType"="Opaque" }
        LOD 100
    Pass
    {
        CGPROGRAM
        #pragma vertex vert
        #pragma fragment frag

        #include &quot;UnityCG.cginc&quot;

        struct appdata
        {
            float4 vertex : POSITION;
            float2 uv : TEXCOORD0;
        };

        struct v2f
        {
            float4 vertex : SV_POSITION;
            float2 uv : TEXCOORD0;
        };

        v2f vert (appdata v)
        {
            v2f o;
            o.vertex = UnityObjectToClipPos(v.vertex);
            o.uv = v.uv;
            return o;
        }

        fixed4 frag (v2f i) : SV_Target
        {
            return fixed4(_Color.rgb, 1);
        }
        ENDCG
    }
}

}

Material 2: Complex Shader Graph

Shader "Custom/ComplexShader"
{
    Properties
    {
        _MainTex ("Texture", 2D) = "white" {}
        _Color ("Color", Color) = (1, 1, 1, 1)
    }
    SubShader
    {
        Tags { "RenderType"="Opaque" }
        LOD 100
    Pass
    {
        CGPROGRAM
        #pragma vertex vert
        #pragma fragment frag

        #include &quot;UnityCG.cginc&quot;

        struct appdata
        {
            float4 vertex : POSITION;
            float2 uv : TEXCOORD0;
        };

        struct v2f
        {
            float4 vertex : SV_POSITION;
            float2 uv : TEXCOORD0;
        };

        v2f vert (appdata v)
        {
            v2f o;
            o.vertex = UnityObjectToClipPos(v.vertex);
            o.uv = v.uv;
            return o;
        }

        sampler2D _MainTex;
        fixed4 _Color;

        fixed4 frag (v2f i) : SV_Target
        {
            fixed4 col = tex2D(_MainTex, i.uv) * _Color;
            return col;
        }
        ENDCG
    }
}

}

The Problem Arises When...

When we try to bake the lightmap for the first material with the simple shader graph, SimpleBake may not work as expected. This is because the material has no texture, and SimpleBake relies on the texture to determine how to bake the lightmap.

Possible Solutions

There are several possible solutions to this problem:

Add a Texture: One possible solution is to add a texture to the material. This will give SimpleBake something to work with, and it should be able to bake the lightmap correctly.
Use a Different Shader: Another possible solution is to use a different shader that does not rely on a texture. This will allow SimpleBake to bake the lightmap correctly, even if the material has no texture.
Modify the Shader Graph: If you are using a custom shader graph, you may be able to modify it to work with SimpleBake. This could involve adding a texture input or modifying the shader code to work with the material's properties.

Conclusion

SimpleBake is a powerful tool in Unity that allows artists and developers to bake lightmaps onto materials. However, when working with materials that have no texture, SimpleBake may not work as expected. By understanding the problem and exploring possible solutions, you can get SimpleBake working correctly for materials with no texture.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you get the most out of SimpleBake:

Use a High-Quality Texture: When adding a texture to a material, make sure it is high-quality and suitable for baking.
Adjust the Baking Settings: SimpleBake has several settings that you can adjust to control the baking process. Experiment with different settings to find what works best for your material.
Use a Different Baking Method: SimpleBake offers several baking methods, including "Bake" and "Bake with Normal". Experiment with different methods to find what works best for your material.

Introduction

SimpleBake is a powerful tool in Unity that allows artists and developers to bake lightmaps onto materials. However, like any complex tool, it can be confusing to use, especially for beginners. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about SimpleBake, covering topics such as how to use it, common issues, and best practices.

Q: What is SimpleBake and how does it work?

A: SimpleBake is a feature in Unity that allows you to bake lightmaps onto materials. It works by creating a 2D representation of the 3D scene, which can be used to calculate lighting and other visual effects. This process can be time-consuming, but it can also lead to significant improvements in performance and visual quality.

Q: How do I use SimpleBake?

A: To use SimpleBake, follow these steps:

Select the material you want to bake.
Go to the "Window" menu and select "SimpleBake".
In the SimpleBake window, select the baking method you want to use (e.g. "Bake" or "Bake with Normal").
Adjust the baking settings as needed (e.g. resolution, compression, etc.).
Click the "Bake" button to start the baking process.

Q: What are the common issues with SimpleBake?

A: Some common issues with SimpleBake include:

Incorrect lightmaps: This can be caused by incorrect baking settings or a faulty shader graph.
Incomplete lightmaps: This can be caused by a low-resolution texture or a faulty shader graph.
Baking errors: This can be caused by a faulty shader graph or incorrect baking settings.

Q: How do I troubleshoot SimpleBake issues?

A: To troubleshoot SimpleBake issues, follow these steps:

Check the baking settings to ensure they are correct.
Verify that the shader graph is correct and up-to-date.
Check the texture resolution to ensure it is high enough.
Try baking the lightmap again with different settings.
If the issue persists, try resetting the SimpleBake settings to their default values.

Q: What are the best practices for using SimpleBake?

A: Some best practices for using SimpleBake include:

Use high-quality textures: This will ensure that the lightmaps are accurate and detailed.
Adjust the baking settings carefully: This will ensure that the lightmaps are baked correctly and efficiently.
Use a consistent shader graph: This will ensure that the lightmaps are baked consistently and accurately.
Test the lightmaps thoroughly: This will ensure that the lightmaps are accurate and meet the desired quality standards.

Q: Can I use SimpleBake with other Unity features?

A: Yes, SimpleBake can be used with other Unity features, such as:

Lightmapping: SimpleBake can be used to bake lightmaps onto materials, which can be used to improve performance and visual quality.
Physics: SimpleBake can be used to bake physics simulations onto materials, which can be used to improve performance and accuracy.
Animation: SimpleBake can be used to bake animation data onto materials, which can be used to improve performance and accuracy.

Q: Is SimpleBake compatible with other Unity versions?

A: Yes, SimpleBake is compatible with other Unity versions, including:

Unity 2018: SimpleBake is compatible with Unity 2018 and later versions.
Unity 2019: SimpleBake is compatible with Unity 2019 and later versions.
Unity 2020: SimpleBake is compatible with Unity 2020 and later versions.

Conclusion

SimpleBake is a powerful tool in Unity that allows artists and developers to bake lightmaps onto materials. By understanding how to use it, troubleshooting common issues, and following best practices, you can get the most out of SimpleBake and create high-quality lightmaps for your materials.