settings update and launcher option

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@
     Feature #6017: Separate persistent and temporary cell references when saving
     Feature #6032: Reverse-z depth buffer
     Feature #6078: First person should not clear depth buffer
+    Feature #6128: Soft Particles
     Feature #6161: Refactor Sky to use shaders and GLES/GL3 friendly
     Feature #6162: Refactor GUI to use shaders and to be GLES and GL3+ friendly
     Feature #6199: Support FBO Rendering

apps/launcher/advancedpage.cpp

@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ bool Launcher::AdvancedPage::loadSettings()
         loadSettingBool(autoUseTerrainSpecularMapsCheckBox, "auto use terrain specular maps", "Shaders");
         loadSettingBool(bumpMapLocalLightingCheckBox, "apply lighting to environment maps", "Shaders");
         loadSettingBool(radialFogCheckBox, "radial fog", "Shaders");
+        loadSettingBool(softParticlesCheckBox, "soft particles", "Shaders");
         loadSettingBool(magicItemAnimationsCheckBox, "use magic item animations", "Game");
         connect(animSourcesCheckBox, SIGNAL(toggled(bool)), this, SLOT(slotAnimSourcesToggled(bool)));
         loadSettingBool(animSourcesCheckBox, "use additional anim sources", "Game");
@@ -270,6 +271,7 @@ void Launcher::AdvancedPage::saveSettings()
         saveSettingBool(autoUseTerrainSpecularMapsCheckBox, "auto use terrain specular maps", "Shaders");
         saveSettingBool(bumpMapLocalLightingCheckBox, "apply lighting to environment maps", "Shaders");
         saveSettingBool(radialFogCheckBox, "radial fog", "Shaders");
+        saveSettingBool(softParticlesCheckBox, "soft particles", "Shaders");
         saveSettingBool(magicItemAnimationsCheckBox, "use magic item animations", "Game");
         saveSettingBool(animSourcesCheckBox, "use additional anim sources", "Game");
         saveSettingBool(weaponSheathingCheckBox, "weapon sheathing", "Game");

components/shader/shadervisitor.cpp

@@ -557,19 +557,26 @@ namespace Shader
             updateAddedState(*writableUserData, addedState);
         }
 
-        if (auto partsys = dynamic_cast<osgParticle::ParticleSystem*>(&node))
+        bool softParticles = false;
-        {
-            defineMap["softParticles"] = "1";
 
-            auto depth = SceneUtil::createDepth();
+        if (mOpaqueDepthTex)
-            depth->setWriteMask(false);
+        {
-            writableStateSet->setAttributeAndModes(depth, osg::StateAttribute::ON|osg::StateAttribute::OVERRIDE);
+            auto partsys = dynamic_cast<osgParticle::ParticleSystem*>(&node);
-            writableStateSet->addUniform(new osg::Uniform("particleSize", partsys->getDefaultParticleTemplate().getSizeRange().maximum));
+
-            writableStateSet->addUniform(new osg::Uniform("opaqueDepthTex", 2));
+            if (partsys)
-            writableStateSet->setTextureAttributeAndModes(2, mOpaqueDepthTex, osg::StateAttribute::ON);
+            {
+                softParticles = true;
+
+                auto depth = SceneUtil::createDepth();
+                depth->setWriteMask(false);
+                writableStateSet->setAttributeAndModes(depth, osg::StateAttribute::ON|osg::StateAttribute::OVERRIDE);
+                writableStateSet->addUniform(new osg::Uniform("particleSize", partsys->getDefaultParticleTemplate().getSizeRange().maximum));
+                writableStateSet->addUniform(new osg::Uniform("opaqueDepthTex", 2));
+                writableStateSet->setTextureAttributeAndModes(2, mOpaqueDepthTex, osg::StateAttribute::ON);
+            }
         }
-        else
+
-            defineMap["softParticles"] = "0";
+        defineMap["softParticles"] = softParticles ? "1" : "0";
 
         std::string shaderPrefix;
         if (!node.getUserValue("shaderPrefix", shaderPrefix))

docs/source/reference/modding/settings/shaders.rst

@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ lighting` is on.
 This setting has no effect if :ref:`lighting method` is 'legacy'.
 
 minimum interior brightness
-------------------------
+---------------------------
 
 :Type:		float
 :Range:		0.0-1.0
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ aforementioned changes in visuals.
 This setting has no effect if :ref:`lighting method` is 'legacy'.
 
 antialias alpha test
----------------------------------------
+--------------------
 
 :Type:		boolean
 :Range:		True/False
@@ -271,14 +271,14 @@ This allows MSAA to work with alpha-tested meshes, producing better-looking edge
 When MSAA is off, this setting will have no visible effect, but might have a performance cost.
 
 soft particles
-------------------------
+--------------
 
 :Type:		boolean
 :Range:		True/False
 :Default:	False
 
-Enables soft particles for almost all particle effects, excluding precipitation.
+Enables soft particles for particle effects. This technique softens the
-This technique softens the intersection between individual particles and other
+intersection between individual particles and other opaque geometry by blending
-opaque geometry by blending between them. Note, this relies on overriding
+between them. Note, this relies on overriding specific properties of particle
-specific properties of particle systems that potentially differ from the source
+systems that potentially differ from the source content, this setting may change
-content, this setting may change the look of some particle systems.
+the look of some particle systems.

files/settings-default.cfg

@@ -494,7 +494,8 @@ minimum interior brightness = 0.08
 # When MSAA is off, this setting will have no visible effect, but might have a performance cost.
 antialias alpha test = false
 
-soft particles = true
+# Soften intersection of blended particle systems with opaque geometry
+soft particles = false
 
 [Input]
 

files/ui/advancedpage.ui

@@ -444,6 +444,16 @@
                 </property>
                </widget>
               </item>
+              <item row="3" column="0">
+               <widget class="QCheckBox" name="softParticlesCheckBox">
+                <property name="toolTip">
+                 <string>&lt;html&gt;&lt;head/&gt;&lt;body&gt;&lt;p&gt;Enables soft particles for particle effects. This technique softens the intersection between individual particles and other opaque geometry by blending between them.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/body&gt;&lt;/html&gt;</string>
+                </property>
+                <property name="text">
+                 <string>Soft Particles</string>
+                </property>
+               </widget>
+              </item>
              </layout>
             </widget>
            </item>