Version: 2019.3
Texture arrays
Writing Shaders

Cubemaps

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A Cubemap is a collection of six square textures that represent the reflections on an environment. The six squares form the faces of an imaginary cube that surrounds an object; each face represents the view along the directions of the world axes (up, down, left, right, forward and back).

Cubemaps are often used to capture reflections or “surroundings” of objects; for example skyboxes and environment reflections often use cubemaps.

Cubemapped skybox and reflections
Cubemapped skybox and reflections

Creating Cubemaps from Textures

The fastest way to create cubemaps is to import them from specially laid out TexturesAn image used when rendering a GameObject, Sprite, or UI element. Textures are often applied to the surface of a mesh to give it visual detail. More info
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. Select the Texture in the Project window, to see the Import Settings in the InspectorA Unity window that displays information about the currently selected GameObject, Asset or Project Settings, alowing you to inspect and edit the values. More info
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window. In the Import Settings, set the Texture Type to Default, Normal MapA type of Bump Map texture that allows you to add surface detail such as bumps, grooves, and scratches to a model which catch the light as if they are represented by real geometry. More info
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or Single Channel, and the Texture Shape to Cube. Unity then automatically sets the Texture up as a Cubemap.

Cubemap texture import type
Cubemap texture import type

Several commonly-used cubemap layouts are supported (and in most cases, Unity detects them automatically).

Vertical and horizontal cross layouts, as well as column and row of cubemap faces are supported:

Another common layout is LatLong (Latitude-Longitude, sometimes called cylindrical). Panorama images are often in this layout:

SphereMap (spherical environment map) images can also be found:

By default Unity looks at the aspect ratioThe relationship of an image’s proportional dimensions, such as its width and height.
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of the imported texture to determine the most appopriate layout from the above. When imported, a cubemap is produced which can be used for skyboxes and reflections:

Selecting Glossy Reflection option is useful for cubemap textures that will be used by Reflection ProbesA rendering component that captures a spherical view of its surroundings in all directions, rather like a camera. The captured image is then stored as a Cubemap that can be used by objects with reflective materials. More info
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. It processed cubemap mip levels in a special way (specular convolution) that can be used to simulate reflections from surfaces of different smoothness:

Cubemap used in a Reflection Probe on varying-smoothness surface
Cubemap used in a Reflection Probe on varying-smoothness surface

Legacy Cubemap Assets

Unity also supports creating cubemaps out of six separate textures. Select Assets > Create > Legacy > Cubemap from the menu, and drag six textures into empty slots in the inspector.

Legacy Cubemap Inspector
Legacy Cubemap Inspector
Property: Function:
Right..Back Slots Textures for the corresponding cubemap face.
Face Size Width and Height of each Cubemap face in pixelsThe smallest unit in a computer image. Pixel size depends on your screen resolution. Pixel lighting is calculated at every screen pixel. More info
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. The textures will be scaled automatically to fit this size.
Mipmap Should mipmaps be created?
Linear Should the cubemap use linear color?
Readable Should the cubemap allow scriptsA piece of code that allows you to create your own Components, trigger game events, modify Component properties over time and respond to user input in any way you like. More info
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to access the pixel data?

Note that it is preferred to create cubemaps using the Cubemap texture import type (see above) - this way cubemap texture data can be compressed; edge fixups and glossy reflection convolution be performed; and HDRhigh dymanic range
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cubemaps are supported.

Other Techniques

Another useful technique is to generate the cubemap from the contents of a Unity sceneA Scene contains the environments and menus of your game. Think of each unique Scene file as a unique level. In each Scene, you place your environments, obstacles, and decorations, essentially designing and building your game in pieces. More info
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using a script. The Camera.RenderToCubemap function can record the six face images from any desired position in the scene; the code example on the function’s script reference page adds a menu command to make this task easy.


2018–01–31 Page amended

Texture arrays
Writing Shaders
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