Text Decal: Dynamic, Surface-Aligned & Shaded

Documentation

Text Decal combines the versatility of TextMesh Pro with the power of Universal Render Pipeline (URP) Decal Projector. Designed to integrate seamlessly into your project, it enables you to project dynamic, customizable text onto surfaces with minimal setup.

Perfect for creating immersive text-based environments, in-game overlays, signage, or effects, Text Decal supports custom text mesh modifications, rich text styling, and runtime animations like typing effects. Its compatibility with the Localization package makes it ideal for globalized content, and VR support ensures that your text looks great across platforms.

Key Features

• Powered by TextMesh Pro: Built on TextMesh Pro for a familiar and robust text-handling experience.
• Easy Setup: Minimal configuration with step-by-step instructions provided.
• Rich Text Support: Includes color & alpha, bold text, multiline, outstroke.
• Custom Mesh Modifications: Modify character positions at runtime through scripts.
• URP Decal Integration: Works with Screen Space and DBuffer modes in URP’s Decal Renderer Feature.
• Rendering Layers: Control where decals are rendered using rendering layer system.
• Localization Ready: Fully compatible with Localization package.
• Cross-Platform Support: Works across desktop, mobile, and VR platforms.

Limitations:

• Some TextMesh Pro features are not supported: underline, strikethrough, italic text, glow.
• Shader Graph are not supported yet.

Dependencies:

• Unity 2022: TextMeshPro com.unity.textmeshpro
• Unity 6: Unity UI com.unity.ugui

Projects using the asset:

• Ecorche: Portrait Anatomy
• SimplePlanes 2

Additional Information:

This shader has been designed with flexibility and performance in mind, but not all features may be listed here. If you encounter specific use cases or have feature requests, feel free to contact the developer for support and updates.

Asset uses Inter font under SIL Open Font License; see Third-Party Notices.txt file in package for details.

Regular updates and improvements will be provided based on user feedback.

Bring dynamic text decal effects into your project with ease!

Release Notes

• [1.2.5]
• Fixed
• Unity 6.4 Compatibility: Updated renderer feature implementation to comply with Unity 6.4 API changes.
• [1.2.4]
• Fixed
• Multiple Decals with Dynamic Batching: Fixed incorrect rendering when multiple text decals were present in the same scene with Dynamic Batching enabled.
• SRP Batching Compatibility: Fixed shader issues preventing correct operation with SRP Batching.
• Gamma Color Handling: Fixed incorrect vertex color processing in Gamma color space, ensuring consistent decal colors across Gamma and Linear workflows.
• [1.2.3]
• Fixed
• Vertex Color Handling: Fixed incorrect vertex color rendering under Linear color space.
• [1.2.2]
• Fixed
• Editor Preview Error: Fixed an error occurring during asset preview generation in the Unity Editor (e.g., in the Project window).
• [1.2.1]
• Added:
• Unity 6.1+ Clustered Lighting Compatibility:
• Added #define _CLUSTER_LIGHT_LOOP to support Clustered Light Loop in URP 16+ (Unity 6.1 and above).
• Ensures correct lighting behavior when using Forward+ rendering path with clustered lights.
• Fixed:
• Shader Import Typo: Fixed a typo in an include directive in the shader that could cause compilation issues on some platforms.
• [1.2.0]
• Added:
• Angle Fade Support: Added Angle Fade option to the shader and TextDecal component. Allows decals to smoothly fade out based on surface angle, configurable via Start and End angles (0°–180°).
• Calculate Rotation Support: Added Calculate Rotation option to the shader for correct projection when individual TextMesh Pro characters are rotated or repositioned manually. Useful for curved, spline-following, or animated text effects.
• Fixed:
• Decal Bleeding Correction: Improved decal projection to reduce bleeding artifacts beyond intended surfaces for DBuffer mode.
• [1.1.1]
• Fixed:
• Component Initialization: Fixed an issue where the TextDecal component was not initializing correctly when added via script at runtime.
• [1.1.0]
• Added:
• Text Decal Renderer Feature:
• No longer requires Depth Texture setup.
• Text decals are now always rendered after the URP Decal Projector.
• Emissive Pass: Added for DBuffer mode.
• Normal Reconstruction: Added support for better normal handling.
• Bevel Normal Generation: Added support for generating bevel normals for more realistic shading.
• TextMeshPro Font Fallback: Added support for TMP font fallback and submeshes.
• Fixed:
• Lighting Calculation: Fixed and improved the lighting calculation, now supporting smoothness and metallic properties.
• WebGL Shader Compilation: Fixed a shader compilation error preventing correct rendering on WebGL.
• Changed:
• Shader Renaming: All shaders have been renamed for better clarity and consistency.
• [1.0.0]
• Initial release.