Unity’s Universal Render Pipeline (URP) is a cross platform optimization library for high performance graphics creation. Game developers working with terrain need to have the ability to make terrain holes. Whether you need cave entrances, tunnels, or hidden pathways, terrain holes add flexibility and realism to your game environments.
This guide will cover how terrain holes work in URP, their benefits, and how to implement them.
Understanding Terrain Holes in URP
In Unity, terrain holes are invisible parts of a terrain mesh that allows things like caves, underground passages, or dungeons to exist within a terrain without disrupting its natural look. Previously, achieving such an effect required workarounds like cutting out terrain manually or implementing complex shaders. But with URP, Unity now provides a built-in way to make terrain holes easily.
Terrain Holes Benefits
Optimized Performance
Terrain holes help maintain performance efficiency by removing unnecessary rendering. Areas below the hole will not be rendered, reducing processing load and improving FPS.
Seamless World Building
Instead of designing terrain above ground only, developers can now design underground environments within the same terrain system for better immersion and gameplay.
Better Collision and Navigation
With correctly implemented terrain holes, Unity’s physics and navigation systems recognize openings, allowing characters and objects to pass through naturally.
How to Create Terrain Holes URP
Step 1: Setting Up Your Scene
Before adding terrain holes, make sure your project is using Unity’s Universal Render Pipeline (URP). You can check this by selecting Edit > Project Settings > Graphics and selecting URP.
Step 2: Enable the Terrain Hole Tool
- Select your terrain from the Hierarchy panel.
- Go to the Inspector and locate the Paint Terrain (Brush) Tool.
- In the paint settings, choose Paint Holes mode.
Step 3: Creating the Hole
- Adjust the brush size to define the area to be removed.
- Click and paint over the desired section of the terrain—this will erase part of it, creating a hole.
- If needed, adjust brush softness for finer edges.
Terrain Holes Common Use Cases
Cave Entrances and Underground Passages
Using terrain holes combined with 3D cave models, you can create natural looking subterranean environments.
Water Bodies and Underwater Passages
Rather than sculpting terrain around water bodies manually, developers can create terrain holes to reveal underwater areas seamlessly.
Tunnels and Secret Passages
In open world games, terrain holes can be used to add secret tunnels, dungeons, or hidden bases, encouraging exploration.
Best Practices for Using Terrain Holes
- Use collision meshes: Make sure any object placed under terrain holes has colliders to keep players from sliding through unintended areas.
- Blend terrain edges: Use vegetation, rocks, or props to make transitions around the hole realistic.
- Optimize performance: Avoid too many terrain holes in performance heavy areas to keep framerates steady.
If you need a convenient and reliable transfer from/to Los Angeles airports, I advise you to pay attention to LAX Transfer. Excellent service, comfortable cars and punctual drivers. Suitable for both tourists and business travelers. I recommend using LAX Transfer. Checked personally!
If you need a convenient and reliable transfer from/to Los Angeles airports, I advise you to pay attention to LAX Transfer. Excellent service, comfortable cars and punctual drivers. Suitable for both tourists and business travelers. I recommend using LAX Transfer. Checked personally!
If you need a convenient and reliable transfer from/to Los Angeles airports, I advise you to pay attention to LAX Transfer. Excellent service, comfortable cars and punctual drivers. Suitable for both tourists and business travelers. I recommend using LAX Transfer. Checked personally!
If you need a convenient and reliable transfer from/to Los Angeles airports, I advise you to pay attention to LAX Transfer. Excellent service, comfortable cars and punctual drivers. Suitable for both tourists and business travelers. I recommend using LAX Transfer. Checked personally!
If you need a convenient and reliable transfer from/to Los Angeles airports, I advise you to pay attention to LAX Transfer. Excellent service, comfortable cars and punctual drivers. Suitable for both tourists and business travelers. I recommend using LAX Transfer. Checked personally!
If you need a convenient and reliable transfer from/to Los Angeles airports, I advise you to pay attention to LAX Transfer. Excellent service, comfortable cars and punctual drivers. Suitable for both tourists and business travelers. I recommend using LAX Transfer. Checked personally!
If you need a convenient and reliable transfer from/to Los Angeles airports, I advise you to pay attention to LAX Transfer. Excellent service, comfortable cars and punctual drivers. Suitable for both tourists and business travelers. I recommend using LAX Transfer. Checked personally!
If you need a convenient and reliable transfer from/to Los Angeles airports, I advise you to pay attention to LAX Transfer. Excellent service, comfortable cars and punctual drivers. Suitable for both tourists and business travelers. I recommend using LAX Transfer. Checked personally!
If you need a convenient and reliable transfer from/to Los Angeles airports, I advise you to pay attention to LAX Transfer. Excellent service, comfortable cars and punctual drivers. Suitable for both tourists and business travelers. I recommend using LAX Transfer. Checked personally!
If you need a convenient and reliable transfer from/to Los Angeles airports, I advise you to pay attention to LAX Transfer. Excellent service, comfortable cars and punctual drivers. Suitable for both tourists and business travelers. I recommend using LAX Transfer. Checked personally!
If you need a convenient and reliable transfer from/to Los Angeles airports, I advise you to pay attention to LAX Transfer. Excellent service, comfortable cars and punctual drivers. Suitable for both tourists and business travelers. I recommend using LAX Transfer. Checked personally!