Native Post-Processing Shaders, Advanced Lighting & Physics3D Joints by Carrotstudio0 · Pull Request #8343 · 4ian/GDevelop

Carrotstudio0 · 2026-03-02T10:45:54Z

Summary

This PR adds several new native systems to GDevelop's 3D engine. The core additions are fully integrated and production-ready. The Physics3D joints/ragdoll system is also included but can be dropped from this PR if the team prefers to keep the scope focused — the lighting and shader systems are the more complete and tested part of this work.

What Was Added

New Effects Overview

System	Effect	Registered As	Status
Post-Processing	Chromatic Aberration	Scene3D::ChromaticAberration	Ready
Post-Processing	Color Grading	Scene3D::ColorGrading	Ready
Post-Processing	Tone Mapping	Scene3D::ToneMapping	Ready
Post-Processing	Screen-Space Reflections	Scene3D::ScreenSpaceReflections (SSR)	Ready
Post-Processing	Depth of Field	Scene3D::DepthOfField (DOF)	Ready
Post-Processing	Volumetric Fog	Scene3D::VolumetricFog (FOG)	Ready
Post-Processing	SSAO	Scene3D::SSAO	Ready
Lighting	Rim Light	Scene3D::RimLight	Ready
Lighting	Flickering Light behavior	Scene3D::FlickeringLight	Ready
Lighting	CSM Shadows + Stabilization	DirectionalLight upgrade	Ready
Lighting	Light Bounce (physics-aware)	PointLight / SpotLight	Ready
Physics3D	PulleyJoint	Physics3D::PulleyJoint	Included — droppable
Physics3D	Advanced Joint Controls	Motors / Springs / Break thresholds	Included — droppable
Physics3D	Ragdoll System + Humanoid builder	Jolt behavior extension	Included — droppable

Note: If the joints/ragdoll system is not yet practical to merge, it can be excluded from this PR entirely. The lighting and shader effects are self-contained and have no dependency on the Physics3D additions.

Shader Architecture (SSAO, SSR, DOF, Volumetric Fog and more )

All four screen-space effects share the same consistent pattern:

Structure of each shader:

An independent ShaderPass per effect — no coupling between passes.
A minimal vertex shader (fullscreen pass-through) that forwards UV coordinates.
A fragment shader that reads:
- tDiffuse — current rendered scene color
- tDepth — scene depth buffer
- resolution + camera matrices (primarily projectionMatrixInverse)
All computation is fully screen-space. No geometry, materials, or object data is modified.

How they are registered in the engine:

Each effect is registered via gdjs.PixiFiltersTools.registerFilterCreator('Scene3D::...').
Declared in JsExtension as official effects with user-configurable properties.
On enable: addPostProcessingPass(shaderPass).
On disable: removePostProcessingPass(shaderPass).
Each frame: updatePreRender updates all uniforms.

Why There Are No Conflicts Between Effects

The pipeline is designed so all effects can be active simultaneously without interference:

PostProcessingSharedResources provides a single unified color + depth capture per layer, rather than each effect rendering independently. This is the key reason stacking multiple effects is safe.
State is stored using WeakMap keyed by renderer, so each layer's state is fully isolated.
Pass order is fixed and managed: SSAO -> RIM -> DOF -> SSR -> FOG -> BLOOM — no ordering conflicts and no unexpected compositing results.
Each pass has a unique ID. Re-ordering operates only on managed passes, not the full pipeline.
Each effect owns its own state and uniforms. No mutable state is shared directly between effects.

Why There Are No Conflicts With Existing Engine Systems

All shader work runs after the scene render as a post-process — physics, gameplay, collisions, and behaviors are completely untouched.
Effects only read from the scene (depth buffer, color buffer, light data). They do not write to or modify any object, behavior, or runtime state.
Safety guards are in place:
- If THREE is not available, an EmptyFilter is returned instead of throwing.
- If the target is not a valid Layer or the stack is locked, the pass disables safely.
All configurable values (radius, samples, intensity, etc.) are clamped to valid ranges to prevent unstable or undefined shader behavior.

Lighting Changes

DirectionalLight — CSM + Stabilization

The existing Scene3D::DirectionalLight was upgraded with:

3 shadow cascades replacing the single shadow map, with cascadeSplitLambda controlling split distribution.
Per-cascade quality levels (near = high detail, far = soft shadows).
Shadow stabilization via texel-grid snapping in light-space — eliminates shadow swimming during camera movement.
Two anchor modes: shadowFollowCamera true/false.
Shadow map size updated to support up to 4096 on high-end GPUs.

New parameters: maxShadowDistance, cascadeSplitLambda, shadowMapSize, shadowFollowLead, shadowFollowCamera.

SpotLight & PointLight

Both lights now accept an origin object (position follows the object) and a target object (direction auto-aims at target every frame).
Added a light bounce system: PointLight and SpotLight detect physics-enabled objects within range and calculate reflected light contribution based on surface normals and material properties.

Flickering Light Behavior

New behavior attachable to PointLight or SpotLight. Parameters: baseIntensity, flickerSpeed, flickerStrength, failChance, offDuration. Uses a sine + noise signal, writing intensity via updateDoubleParameter.

Rim Light

New Scene3D::RimLight effect for cinematic character separation. Controllable color, intensity, and falloff.

Physics3D (Jolt) — Optional / Droppable

As noted above, this can be excluded if not ready to review. Included:

Physics3D::PulleyJoint — rope-over-pulley constraint with ratio and totalLength.
Advanced joint controls: Motors, Limits, Springs, Friction, Solver overrides, Break thresholds (SetJointBreakThresholds / ClearJointBreakThresholds), Reaction force/torque monitoring.
Full Ragdoll system with states (Active, Limp, Stiff, Frozen), group controls, humanoid templates (BuildHumanoidRagdoll, BuildHumanoidRagdollFromTag), and a built-in GUI.

Files Modified / Added

Extensions/3D/ChromaticAberrationEffect.ts
Extensions/3D/ColorGradingEffect.ts
Extensions/3D/ToneMappingEffect.ts
Extensions/3D/ScreenSpaceReflectionsEffect.ts
Extensions/3D/DepthOfFieldEffect.ts
Extensions/3D/VolumetricFogEffect.ts
Extensions/3D/SSAOEffect.ts
Extensions/3D/RimLightEffect.ts
Extensions/3D/FlickeringLightBehavior.ts
Extensions/3D/DirectionalLight.ts (modified — CSM upgrade)
Extensions/3D/JsExtension.js (modified — effect registrations)
Extensions/Physics3DBehavior/Physics3DRuntimeBehavior.ts (modified)
Extensions/Physics3DBehavior/JsExtension.js (modified)

…ulation, gravity, forces, and collisions.

…o the IDE, including source types for autocompletion.

… types, shapes, and properties.

…n and shared data management.

…nfigurations.

…runtime components.

…izable object cancelable editor, and a 3D physics behavior extension.

…ring.

…axis properties and X/Y rotation, along with new PointLight and SpotLight components.

…odel object, and 3D lights.

…se3DBehavior, 3D Model object, SpotLight, and Physics3DBehavior.

…, and screen space reflections.

…D scenes.

… and physics bounce.

…D effects.

…D scenes.

… effect.

… Ambient Occlusion and Screen Space Reflections.

…Screen Space Reflections, Volumetric Fog, and Bloom.

- Implemented Chromatic Aberration effect with customizable intensity and radial scale. - Added Color Grading effect allowing adjustments for temperature, tint, saturation, contrast, and brightness. - Introduced Flickering Light behavior for dynamic light effects with configurable parameters such as base intensity, flicker speed, strength, fail chance, and off duration. - Enhanced Physics3DEditor with joint editor and ragdoll properties for better 3D object manipulation.

…ble properties

…zation features

…adows

… GPUs

4ian

(note: because the PR seems to be generated by an AI agent, I will respond as I would do for an AI agent, so with minimal additional explanation).

Thanks for this.
The PR is huge so it's hard for a human or an AI agent to handle/review it. Can you:

Remove all the CMake related files/package-lock.json.
Split the PR in:
- One for ragdoll/joints for Physics 3D
- One for improvements to 3D effects.
- One for "post processing" shaders.

More generally:

The smaller the PRs, the higher the chance we can merge them, notably for "obvious small improvements" ones.
For PRs having an architectural change, it's also better to have them separate so we can review this architectural decision.

Thanks!

4ian · 2026-03-02T13:39:43Z

build/.cmake/api/v1/reply/error-2026-03-01T12-16-40-0069.json

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+{


Please clean all these useless files from the PR.

4ian · 2026-03-02T13:40:24Z

newIDE/app/src/VariablesList/ObjectGroupVariablesDialog.js

      }
    }
-    groupVariablesContainer.clearPersistentUuid();
+    if (typeof groupVariablesContainer.clearPersistentUuid === 'function') {


Let's revert all these changes, we don't use typeof and we rely on static typing instead.

4ian · 2026-03-02T13:42:13Z

newIDE/app/package-lock.json

      }
    },
    "node_modules/@babel/core": {
      "version": "7.23.0",


Please don't commit any changes to the package-lock.json, thanks!

4ian · 2026-03-02T13:42:32Z

newIDE/app/scripts/import-GDJS-Runtime.js

 destinationPaths.forEach(destinationPath => {
  const outPath = path.join(destinationPath, 'Runtime');
-  const output = shell.exec(`node scripts/build.js --out ${outPath}`, {
+  const output = shell.exec(`node scripts/build.js --out "${outPath}"`, {


Make a separate PR for this, thank you! :)

4ian · 2026-03-02T13:52:02Z

Additional requirement:

Spotlight is made as a effect. Instead, we should have it as a separate PR with:
- The spotlight as an object, much like 2D lights and other objects. Visible in the editor.
- Performance guardrails: a system that only enable the ~8 closest lights to the camera (configurable).

Carrotstudio0 · 2026-03-02T15:07:14Z

Thanks for the review. I split the original PR into 3 focused PRs as requested:

Physics3D ragdoll/joints:
feat(physics3d): isolate ragdoll and joints runtime/editor updates #8346
3D effects improvements:
3D: improve directional shadows, flickering light behavior, and skybox environment #8347
Post-processing shaders:
3D: add post-processing shaders / PBR Material #8348

Also addressed:

Removed CMake/build noise.
Reverted typeof guard changes (static typing style).
Removed package-lock changes.
Kept import-GDJS-Runtime.js out of this scope.

Spotlight redesign (as object + nearest-lights guardrails) will be submitted as a separate PR.

Carrotstudio0 · 2026-03-02T15:33:48Z

I implemented the spotlight request in a separate PR:

Spotlight as an object (visible in editor), with configurable nearest-lights guardrails:
3D: add SpotLight object with nearest-lights performance guardrails #8349

This is kept separate from the other 3 split PRs, as requested.

Carrotstudio0 · 2026-03-03T17:55:45Z

Adds a new PBRMaterial behavior built on top of THREE.js MeshStandardMaterial/MeshPhysicalMaterial with no renderer-core changes.
#8348

Your Name added 27 commits March 1, 2026 01:56

feat: Implement a new 3D physics engine extension with rigid-body sim…

257ecbc

…ulation, gravity, forces, and collisions.

feat: Add scripts to build and import GDJS Runtime and extensions int…

d56647a

…o the IDE, including source types for autocompletion.

feat: Add 3D physics behavior extension with support for various body…

99893dc

… types, shapes, and properties.

feat: implement core 3D physics behavior with Jolt Physics integratio…

914db0a

…n and shared data management.

feat: Introduce Physics3DBehavior extension and update CMake build co…

a7147e6

…nfigurations.

feat: Add Physics3DBehavior extension with JavaScript and TypeScript …

514e5bb

…runtime components.

feat: Introduce new dialogs for variable and object editing, a serial…

6d37c27

…izable object cancelable editor, and a 3D physics behavior extension.

feat: Implement 3D Point Light and Spot Light filters for scene rende…

1b427fe

…ring.

feat: Add Scene3D extension providing base 3D object behavior with Z-…

22123af

…axis properties and X/Y rotation, along with new PointLight and SpotLight components.

feat: Add initial 3D scene support with base 3D object behavior, 3D m…

5cecb0c

…odel object, and 3D lights.

feat: Introduce core 3D capabilities with a new Scene3D extension, Ba…

80dc201

…se3DBehavior, 3D Model object, SpotLight, and Physics3DBehavior.

feat: add 3D capabilities, including a base behavior, 3D model object…

58d8a31

…, and screen space reflections.

feat: Add Screen Space Reflections (SSR) post-processing effect for 3…

9ccdd74

…D scenes.

feat(3D): Add SpotLight filter with configurable properties, shadows,…

8a77188

… and physics bounce.

feat: add 3D extension with base object behavior, 3D model, and new 3…

fd508da

…D effects.

feat: Add Screen Space Reflections (SSR) post-processing effect for 3…

fb1e5c4

…D scenes.

feat: Add a new Screen Space Ambient Occlusion (SSAO) post-processing…

faa355e

… effect.

feat: introduce new 3D post-processing effects including Screen Space…

71c12a1

… Ambient Occlusion and Screen Space Reflections.

feat: add 3D post-processing effects including Depth of Field, SSAO, …

e97b84d

…Screen Space Reflections, Volumetric Fog, and Bloom.

feat: Add target layer and effect properties to FlickeringLight behavior

70ed6ef

refactor: Simplify managedPassOrder by removing unused entries

85bc8d1

feat: Add ToneMapping effect for enhanced 3D rendering with configura…

42d82fc

…ble properties

feat: Enhance lighting effects with new shadow properties and stabili…

3812fb5

…zation features

feat: Add new shadow properties for enhanced control over cascaded sh…

d83320e

…adows

feat: Update shadow map size description to include 4096 for high-end…

3704606

… GPUs

feat: Add RimLight effect for enhanced rim shading in 3D scenes

651476c

Carrotstudio0 requested a review from 4ian as a code owner March 2, 2026 10:45

Carrotstudio0 changed the title ~~Native Post-Processing Shaders, Advanced Lighting & Physics3D Extensions~~ Native Post-Processing Shaders, Advanced Lighting & Physics3D Joints Mar 2, 2026

Bouh added the AI label Mar 2, 2026

4ian reviewed Mar 2, 2026

View reviewed changes

chore: clean PR noise and revert unrelated tooling changes

58a2c5e

Provide feedback

Saved searches

Use saved searches to filter your results more quickly

Native Post-Processing Shaders, Advanced Lighting & Physics3D Joints#8343

Native Post-Processing Shaders, Advanced Lighting & Physics3D Joints#8343
Carrotstudio0 wants to merge 28 commits into4ian:masterfrom
Carrotstudio0:joints

Carrotstudio0 commented Mar 2, 2026 •

edited

Loading

Uh oh!

4ian left a comment

Uh oh!

4ian Mar 2, 2026

Uh oh!

4ian Mar 2, 2026

Uh oh!

4ian Mar 2, 2026

Uh oh!

4ian Mar 2, 2026

Uh oh!

4ian commented Mar 2, 2026

Uh oh!

Carrotstudio0 commented Mar 2, 2026

Uh oh!

Carrotstudio0 commented Mar 2, 2026

Uh oh!

Carrotstudio0 commented Mar 3, 2026 •

edited

Loading

Uh oh!

Reviewers

Assignees

Labels

Projects

Milestone

Development

Uh oh!

3 participants

Conversation

Carrotstudio0 commented Mar 2, 2026 • edited Loading Uh oh! There was an error while loading. Please reload this page.

Uh oh!

Summary

What Was Added

New Effects Overview

Shader Architecture (SSAO, SSR, DOF, Volumetric Fog and more )

Why There Are No Conflicts Between Effects

Why There Are No Conflicts With Existing Engine Systems

Lighting Changes

DirectionalLight — CSM + Stabilization

SpotLight & PointLight

Flickering Light Behavior

Rim Light

Physics3D (Jolt) — Optional / Droppable

Files Modified / Added

Uh oh!

4ian left a comment

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

Uh oh!

4ian Mar 2, 2026

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

Uh oh!

4ian Mar 2, 2026

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

Uh oh!

4ian Mar 2, 2026

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

Uh oh!

4ian Mar 2, 2026

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

Uh oh!

4ian commented Mar 2, 2026

Uh oh!

Carrotstudio0 commented Mar 2, 2026

Uh oh!

Carrotstudio0 commented Mar 2, 2026

Uh oh!

Carrotstudio0 commented Mar 3, 2026 • edited Loading Uh oh! There was an error while loading. Please reload this page.

Uh oh!

Uh oh!

Reviewers

Assignees

Labels

Projects

Milestone

Development

Uh oh!

3 participants

Carrotstudio0 commented Mar 2, 2026 •

edited

Loading

Carrotstudio0 commented Mar 3, 2026 •

edited

Loading