Synthwave Canyon
A neon-glowing landscape in the style of the 1980s, with innovative rendering technology that explores the boundaries between real-time graphics and cinematic quality.
Challenge
The major hurdle was rendering complex fog effects and realistic reflections in real-time without overtaxing computing power.
Solution
We solved this problem through volumetric fog effects for the atmosphere and an intelligent combination of static reflections for the stationary landscape elements as well as dynamic real-time reflections for the animated sun.
About the Project
Synthwave Canyon is a research project we conducted to explore and test the capabilities of Blender's modern Eevee rendering engine. The project showcases an atmospheric flight over a glowing canyon landscape that visually transports us into the aesthetics of the 1980s, with characteristic neon colors, geometric shapes, and a grid-like landscape design that perfectly embodies the retro synthwave style. In implementing the project with Blender and the real-time engine Eevee, we wanted to discover how to represent complex visual effects in real-time without compromising on quality. The atmosphere is perfectly complemented by the music "Edge of Tomorrow" by TeknoAXE's Royalty Free Music, which underscores the synthwave-inspired look with authentic sounds.
The focus of our development lay on two technical innovations. On one hand, we experimented intensively with volumetric fog effects to create an atmosphere that bathes the canyon in a mystical light. These fogs not only create a visual depth effect but also enable so-called light shafts—visible light rays that, for example, shine through the shadows of the mountain peaks and dramatically stage the scene. On the other hand, we explored an intelligent combination of real-time and static reflections to find the best balance between visual quality and computing power.
The reflections were a particular challenge. We used static reflection maps for the stationary elements of the scene—the mountains, the terrain, and the canyon structures. For the animated sun, which moves across the sky, we relied on dynamic real-time reflections to ensure that its movements are correctly visible in the reflecting surfaces. This combination allowed us to achieve a photorealistic representation without overtaxing the computing power. From this project, we gained valuable insights that we will incorporate into future Eevee projects and thereby continuously refine our animation and visual effects.
Media
Canyon without volumetric fog and sun
Canyon with volumetric fog and sun
