The work of
Kristaps Ločmelis
shapehazy
3D & TECH ARTIST
Technical Art
This page shows various real-time 3D projects in Unity for AR/VR and Desktop applications, where I had to set up custom tools, rigs, materials, shaders, lighting, animation and visual effects.
Custom Unity Timeline Tools
Challenge:
A scalable interactive animation pipeline was needed for educational, patient-learning storybooks in Unity. The storybooks had to support branching narratives, allow users to revisit earlier chapters, and keep characters idling independently—separate from the Timeline-driven animation controller.
Solution:
I built a custom Timeline Graph (from scratch using Unity’s GraphView) for controlling avatars and authoring branching narratives. The node system enables branching narrative paths and triggers custom events throughout playback (e.g., chapter logic, character state changes, VFX/audio).
Alongside the graph, I developed a set of supporting Timeline tools to scale objects in and out with custom particle effects, an audio manager, and a universal signal tool.
A short excerpt from an interactive animation where the Timeline Graph is used
An example of the Timeline Graph editor in a project
Shaders and VFX for VR/AR
Universal Render Pipeline
Challenge:
Creating various real-time VFX and shader effects optimized for a VR technical learning experience. The effects need to be synchronized with the animation system and can be triggered when needed. These effects should highlight the inner workings of mechanical devices or guide the player in the right direction.
Solution:
I developed a series of real-time VFX and shader effects tailored for VR, ensuring they are optimized for performance. These effects are integrated with the animation system, allowing them to be triggered contextually. They serve to illustrate the inner workings of mechanical devices and provide visual guidance to the player. See various examples in the video to the right.
Challenge:
Creating a portal effect for the player to move from the VR lobby environment to another room. The transition needed to be visually seamless and immersive.
Solution:
I designed the environments and implemented a portal effect to visually showcase the transition between the VR lobby and another room. The visual prototype, which can be seen to the right, is running in Unity. The final VR version functions slightly differently but maintains the intended immersive experience.
Challenge:
Allow VR users to pick up a looking glass to view atoms changing their state when heat is introduced.
Solution:
I created a custom shader that reveals the atom layer when viewed through the looking glass material. By tracking the fire's position relative to the rod, I can dynamically change the atom animation to reflect their state change due to heat.
See the example video.
Challenge:
Showing various cells under the microscope for a VR learning experience.
Solution:
I created various images to accurately recreate the appearance of original cells and layered them in Unity to achieve a parallax effect. Additionally, I integrated particle simulations to enhance the dynamism of each cell visualization. Post-processing effects were applied to increase the realism of the scene.
Challenge:
Prototype a menu for a multi-user VR learning simulation that allows users to control learning settings and various interactive elements. The menu should be intuitive and simple at first glance while offering maximum control over the simulation.
Solution:
I designed a set of custom icons to be integrated into a bottom-up menu that expands from the user's wrist in Unity. This menu system is intended to be easily accessible and user-friendly. You can view the prototype version to the right.
Real-time Animation and VFX - Desktop
Spyrig
I created a real-time animation using Unity's HDRP
Animating the Spy-Rig - pigeon and camera
Adding Fire VFX and lighting the scene
Combined all textures together as one material for better performance.
Click to view
Carla
Click to view
I created a real-time animation using Unity's HDRP
Creating custom VFX Graph particle effects.
Setting up a character and camera rigs.
Lit the scene and added post-processing effects.
Graceful Impact
Using Unity's Physics and HDRP,
I set up a custom spawning system where asteroids and drums are spawning in the direction of the falling head. On impact, the hit objects light up, producing random synth or drum sounds making the experience unpredictable for the viewer.
Click to view