float4x4 matWorldViewProj;

void mainVS
(
	in float4 position:POSITION,
	in float4 normal:NORMAL,
	in float2 texCoord:TEXCOORD0,
	out float4 pos:POSITION,
	out float2 oT0:TEXCOORD0,
	uniform float offset
)
{
	position.xyz+=normal.xyz*offset;
	//scale vertexposition in normals direction
	//changing the 100 value changes the 'distance' or height of the fur

	pos=mul(position,matWorldViewProj);
	oT0=texCoord*1; //scale for fur density 14--->original comment
	//this is the amount of tiling of the fur texture
}

//Define the material skins which we use;
texture entSkin1;
sampler basemap = sampler_state
{
	texture=(entSkin1);
};

texture mtlSkin1;
sampler noiseMap=sampler_state
{
	texture=(mtlSkin1);
};

texture mtlSkin2;
sampler furmap = sampler_state
{
	texture=(mtlSkin2);
};

// Next the main pixel shader (can't explain much on it though)
float4 mainPS
(
	in float4 nrm:COLOR0,
	in float2 texCoord:TEXCOORD0,
	uniform float alpha
) : COLOR
{
	float4 base=tex2D(basemap,texCoord); //mtlskin1 sampler
	float4 fur=tex2D(furmap,texCoord); //mtlskin2 sampler
	float4 noise=tex2D(noiseMap,texCoord);
	base *= fur; //this is for color fur
	base.a=alpha*noise.rgb; //this is for making it transparent using the noisemap as for, 'how much and where' transparency should be(???)
	return base;
}

// Through these passes, the amount of fur-layers are determined, the more passes, the less fps (and even a changing effect, too much contrast)
technique test1
{
	pass p0
	{
		alphablendenable=true;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(0);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(1);
	}

	//fur part:
	pass p1
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(0.1); //the last numbers gives the height of the layer
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.9); //the last numbers sets the transparency of this pass
	}

	pass p2
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(0.2);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.9);
	}

	pass p3
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		destBlend=13; //7/9
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(0.3);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.9);
	}

	pass p4
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(0.4);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.8);
	}
	
	pass p5
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(0.5);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.7);
	}
	
	pass p6
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(0.6);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.6);
	}
	
	pass p7
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(0.7);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.5);
	}
	
	pass p8
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(0.8);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.4);
	}
	
	pass p9
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(0.9);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.4);
	}
	
	pass p10
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(1);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.4);
	}
	
	pass p11
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(1.1);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.4);
	}
	pass p12
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(1.2);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.4);
	}
	pass p13
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(1.3);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.3);
	}
	pass p14
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(1.4);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.3);
	}
	pass p15
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(1.5);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.3);
	}
	pass p16
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(1.6);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.2);
	}
	pass p17
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(1.7);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.2);
	}
	pass p18
	{
		AlphaBlendEnable=true;
		zWriteEnable = True;
		destBlend=13;
		
		VertexShader=compile vs_1_1 mainVS(1.8);
		PixelShader=compile ps_1_4 mainPS(0.1);
	}
}

// call local images
bmap noise_bmap = <noise.tga>;
bmap color_bmap = <noise.tga>;

material mtl_fur
{
	skin1 = noise_bmap;
	skin2 = color_bmap;
	
	effect = "fur.fx";
}

Quote:

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the more passes, the more instruction slots you use which leads into a decreasing framerate like you mentioned. This is also partly caused because when using one technique and several passes, the technique encapsulates the effect state that determines a rendering style. A technique is made up of one or more passes. An effect file that uses one technique and multiple passes like yours, has result that one pass depends on the result of the previous pass so you get a fps decrease.

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Quote:

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This explanation leaves something to be desired..

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Quote:

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Think about it, each pixel in the effect has to be redrawn at least 18 times, often more.

---

In theory, this replicates my explanation.
Btw I love reading your comments Matt, they have a satire style but helpful at the same time

Cheers

Frazzle