Pseudo Height Fog Shader

Features: This interactive Three.js demo features a custom WebGL shader chunk that implements a pseudo-height fog effect. It dynamically calculates fog density based on the vertical position of fragments, allowing for a realistic atmospheric gradient that settles near the ground level. Users can interact with the scene to observe how the fog density shifts in real-time, demonstrating seamless integration with standard Three.js materials through shader injection.

History: The project was developed in 2022 by Faraz Shaikh as a technical exploration into extending Three.js's built-in material system. The concept stems from the need for more performant and stylistically controlled environmental fog compared to standard linear fog, leveraging the flexibility of GLSL to create atmospheric depth without the overhead of complex volumetric rendering.

Use cases: This shader is ideal for web-based games, architectural visualizations, or immersive art installations that require a specific "mood" or distance-based depth cues. It is particularly effective for outdoor scenes where the ground needs to be obscured by haze, or for sci-fi environments requiring a low-lying, misty atmosphere that responds to the player's camera movement.