#reflection probes

Q: how do I cause reflection probes to recalculate via code?

A: To recalculate Reflection Probes via code in Unity, you can use the RenderProbe.Refresh() method. First, you need to get a reference to the Reflection Probe component on the GameObject, and then call the Refresh() method. Here's an example:

using UnityEngine; public class RefreshReflectionProbe : MonoBehaviour { private ReflectionProbe reflectionProbe; void Start() { reflectionProbe = GetComponent<ReflectionProbe>(); } public void UpdateReflectionProbe() { if (reflectionProbe != null) { reflectionProbe.RenderProbe(); } } }

In this example, the UpdateReflectionProbe() method can be called whenever you want to recalculate the Reflection Probe. The Reflection Probe component should be attached to the same GameObject as this script. If you want to update multiple Reflection Probes, you can iterate through them and call the RenderProbe() method for each one.

Q: let's talk about reflection probe cube maps for URP... does the reflection map cube box need to be an actual cube? Or can it have different dimensions on each side?

A: In URP, reflection probes capture and store information about the surrounding environment, which is then used to render reflections on reflective surfaces in your scene. The reflection map cube box is used to define the area in which the reflection probe captures the environment information.

The reflection map cube box does not necessarily need to be an actual cube. It can have different dimensions on each side, as long as it is a rectangular prism shape. However, it is generally recommended to use a cube-shaped reflection map cube box, as this will ensure that the captured environment information is consistent across all sides of the cube.

If you use a non-cube-shaped reflection map cube box, you may need to adjust the reflection probe's settings to compensate for any differences in the captured environment information. In general, it's a good idea to experiment with different reflection map cube box shapes and sizes to find the best settings for your specific scene and project.