Using Decals in Unity

Decals let you project textures directly onto surfaces without modifying the underlying material. They’re ideal for adding small, targeted details that would be inefficient to model or bake.

What decals are

A decal is a projected texture — blood splatter, dirt, scratches, markings, leaks, cracks — applied on top of existing geometry. They blend into surfaces and follow their lighting, making environments feel more lived-in.

Where decals help

• Environmental wear and tear
• Ground stains, footprints, tire marks
• Wall damage, bullet holes
• Signage and labels
• Surface variation without reauthoring materials

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Using decals in Unity

HDRP and URP (Decal Renderer feature enabled) support decals natively.

1. Create a Decal Projector
2. Assign a decal material
3. Adjust the projection box size
4. Tune opacity, albedo, normal, and smoothness contribution

You position the projector like a volume — anything inside receives the decal.

Best practices

• Keep projector boxes tight to avoid affecting unintended areas
• Use decals for local detail, not global texture work
• Combine albedo + normal decals for the most impact
• Sort priorities when multiple decals overlap

Final takeaway

Decals are a fast, flexible way to add environmental detail without touching base materials or geometry. They help you build richer scenes with minimal overhead and maximum visual payoff.