Read Water Depth at a Glance Using the Shader's Water Colors

Realistic Vista Shaders gives oceans, rivers and ponds depth-based color gradients. The water's shade changes with how deep it is. This makes water both look better and tell you more.

What to Look For

Stand on a beach or riverbank and look out across the water:

• Shallow water near shores and sandbars shows a different shade than open water.
• Deep water further out shifts to a deeper tone.
• The color blends gradually between the two, so you can see where the seafloor drops away.

Surface reflections also show on the water, so the view changes with your viewing angle and the sky above.

Practical Uses

1. Finding shallow crossings. When crossing a river or bay on foot or by boat, follow the shallower-looking color to stay near the bottom.

2. Spotting drop-offs. A sharp color change often marks a ledge or trench. This is useful when scouting for ocean ruins, shipwrecks or underwater caves.

3. Choosing build sites. Want a dock or a pier over deep water? The darker areas show where the depth is.

4. Designing ponds and pools. In your own builds, vary the depth of a pond or moat. The shader then shows a natural-looking gradient instead of one flat color.

Tip

The gradient is easiest to read in daylight from a raised spot, such as a hill, cliff or pillar above the water.