What DepthTextureMode should be set when writing a custom toon-shaded edge detection effect script?

When implementing a custom toon-shaded edge detection effect in Unity, setting the DepthTextureMode to DepthNormals is particularly advantageous. This mode provides depth information and normal vectors for each pixel in the scene, which is essential for identifying edges.

By using DepthNormals, the shader can effectively analyze the depth and normal data to determine where sharp changes occur in the geometry of objects. This is crucial for edge detection, as edges typically correspond to significant differences in either depth or normal direction. The combination of these two types of information allows for accurate rendering of edges with the distinct and stylized appearance characteristic of toon shading.

Other options like NoDepth would not supply any depth data, making edge detection impossible. Choosing Depth only provides depth information without the associated normals, which limits your ability to detect edges effectively. Color mode would give you only color information and no depth or normal data, further complicating the edge detection process. Therefore, DepthNormals is the most suitable choice for creating a toon-shaded edge detection effect.