Shader Graph In Unity

Shader Graph is Unity's visual tool for creating shaders. You drag and connect nodes to control how objects look – color, glow, distortion, scrolling, and more.

• No coding required – all visual
• See changes in real time
• Works with URP and HDRP only

Installing Shader Graph

• Your project must use URP or HDRP (not Built-in Render Pipeline).
• Window - Package Manager.
• Search "Shader Graph" - Install.

Creating Your First Shader

• Right-click in Project window - Create - Shader Graph - URP - Lit Shader Graph.
• Name it "MyShader".
• Double-click to open Shader Graph window.

Shader Graph Interface

When you open Shader Graph, you see:

• Blackboard (left) – Stores properties (colors, sliders, textures).
• Graph Editor (center) – Where you connect nodes.
• Main Preview (right) – Shows how shader looks on sphere.
• Node Palette (search for nodes).

Example 1: Color Tint Shader

Make any object change color.

Step 1: In Blackboard, click "+" → Color → Name "TintColor"

Step 2: Drag TintColor from Blackboard to Graph Editor

Step 3: Create node: Right-click → search "Multiply" → select Multiply

Step 4: Connect nodes:

• Base Color node (from Fragment) → Multiply A
• TintColor node → Multiply B
• Multiply output → Base Color (on Fragment)

Step 5: Apply shader to material, then to object. Change color in Inspector.

Example 2: Glow/Pulse Effect

Make an object pulse in and out.

Step 1: Create nodes: Time - Sine - Multiply (with color) - Base Color.

Step 2: Add Color property to Blackboard.

Step 3: Connect:

• Color node - Multiply A.
• Sine node - Multiply B.
• Multiply output - Base Color.

The object glows brighter and dimmer automatically.

Shader Graph vs Code Shaders