Shader Graph basics in Unity - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Shader Graph basics

📖 Scenario: You are creating a simple shader for a game object in Unity using Shader Graph. This shader will change the color of the object based on a color you choose.

🎯 Goal: Build a basic Shader Graph that colors a 3D object with a user-defined color.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a Shader Graph asset

Add a Color property to the Shader Graph

Connect the Color property to the Base Color input of the PBR Master node

Apply the Shader Graph to a material and assign it to a 3D object

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Game developers use Shader Graph to create custom looks for game objects without writing code, making it easier to design unique visuals.

💼 Career

Understanding Shader Graph basics is useful for roles like game artist, technical artist, and graphics programmer in game development studios.

1

Create a new Shader Graph asset

Create a new Shader Graph asset called SimpleColorShader in your Unity project.

Unity

# Create a new Shader Graph asset named SimpleColorShader
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Use the Unity Editor's Create menu to make a new PBR Graph shader asset named SimpleColorShader.

2

Add a Color property to the Shader Graph

Open SimpleColorShader and add a new Color property called BaseColor with a default value of #FF0000FF (red).

Unity

// Open SimpleColorShader
// Add a Color property named BaseColor with default #FF0000FF
# Your code here

Need a hint?

In the Shader Graph editor, add a Color property named BaseColor and set its default color to red.

3

Connect the Color property to the shader output

In SimpleColorShader, drag the BaseColor property node into the graph and connect it to the Base Color input of the PBR Master node.

Unity

// Drag BaseColor property node into graph
// Connect BaseColor to Base Color input of PBR Master node
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Drag the BaseColor node into the graph and connect it to the Base Color input of the PBR Master node.

4

Apply the shader to a material and assign it to a 3D object

Create a new material called SimpleColorMaterial and assign the SimpleColorShader shader to it. Then assign SimpleColorMaterial to a 3D object in your scene. Finally, print "Shader applied successfully" to the console.

Unity

// Create material SimpleColorMaterial
// Assign SimpleColorShader to SimpleColorMaterial
// Assign SimpleColorMaterial to a 3D object
// Print "Shader applied successfully"
# Your code here

Need a hint?

Create a material using the SimpleColorShader, assign it to your object's renderer, and print the success message.