Learn To Use Shader Graph To Create Awesome Effects In Unity from Udemy

Learn how to create and develop your very own graphical effects and shaders using Shader graph in Unity, an industry-standard game development program used by large gaming studios and indie developers across the world.

In this course you won’t just be learning graphical concepts, but tying these concepts to real game development uses. You will have access to a course forum where you can discuss the topics covered in the course as well as the next steps to take once the course is complete.

This course has been designed to be easily understandable to everyone, so whether you’re a complete beginner, an artist looking to expand their game development range or a programmer interested in understanding the visual side of game dev, this course will help you gain a greater understanding of development.

At the end of this course you will have developed the ability to understand such elements as:

Working with Unity's built-in Shader Graph system
Develop a variety of shader types
Work with 3D and 2D visual effects
Creating shader's for practical use in your games
Adding effects like water depth, cel-shading, Parallaxing, Swaying Grass, Glowing Holograms, dissolving materials and more
Using both Texture and Vertex based effects
Learn to master nodes and combine them to create new effects
And much more

The course also includes a complete version of the project to use for your own reference to ensure everything in your game works as it should.

Start learning today and let me help you become a game developer.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn shader graph, unity's built-in visual shader development system
Understand the capabilities of shader development in unity
Develop strong and transferrable problem solving skills

Gain an understanding of the game development process
Learn how object oriented programming works in practice

Learn shader graph, unity's built-in visual shader development system
Understand the capabilities of shader development in unity
Develop strong and transferrable problem solving skills
Gain an understanding of the game development process
Learn how object oriented programming works in practice

Syllabus

Introduction

Project Assets

Getting Set Up

Setting Up The Project Using The URP Template

Setting Up Without The URP Template

Setting Up Our Assets

Basics Shaders

Material Basics

Setting Up A Shader and Material

Controlling Color

Adding More Variables

Adding Texture

Setting Up A Fully Textured Model

Normal Maps & More

Adding Emissive Texture

Tiling & Offset

Wrapping Up The Basics

Glowing & Holograms

Setting Up For Glowing

Creating Glowing Edges

Ignoring Lighting

Making It Transparent

Adding Texture Lines

Making Lines Always Horizontal

Scrolling The Lines

Fixing A Potential Line Texture Issues

Dissolve Shader

Setting Up A Dissolve Shader

Making Dissolve Work

Adding Noise

Adding Coloured Edges

Improving The Coloured Edges

Controlling Materials Through Code

Controlling The Dissolve Effect

Improving The Effect

Texture By Position

Texture By Position Setup

Controlling Texture By Position

Triplanar Node

Swaying Grass

Setting Up Grass Swaying Scene

Understanding Vertex Displacement

Setting Up Grass Basics

Moving The Grass

Keeping The Base Steady

Using A Sub-Graph For Efficiency

Toon Shader

Setting Up A Toon Shader

Calculating Shadows

Adding Colour & Texture

Adding Coloured Shadows

Adding Highlights

Adding Outlines

A Separate Outline Shader

Water Shader

Setting Up The Water Shader

Adding Depth

Making The Surface Move

Adding Foam

Adding Edge Foam

2D Parallax Shader

Setting Up 2D Parallax Shader

Making It Work

Limiting Parallax Direction

Moving The Camera

Finishing Up

Next Steps

Complete Project Files

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Learn To Use Shader Graph To Create Awesome Effects In Unity with these activities:

Review Unity's Material System

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Reinforce your understanding of how materials work in Unity before diving into Shader Graph. This will make it easier to understand how Shader Graph modifies and interacts with materials.

Browse courses on Materials

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Open a previous Unity project or create a new one.
Experiment with different material properties in the Inspector.
Read the Unity documentation on Standard Shader materials.

The Art of Shaders

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Expand your knowledge of shader concepts with a dedicated book on the topic. This will provide a deeper understanding of the principles behind Shader Graph.

View Unity 2018 Shaders and Effects Cookbook:... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The Art of Shaders'.
Read the chapters relevant to the shader types covered in the course.
Experiment with the code examples provided in the book.

Recreate Example Shaders

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Reinforce your understanding by recreating the example shaders from the course from scratch. This will help you internalize the node connections and parameter settings.

Show steps

Select a shader example from the course.
Without looking at the original, try to recreate the shader in Shader Graph.
Compare your version to the original and identify any differences.
Adjust your shader until it matches the original.

Four other activities

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Create a Custom Water Shader

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Apply your knowledge by creating a custom water shader using Shader Graph. This project will solidify your understanding of various nodes and techniques covered in the course.

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Create a new Unity project or use an existing one.
Create a new Shader Graph and material for the water.
Implement features like wave motion, depth-based color, and foam.
Adjust parameters to achieve the desired water look.

Contribute to a Shader Graph Project

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Enhance your skills by contributing to an open-source project that uses Shader Graph. This will expose you to different coding styles and collaborative workflows.

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Find an open-source Unity project that uses Shader Graph.
Identify a bug or feature you can contribute to.
Submit a pull request with your changes.

Document Your Shader Graph Creations

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Improve retention by documenting your Shader Graph projects. Explaining your process will reinforce your understanding and help you recall the information later.

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Choose a Shader Graph project you've created.
Write a blog post or create a video tutorial explaining the shader's functionality.
Share your documentation with the course community.

Real-Time Rendering

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Deepen your understanding of real-time rendering principles. This book provides a strong theoretical foundation for shader development.

View Real-Time Rendering, Fourth Edition on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'Real-Time Rendering'.
Focus on chapters related to shading, lighting, and texturing.
Relate the concepts to the Shader Graph nodes you've learned.

Career center

Learners who complete Learn To Use Shader Graph To Create Awesome Effects In Unity will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Shader Developer

Shader Developers specialize in creating and optimizing shaders, which are programs that define how objects are rendered in a game. Shader Developers work to achieve specific visual styles or effects. The course directly addresses the core skills required for this role. By learning to develop various shader types, work with 3D and 2D visual effects, and create shaders for practical use in games, you acquire essential tools for a Shader Developer. Learning Shader Graph, Unity's built-in visual shader development system, is essential for any Shader Developer in the Unity environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Shader Developer

Technical Artist

A Technical Artist bridges the gap between artists and programmers in game development. They create tools and workflows that empower artists to achieve their creative vision efficiently. This course helps build a foundation in creating graphical effects and shaders using Shader Graph in Unity. Mastering Shader Graph, developing various shader types, and working with 3D and 2D visual effects, as presented in this course, are directly applicable to a Technical Artist's responsibilities. Furthermore, the skill of creating shaders for practical use in games greatly enhances a candidate's application to the role of Technical Artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist

Visual Effects Artist

A Visual Effects Artist is responsible for creating stunning visual effects that enhance the immersive experience of a game. They design and implement effects like explosions, magic spells, and environmental phenomena. This course helps build a foundation in the techniques and tools used by Visual Effects Artists. Adding effects like water depth, cel-shading, parallaxing, swaying grass, glowing holograms, and dissolving materials can be translated into a stunning portfolio. Using both Texture and Vertex based effects can create stunning visuals to enhance any game or interactive experience, making a candidate an attractive hire as a Visual Effects Artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Effects Artist

Game Developer

Game Developers are involved in various aspects of creating a video game, from programming to design. This course may be useful in equipping a Game Developer with specialized skills in shader creation and visual effects. Understanding the game development process and learning how object-oriented programming works in practice can assist in the collaborative work required of Game Developers. The ability to work with Unity's built-in Shader Graph system and to develop different shader types may be useful for any Game Developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Developer

Graphics Programmer

Graphics Programmers focus on the technical aspects of rendering graphics in a game. They optimize performance, implement advanced rendering techniques, and work closely with artists to bring their visions to life. This course may be useful for Graphics Programmers. Learning how to master nodes and combine them to create new effects may translate into a more comprehensive understanding of graphics pipelines. Developing strong and transferrable problem-solving skills will be an asset to anyone working as a Graphics Programmer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphics Programmer

Unity Developer

Unity Developers use the Unity engine to create games and interactive experiences. This course can help a Unity Developer specialize in visual effects and shader creation. Learning Shader Graph, Unity's built-in visual shader development system, is useful for this role. Furthermore, adding effects like water depth, cel-shading, parallaxing, swaying grass, glowing holograms, and dissolving materials may be useful for any Unity Developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Unity Developer

Virtual Reality Developer

Virtual Reality Developers create immersive digital environments for users to explore. Virtual reality experiences demand a high level of graphical fidelity and visual impact. This course may be useful for the Virtual Reality Developer through its emphasis on working with 3D and 2D visual effects. Learning Shader Graph, Unity's built-in visual shader development system, may also be useful for the Virtual Reality Developer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Virtual Reality Developer

Augmented Reality Developer

Augmented Reality Developers create immersive experiences that blend digital content with the real world. Visual fidelity and compelling effects are important aspects of good user experience. This course can benefit an Augmented Reality Developer by teaching them to work with 3D and 2D visual effects. Shader Graph experience, in particular, may set an Augmented Reality Developer apart from the competition.

See salaries and explore the career path for Augmented Reality Developer

Game Designer

Game Designers are responsible for the overall vision and design of a game. While not directly involved in programming or art creation, a Game Designer can benefit from understanding the capabilities of Shader Graph within Unity. Understanding the capabilities of shader development in Unity helps Game Designers create better technical design documents. A Game Designer may find this course useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Animator

Animators create the movement and behaviors of characters and objects in a game. Animators can benefit from insights into shading and rendering techniques. This course can help them when it covers the use of both Texture and Vertex based effects. An Animator may find this course useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Project Manager

Project Managers oversee the development of games, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget. While a detailed knowledge of shader creation isn't essential, understanding the capabilities of shader development in Unity can improve communication with the technical team. A Project Manager may find this course useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Quality Assurance Tester

Quality Assurance Testers test games to identify bugs and ensure quality. Knowledge of visual effects can help them identify graphical glitches or performance issues related to shaders. They can also test graphics performance. A Quality Assurance Tester may find this course useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Tester

Mobile App Developer

Mobile App Developers focus on creating applications for mobile devices. Some mobile apps include 2D and 3D graphics that could benefit from shader-based effects. This course may be useful in providing them with insight into shader development. A Mobile App Developer may find this course useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mobile App Developer

Web Developer

Web Developers create and maintain websites. While primarily focused on web technologies, some web developers may work with interactive graphics or WebGL, where understanding shader concepts can be beneficial. This course may be useful in providing them with insight into shader development. A Web Developer may find this course useful.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers create learning materials and experiences. This course may be useful in creating learning materials for Game Development. An Instructional Designer may find this course useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Learn To Use Shader Graph To Create Awesome Effects In Unity

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