Building code-free shaders in Unity with Shader Graph

Heya Pals!

This week's tutorial is a bit of a deeper look into shaders using Unity's Shader Graph, where we build a custom outline shader from scratch while discussing the ins and outs of the tool.

Enjoy!

Music:

Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
0:47 - Why use shaders?
1:48 - Getting started with Shader Graph
3:46 - Making your first shader
8:11 - Getting creative with maths (Colour and UV)
13:09 - What is an outline?
14:50 - Making an outline shader
17:43 - Offset subgraph
19:13 - Compositing the offset shapes
22:35 - Placing the texture inside
24:40 - Recap so far
25:14 - Adding a colour input & cleanup
27:43 - Results
28:26 - Reflection & outro

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This video features clips from my stream. Catch it live: Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri 1-6pm AEDT.

Later, pals!

[Kubis]

I’d love to see more shader videos. They’re incredibly interesting, but hard for beginners (like me) to wrap their head around. So seeing you go through the process again and show more examples would be awesome. Your content is amazing.

[sadiqabbaszade]

One of the best shader graph tutorials out there! Thanks for your detailed explanation! More of shader graph please :)

[bossmbgaming]

Hey adam thanks for all your videos and tutorials, they are always helpful and insightful, I don't even use unity (or have any plan to) and I watch your unity specific videos because I know I will learn something new. You keep me inspired to continue learn art and game development. Thanks for all the hard work you put into these videos.

[SteveSchultzart]

Wonderful video!! Shaders are such a cool topic too. I've always been scared of anything math related lol, but you broke it down in such an understandable and approachable way that makes me want to try it! Much appreciated!! 🙏

[DrHeinzDoofenshmirtz]

This is the best Shader Graph tutorial video I have seen. I have never been able to understand it, but you break it down so well.

[Vesrayech]

I tried following a similar tutorial but they just blew through the content. This was a great introduction to Shader Graph and I really appreciated how you took the time to explain what things were and show us what they did rather than just tell. Every time I see someone ask about youtube content for game dev I always put your name out there because you're one of the best creators in this community.

[Yous]

I appreciate your patience in teaching me this. It is a quite an extrordinary effort for an outline but once you showed how the last bit of programmatically and procedurely manipulating the shader it clicked for me just how powerful this can be.

[sandramartinezfernandez]

This video has been absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much for creating content of such high quality. Not only did I find what I was looking for, which was an outline shader with the latest version of Unity (the others are absolutely outdated), but I was also able to understand, though not internally process, the concepts of shaders. I hope that with practice I can create something as amazing. Thank you very much once again.

[TotallyHumanGameDevelopers]

by far the best video about shader graphs out there for someone who works in pixel art. All the quirks such as the weird sample texture 2D you addressed, and it was really clear and to the point.

[XwhiskyX]

I was just looking for a pixel perfect outline shader for Unity and Adam uploads THIS! Thanks you so much Adam!

[juanignaciogonzalezcarrasc]

Hope you make more videos on useful shader stuff, this is really really helpful and you explain it amazingly, keep up the good work!

[scehr]

Subbed and eager for more.

Mate, you not only go at a good pace, you articulate shader concepts exceptionally well. I am learning shader behaviour in addition to examples of effects made possible by shaders. This is the best shader video I have watched so far.

Bravo, sir. You are invaluable. 👏

[nazarremerchant]

Great video! Would love to see more Shader Graph tutorials by you. My impression is that there's a real demand for this type of high-quality Shader Graph work!

[mithogui]

adam i freaking LOVE you man. This video covers ALL of my pains so thoroughly, and I sincerely never thought I would understand any of this. You are a godamn hero man.

[RoffeDH]

Yes! I haven't seen anyone be able to explain Shader Graph this well. Thank you!

[jasonbucher]

This is a fantastic video and I appreciate the time you put into creating it. Really taught me a lot, thank you.

[kimbosan]

Great tutorial, thanks for not rushing and actually explaining everything

[RadleyBO]

I’m definitely interested in seeing more shaders. This was cool!

[kellyrodgers]

So clear and understandable. You even explained multiply 9:00. I never got multiply until now. Your explanation of shader graph is so good. Thanks so much.

[zebbaukhagen]

I have been wondering how to do this for a couple weeks and I was watching your other pixel art videos when I found this. Thanks so much for the quality explanation! I learned a lot. Would really like to see more shader videos.