Shader Fundamentals

From CG to Shader Graph - Build a Strong Foundation
What you'll learn

---

Understand how shaders work and how the rendering pipeline processes objects
Write Unity shaders from scratch using CG shader code
Build shaders with Shader Graph and see how its nodes map to shader code
Understand the math behind shaders, including vectors and matrices
Manipulate colors, textures, and UVs
Analyze how blending combines the colors of overlapping objects
Explore coordinate spaces and transform vectors between them to create position-based effects
Use surface normals to create effects based on surface orientation
Build a custom lighting model using ambient, diffuse, and specular components
Extend custom lighting with normal mapping to add detail to surfaces
Add reflections using environment mapping
Combine these techniques to create fully custom shaders
Requirements

---

Basic programming concepts, such as variables and functions.
Basic familiarity with the Unity Editor interface.
A computer capable of running Unity
Description

---

This course contains the use of artificial intelligence.
In video games, shaders are responsible for many of the stunning visual effects we see on screen.
When you look for shader tutorials online, you'll often find tutorials that show you the code or connect a series of nodes, then demonstrate the final result. You can follow along and recreate the effects, but you may not understand how and why the shaders work.
This course is different. Instead of simply showing you what to do, we'll explore what is happening behind the scenes and develop your understanding of shader development from the ground up.
We'll gradually introduce the concepts and mathematics behind shaders and apply the techniques to practical examples, allowing you to understand how they work and how they can be used to create different visual effects. Throughout the course, illustrations and animations are used to clearly demonstrate the concepts and make them easier to understand.
You'll learn shaders through both written CG code and Unity Shader Graph. With CG code, you'll write your shaders directly, with full control over the code. With Shader Graph, you'll build shaders using visual nodes and see how the nodes correspond to shader code.
By the end of the course, you'll have a strong foundation in shader development and the confidence to write and design your own shaders in Unity. You'll be ready to continue exploring shader development and build on what you've learned.
Who this course is for

---

Beginners who want to learn shaders in Unity from scratch.
Unity developers looking to learn shader programming using CG code.
Game developers and technical artists who want to build with Shader Graph while understanding the code behind the nodes.
Learners who want a combination of core rendering concepts and practical implementation in Unity.
Homepage

---