Shader Graph Window

The Shader Graph Window contains the workspace to edit your shader graphs.

To access the Shader Graph Window, you must first create a Shader Graph Asset. If the Shader Graph window doesn't open automatically after you create a new shader graph asset, you have to double-click on the created asset.

Shader Graph window layout

The Shader Graph window with its main elements labeled from A to F.

Label Name Description
A Toolbar A set of tools to manage the shader graph asset, display elements in the window, and more.
B Workspace The area where you create your graph.
C Master Stack The final connection that determines your shader output. It consists of two separate contexts: Vertex and Fragment.
D Main Preview Previews the current shader output. Use this to rotate the object, and zoom in and out. You can also change the basic mesh on which the shader is previewed.
E Blackboard Contains all of the shader's properties and keywords in a single, collected view. Use the Blackboard to add, remove, rename, and reorder properties and keywords.
F Graph Inspector Displays the properties of the currently selected component. Use this to modify properties, node options, and the graph settings. This window is hidden by default and only appears when something is selected that can be edited by the user.

Toolbar

Use the Shader Graph Window toolbar to manage the shader graph asset, display elements in the window, and more.

Icon Item Description
Image Save Asset Save the graph to update the Shader Graph Asset.
Image Save As Save the Shader Graph Asset under a new name.
Show In Project Highlight the Shader Graph Asset in the Project Window.
Check Out If version control is enabled, check out the Shader Graph Asset from the source control provider.
Image Color Mode Selector Select a Color Mode for the graph.
Image Blackboard Toggle the visibility of the Blackboard.
Image Graph Inspector Toggle the visibility of the Graph Inspector.
Image Main Preview Toggle the visibility of the Main Preview.
Image Help Open the Shader Graph documentation in the browser.
Image Resources Contains links to Shader Graph resources (like samples and User forums).

Workspace

Use the Shader Graph Window workspace to create Node networks and connect them to the Master Stack.

To navigate the workspace, do the following:

  • Press and hold the Alt key and drag with the left mouse button to pan.
  • Use the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out.

You can hold the left mouse button and drag to select multiple Nodes with a marquee. There are also various shortcut keys you can use for better workflow.

Context Menu

Right-click in the workspace area, on a node, or on a selection of nodes to open a context menu.

Item Description
Create Node Opens the Create Node Menu.
Create Sticky Note Creates a new Sticky Note on the Graph.
Collapse All Previews Collapses previews on all nodes.
Cut Removes the selected nodes from the graph and places them in the clipboard.
Copy Copies the selected nodes to the clipboard.
Paste Pastes the nodes from the clipboard.
Delete Deletes the selected nodes.
Duplicate Duplicates the selected nodes.
Select > Unused Nodes Selects all nodes on the graph that are not contributing to the final shader output from the Master Stack.
View > Collapse Ports Collapses unused ports on all selected nodes.
View > Expand Ports Expands unused ports on all selected nodes.
View > Collapse Previews Collapses previews on all selected nodes.
View > Expand Previews Expands previews on all selected nodes.
Precision > Inherit Sets the precision of all selected nodes to Inherit.
Precision > Float Sets the precision of all selected nodes to Float.
Precision > Half Sets the precision of all selected nodes to Half.

Additional resources