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    Shader Graph asset reference

    A shader graph asset is a file with the .shadergraph extension that contains a graph you create and edit in the Shader Graph window. It is also a shader that you can select from a material's shader dropdown, as any other shader.

    To access the properties of a shader graph asset in the Inspector window, select the asset in your project.

    Action buttons

    Manage the shader code that shader graph generates.

    Property Description
    Open Shader Editor Opens the selected asset in the Shader Graph window so you can edit the graph.
    View Generated Shader Opens the shader code that the shader graph generates in a text editor or an IDE, such as Visual Studio. The code includes all possible passes and targets.
    Regenerate Updates the code you edited in your text editor or IDE. This button appears only when you select View Generated Shader.
    Copy Shader Copies the shader code to the clipboard.

    Properties

    Manage shader graph assets templates.

    Property Description
    Use As Template Marks the selected shader graph asset as a template. When enabled, the asset appears in the Shader Graph template browser, but is no longer listed in any material's Shader dropdown by default.
    Expose As Shader Keeps the asset listed in a material's Shader dropdown so you can still use it as a shader when you also use it as a template. This property and all properties in the Template section are available only when you enable Use As Template.
    Name Sets the name of the template in the Shader Graph template browser.
    Category Sets the category of the template in the Shader Graph template browser.
    Description Sets the description of the template in the Shader Graph template browser.
    Icon Sets the icon that represents the template in the Shader Graph template browser.
    Thumbnail Sets the image that represents the template in the Shader Graph template browser.

    Apply and Revert buttons

    Changes you make to a shader graph asset's properties in the Inspector window aren't saved automatically. Use the Apply and Revert buttons to manage these changes.

    Property Description
    Apply Saves the changes you made to the properties in the Properties section. This button is available only when you have unsaved changes.
    Revert Discards the changes you made to the properties in the Properties section and restores the previously saved values. This button is unavailable until you make changes to the properties.
    Note

    If you enable Use As Template and enter template field values without selecting Apply, selecting Revert discards your entries and disables Use As Template again, because that change wasn't previously saved.

    Additional resources

    • Creating a new shader graph asset
    • Shader Graph Window
    • Shader Graph template browser
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