Uploaded August 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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✔️ Works in 2020.1 ➕ 2020.2 ➕ 2020.3 🩹 For 2020.2 and .3:
► When you create a shader graph, set the material setting to "Unlit"
► The gear menu on Custom Function nodes is now in the graph inspector
► Editing properties must be done in the graph inspector instead of the blackboard
► In Lighting.hlsl, change the line "if SHADERGRAPH_PREVIEW" to "ifdef SHADERGRAPH_PREVIEW"
► Add a normalize node after view direction to fix a bug in certain Unity versions.

Toon shaders, also called cel shaders, create a cartoon-like style with segmented shading. In this video, I'll show you how to create these shaders in Unity using Shader Graph. Features include: diffuse and specular lighting, color textures, shading ramp textures, shadows, and multiple light sources. The custom lighting techniques can be used in a variety of shaders down the line!

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📚 Reference scripts
► Main light: raw.githubusercontent.com/NedMakesGames/ToonShaderTutorial/master/Assets/Shaders/Includes/Lighting%20Main%20Light%20No%20Shadows.hlsl
► Main light with shadows: raw.githubusercontent.com/NedMakesGames/ToonShaderTutorial/master/Assets/Shaders/Includes/Lighting%20Main%20Light%20Shadows.hlsl
► Main and additional lights: raw.githubusercontent.com/NedMakesGames/ToonShaderTutorial/master/Assets/Shaders/Includes/Lighting%20Smooth%20Blending.hlsl
► Final version for 2020.2 and onward: gist.github.com/NedMakesGames/073fa3799aacbc67bf4979243955d671

✨Follow up videos
► Spot light shadows: youtu.be/whmPkDp3dqo

⏲️ Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:00 Project setup
2:10 Simple (diffuse) lighting
5:39 Shading ramp textures
7:54 Color textures
8:57 Shadows
12:10 Specular lighting
14:59 Additional light sources
19:31 Wrap up and credits

🎖️ Credits and references:
• cgtrader.com/free-3d-models/animals/mammal/shiba-inu-dog-low-poly
• turbosquid.com/3d-models/3d-toroidal-knot-1258903
• turbosquid.com/3d-models/3d-model-cartoon-tree-1213267
• freesound.org/people/Akacie/sounds/73723
• blogs.unity3d.com/2019/07/31/custom-lighting-in-shader-graph-expanding-your-graphs-in-2019
• alexanderameye.github.io/simple-toon.html
• twitter.com/Cyanilux/status/1240636243060408321
• Music by leerosevere.bandcamp.com

#GameDev #IndieDev #Unity