# Godot Shaders

Write Godot 4.7 shaders in the Godot Shading Language: canvas_item shaders for 2D and...

- Repository: https://github.com/gamedev-skills/awesome-gamedev-agent-skills (6445 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: Apache-2.0
- Last updated: 2026-10-28
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add gamedev-skills/awesome-gamedev-agent-skills --skill godot-shaders -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add gamedev-skills/awesome-gamedev-agent-skills --skill godot-shaders -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add gamedev-skills/awesome-gamedev-agent-skills --skill godot-shaders -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add gamedev-skills/awesome-gamedev-agent-skills --skill godot-shaders -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add gamedev-skills/awesome-gamedev-agent-skills`

## Description

Write Godot 4.7 shaders in the Godot Shading Language: canvas_item shaders for 2D and spatial shaders for 3D, with vertex/fragment functions, uniforms (source_color, hint_range), TIME/UV animation, and screen-reading via hint_screen_texture. Use when authoring .gdshader files, writing fragment/vertex code, making 2D/3D visual effects, or porting 3.x shaders (SCREEN_TEXTURE, hint_color) to 4.x.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Godot Shaders (4.x)

Write `canvas_item` (2D) and `spatial` (3D) shaders in the Godot Shading Language, animate
with `TIME`/`UV`, expose `uniform`s, and read the screen. Targets **Godot 4.7**.

## When to use

- Use when writing `.gdshader` code or a `ShaderMaterial`: 2D effects (outline, dissolve,
  flash, water), 3D surface shaders (rim light, toon, scrolling UV), or screen-space
  post effects.

**When *not* to use:** the cross-engine *concepts* of shading (UVs, vertex/fragment
theory) → `shader-programming`; particles/VFX nodes → general 3D; non-shader visuals.

## Core workflow

1. **Pick the shader type** on the first line: `shader_type canvas_item;` for 2D
   (Sprite2D, TextureRect, anything `CanvasItem`) or `shader_type spatial;` for 3D
   materials. (`particles`, `sky`, `fog` also exist.)
2. **Attach via a `ShaderMaterial`.** Create a `ShaderMaterial`, assign your `.gdshader`,
   and put it on the node's `material`. Uniforms appear in the Inspector.
3. **Write `fragment()`** to set the output: `COLOR` (2D) or `ALBEDO`/`EMISSION`/`ALPHA`
   (3D). Optionally `vertex()` to move geometry and `light()` for custom lighting.
4. **Expose tunables as `uniform`s** with hints (`source_color`, `hint_range`) so they are
   editable and correctly color-managed.
5. **Animate with the built-in `TIME`** and sample textures with `texture(tex, UV)`.
6. **Set uniforms from code** with `material.set_shader_parameter("name", value)`.

## Patterns

### 1. 2D (canvas_item): tint + scrolling UV

```glsl
shader_type canvas_item;

uniform vec4 tint : source_color = vec4(1.0);     // source_color = sRGB-correct color
uniform float scroll_speed : hint_range(0.0, 2.0) = 0.3;

void fragment() {
    vec2 uv = UV;
    uv.x += TIME * scroll_speed;                  // scroll horizontally over time
    COLOR = texture(TEXTURE, uv) * tint;          // TEXTURE = the node's texture
}
```

### 2. 2D dissolve using a noise threshold

```glsl
shader_type canvas_item;

The rest: https://github.com/gamedev-skills/awesome-gamedev-agent-skills/blob/HEAD/skills/godot/godot-shaders/SKILL.md