Skill

threejs-shaders

Provides guidance on Three.js shaders: GLSL, ShaderMaterial, RawShaderMaterial, uniforms, and custom effects. Use when creating visual effects, modifying vertices, or writing fragment shaders.

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frontend

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How this skill is triggered — by the user, by Claude, or both

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/cloudai-x-threejs-skills-8:threejs-shaders

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```javascript

SKILL.md

643 lines · ~3.5k tokens

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Stars2,553

Forks291

MaintenancePoor

Last CommitJan 19, 2026

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Three.js Shaders

Quick Start

import * as THREE from "three";

const material = new THREE.ShaderMaterial({
  uniforms: {
    time: { value: 0 },
    color: { value: new THREE.Color(0xff0000) },
  },
  vertexShader: `
    void main() {
      gl_Position = projectionMatrix * modelViewMatrix * vec4(position, 1.0);
    }
  `,
  fragmentShader: `
    uniform vec3 color;

    void main() {
      gl_FragColor = vec4(color, 1.0);
    }
  `,
});

// Update in animation loop
material.uniforms.time.value = clock.getElapsedTime();

ShaderMaterial vs RawShaderMaterial

ShaderMaterial

Three.js provides built-in uniforms and attributes.

const material = new THREE.ShaderMaterial({
  vertexShader: `
    // Built-in uniforms available:
    // uniform mat4 modelMatrix;
    // uniform mat4 modelViewMatrix;
    // uniform mat4 projectionMatrix;
    // uniform mat4 viewMatrix;
    // uniform mat3 normalMatrix;
    // uniform vec3 cameraPosition;

    // Built-in attributes available:
    // attribute vec3 position;
    // attribute vec3 normal;
    // attribute vec2 uv;

    void main() {
      gl_Position = projectionMatrix * modelViewMatrix * vec4(position, 1.0);
    }
  `,
  fragmentShader: `
    void main() {
      gl_FragColor = vec4(1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
    }
  `,
});

RawShaderMaterial

Full control - you define everything.

const material = new THREE.RawShaderMaterial({
  uniforms: {
    projectionMatrix: { value: camera.projectionMatrix },
    modelViewMatrix: { value: new THREE.Matrix4() },
  },
  vertexShader: `
    precision highp float;

    attribute vec3 position;
    uniform mat4 projectionMatrix;
    uniform mat4 modelViewMatrix;

    void main() {
      gl_Position = projectionMatrix * modelViewMatrix * vec4(position, 1.0);
    }
  `,
  fragmentShader: `
    precision highp float;

    void main() {
      gl_FragColor = vec4(1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
    }
  `,
});

Uniforms

Uniform Types

const material = new THREE.ShaderMaterial({
  uniforms: {
    // Numbers
    floatValue: { value: 1.5 },
    intValue: { value: 1 },

    // Vectors
    vec2Value: { value: new THREE.Vector2(1, 2) },
    vec3Value: { value: new THREE.Vector3(1, 2, 3) },
    vec4Value: { value: new THREE.Vector4(1, 2, 3, 4) },

    // Colors (converted to vec3)
    colorValue: { value: new THREE.Color(0xff0000) },

    // Matrices
    mat3Value: { value: new THREE.Matrix3() },
    mat4Value: { value: new THREE.Matrix4() },

    // Textures
    textureValue: { value: texture },
    cubeTextureValue: { value: cubeTexture },

    // Arrays
    floatArray: { value: [1.0, 2.0, 3.0] },
    vec3Array: {
      value: [new THREE.Vector3(1, 0, 0), new THREE.Vector3(0, 1, 0)],
    },
  },
});

GLSL Declarations

// In shader
uniform float floatValue;
uniform int intValue;
uniform vec2 vec2Value;
uniform vec3 vec3Value;
uniform vec3 colorValue;    // Color becomes vec3
uniform vec4 vec4Value;
uniform mat3 mat3Value;
uniform mat4 mat4Value;
uniform sampler2D textureValue;
uniform samplerCube cubeTextureValue;
uniform float floatArray[3];
uniform vec3 vec3Array[2];

Updating Uniforms

// Direct assignment
material.uniforms.time.value = clock.getElapsedTime();

// Vector/Color updates
material.uniforms.position.value.set(x, y, z);
material.uniforms.color.value.setHSL(hue, 1, 0.5);

// Matrix updates
material.uniforms.matrix.value.copy(mesh.matrixWorld);

Varyings

Pass data from vertex to fragment shader.

const material = new THREE.ShaderMaterial({
  vertexShader: `
    varying vec2 vUv;
    varying vec3 vNormal;
    varying vec3 vPosition;

    void main() {
      vUv = uv;
      vNormal = normalize(normalMatrix * normal);
      vPosition = (modelViewMatrix * vec4(position, 1.0)).xyz;

      gl_Position = projectionMatrix * modelViewMatrix * vec4(position, 1.0);
    }
  `,
  fragmentShader: `
    varying vec2 vUv;
    varying vec3 vNormal;
    varying vec3 vPosition;

    void main() {
      // Use interpolated values
      gl_FragColor = vec4(vNormal * 0.5 + 0.5, 1.0);
    }
  `,
});

Common Shader Patterns

Texture Sampling

const material = new THREE.ShaderMaterial({
  uniforms: {
    map: { value: texture },
  },
  vertexShader: `
    varying vec2 vUv;

    void main() {
      vUv = uv;
      gl_Position = projectionMatrix * modelViewMatrix * vec4(position, 1.0);
    }
  `,
  fragmentShader: `
    uniform sampler2D map;
    varying vec2 vUv;

    void main() {
      vec4 texColor = texture2D(map, vUv);
      gl_FragColor = texColor;
    }
  `,
});

Vertex Displacement

const material = new THREE.ShaderMaterial({
  uniforms: {
    time: { value: 0 },
    amplitude: { value: 0.5 },
  },
  vertexShader: `
    uniform float time;
    uniform float amplitude;

    void main() {
      vec3 pos = position;

      // Wave displacement
      pos.z += sin(pos.x * 5.0 + time) * amplitude;
      pos.z += sin(pos.y * 5.0 + time) * amplitude;

      gl_Position = projectionMatrix * modelViewMatrix * vec4(pos, 1.0);
    }
  `,
  fragmentShader: `
    void main() {
      gl_FragColor = vec4(0.5, 0.8, 1.0, 1.0);
    }
  `,
});

Fresnel Effect

const material = new THREE.ShaderMaterial({
  vertexShader: `
    varying vec3 vNormal;
    varying vec3 vWorldPosition;

    void main() {
      vNormal = normalize(normalMatrix * normal);
      vWorldPosition = (modelMatrix * vec4(position, 1.0)).xyz;
      gl_Position = projectionMatrix * modelViewMatrix * vec4(position, 1.0);
    }
  `,
  fragmentShader: `
    varying vec3 vNormal;
    varying vec3 vWorldPosition;

    void main() {
      // cameraPosition is auto-provided by ShaderMaterial
      vec3 viewDirection = normalize(cameraPosition - vWorldPosition);
      float fresnel = pow(1.0 - dot(viewDirection, vNormal), 3.0);

      vec3 baseColor = vec3(0.0, 0.0, 0.5);
      vec3 fresnelColor = vec3(0.5, 0.8, 1.0);

      gl_FragColor = vec4(mix(baseColor, fresnelColor, fresnel), 1.0);
    }
  `,
});

Noise-Based Effects

// Simple noise function
float random(vec2 st) {
  return fract(sin(dot(st.xy, vec2(12.9898, 78.233))) * 43758.5453);
}

// Value noise
float noise(vec2 st) {
  vec2 i = floor(st);
  vec2 f = fract(st);

  float a = random(i);
  float b = random(i + vec2(1.0, 0.0));
  float c = random(i + vec2(0.0, 1.0));
  float d = random(i + vec2(1.0, 1.0));

  vec2 u = f * f * (3.0 - 2.0 * f);

  return mix(a, b, u.x) + (c - a) * u.y * (1.0 - u.x) + (d - b) * u.x * u.y;
}

// Usage
float n = noise(vUv * 10.0 + time);

Gradient

// Linear gradient
vec3 color = mix(colorA, colorB, vUv.y);

// Radial gradient
float dist = distance(vUv, vec2(0.5));
vec3 color = mix(centerColor, edgeColor, dist * 2.0);

// Smooth gradient with custom curve
float t = smoothstep(0.0, 1.0, vUv.y);
vec3 color = mix(colorA, colorB, t);

Rim Lighting

const material = new THREE.ShaderMaterial({
  vertexShader: `
    varying vec3 vNormal;
    varying vec3 vViewPosition;

    void main() {
      vNormal = normalize(normalMatrix * normal);
      vec4 mvPosition = modelViewMatrix * vec4(position, 1.0);
      vViewPosition = mvPosition.xyz;
      gl_Position = projectionMatrix * mvPosition;
    }
  `,
  fragmentShader: `
    varying vec3 vNormal;
    varying vec3 vViewPosition;

    void main() {
      vec3 viewDir = normalize(-vViewPosition);
      float rim = 1.0 - max(0.0, dot(viewDir, vNormal));
      rim = pow(rim, 4.0);

      vec3 baseColor = vec3(0.2, 0.2, 0.8);
      vec3 rimColor = vec3(1.0, 0.5, 0.0);

      gl_FragColor = vec4(baseColor + rimColor * rim, 1.0);
    }
  `,
});

Dissolve Effect

uniform float progress;
uniform sampler2D noiseMap;

void main() {
  float noise = texture2D(noiseMap, vUv).r;

  if (noise < progress) {
    discard;
  }

  // Edge glow
  float edge = smoothstep(progress, progress + 0.1, noise);
  vec3 edgeColor = vec3(1.0, 0.5, 0.0);
  vec3 baseColor = vec3(0.5);

  gl_FragColor = vec4(mix(edgeColor, baseColor, edge), 1.0);
}

Extending Built-in Materials

onBeforeCompile

Modify existing material shaders.

const material = new THREE.MeshStandardMaterial({ color: 0x00ff00 });

material.onBeforeCompile = (shader) => {
  // Add custom uniform
  shader.uniforms.time = { value: 0 };

  // Store reference for updates
  material.userData.shader = shader;

  // Modify vertex shader
  shader.vertexShader = shader.vertexShader.replace(
    "#include <begin_vertex>",
    `
    #include <begin_vertex>
    transformed.y += sin(position.x * 10.0 + time) * 0.1;
    `,
  );

  // Add uniform declaration
  shader.vertexShader = "uniform float time;\n" + shader.vertexShader;
};

// Update in animation loop
if (material.userData.shader) {
  material.userData.shader.uniforms.time.value = clock.getElapsedTime();
}

Common Injection Points

// Vertex shader chunks
"#include <begin_vertex>"; // After position is calculated
"#include <project_vertex>"; // After gl_Position
"#include <beginnormal_vertex>"; // Normal calculation start

// Fragment shader chunks
"#include <color_fragment>"; // After diffuse color
"#include <output_fragment>"; // Final output
"#include <fog_fragment>"; // After fog applied

GLSL Built-in Functions

Math Functions

// Basic
abs(x), sign(x), floor(x), ceil(x), fract(x)
mod(x, y), min(x, y), max(x, y), clamp(x, min, max)
mix(a, b, t), step(edge, x), smoothstep(edge0, edge1, x)

// Trigonometry
sin(x), cos(x), tan(x)
asin(x), acos(x), atan(y, x), atan(x)
radians(degrees), degrees(radians)

// Exponential
pow(x, y), exp(x), log(x), exp2(x), log2(x)
sqrt(x), inversesqrt(x)

Vector Functions

// Length and distance
length(v), distance(p0, p1), dot(x, y), cross(x, y)

// Normalization
normalize(v)

// Reflection and refraction
reflect(I, N), refract(I, N, eta)

// Component-wise
lessThan(x, y), lessThanEqual(x, y)
greaterThan(x, y), greaterThanEqual(x, y)
equal(x, y), notEqual(x, y)
any(bvec), all(bvec)

Texture Functions

// GLSL 1.0 (default) - use texture2D/textureCube
texture2D(sampler, coord)
texture2D(sampler, coord, bias)
textureCube(sampler, coord)

// GLSL 3.0 (glslVersion: THREE.GLSL3) - use texture()
// texture(sampler, coord) replaces texture2D/textureCube
// Also use: out vec4 fragColor instead of gl_FragColor

// Texture size (GLSL 1.30+)
textureSize(sampler, lod)

Common Material Properties

const material = new THREE.ShaderMaterial({
  uniforms: {
    /* ... */
  },
  vertexShader: "/* ... */",
  fragmentShader: "/* ... */",

  // Rendering
  transparent: true,
  opacity: 1.0,
  side: THREE.DoubleSide,
  depthTest: true,
  depthWrite: true,

  // Blending
  blending: THREE.NormalBlending,
  // AdditiveBlending, SubtractiveBlending, MultiplyBlending

  // Wireframe
  wireframe: false,
  wireframeLinewidth: 1, // Note: >1 has no effect on most platforms (WebGL limitation)

  // Extensions
  extensions: {
    derivatives: true, // For fwidth, dFdx, dFdy
    fragDepth: true, // gl_FragDepth
    drawBuffers: true, // Multiple render targets
    shaderTextureLOD: true, // texture2DLod
  },

  // GLSL version
  glslVersion: THREE.GLSL3, // For WebGL2 features
});

Shader Includes

Using Three.js Shader Chunks

import { ShaderChunk } from "three";

const fragmentShader = `
  ${ShaderChunk.common}
  ${ShaderChunk.packing}

  uniform sampler2D depthTexture;
  varying vec2 vUv;

  void main() {
    float depth = texture2D(depthTexture, vUv).r;
    float linearDepth = perspectiveDepthToViewZ(depth, 0.1, 1000.0);
    gl_FragColor = vec4(vec3(-linearDepth / 100.0), 1.0);
  }
`;

External Shader Files

// With vite/webpack
import vertexShader from "./shaders/vertex.glsl";
import fragmentShader from "./shaders/fragment.glsl";

const material = new THREE.ShaderMaterial({
  vertexShader,
  fragmentShader,
});

Instanced Shaders

// Instanced attribute
const offsets = new Float32Array(instanceCount * 3);
// Fill offsets...
geometry.setAttribute("offset", new THREE.InstancedBufferAttribute(offsets, 3));

const material = new THREE.ShaderMaterial({
  vertexShader: `
    attribute vec3 offset;

    void main() {
      vec3 pos = position + offset;
      gl_Position = projectionMatrix * modelViewMatrix * vec4(pos, 1.0);
    }
  `,
  fragmentShader: `
    void main() {
      gl_FragColor = vec4(1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
    }
  `,
});

Debugging Shaders

// Check for compile errors
material.onBeforeCompile = (shader) => {
  console.log("Vertex Shader:", shader.vertexShader);
  console.log("Fragment Shader:", shader.fragmentShader);
};

// Visual debugging
fragmentShader: `
  void main() {
    // Debug UV
    gl_FragColor = vec4(vUv, 0.0, 1.0);

    // Debug normals
    gl_FragColor = vec4(vNormal * 0.5 + 0.5, 1.0);

    // Debug position
    gl_FragColor = vec4(vPosition * 0.1 + 0.5, 1.0);
  }
`;

// Check WebGL errors
renderer.debug.checkShaderErrors = true;

Performance Tips

Minimize uniforms: Group related values into vectors
Avoid conditionals: Use mix/step instead of if/else
Precalculate: Move calculations to JS when possible
Use textures: For complex functions, use lookup tables
Limit overdraw: Avoid transparent objects when possible

// Instead of:
if (value > 0.5) {
  color = colorA;
} else {
  color = colorB;
}

// Use:
color = mix(colorB, colorA, step(0.5, value));

threejs-shaders

Popularity

Invocation

Context Preview

SKILL.md

threejs-shaders

Popularity

Invocation

Context Preview

SKILL.md

Three.js Shaders

Quick Start

ShaderMaterial vs RawShaderMaterial

ShaderMaterial

RawShaderMaterial

Uniforms

Uniform Types

GLSL Declarations

Updating Uniforms

Varyings

Common Shader Patterns

Texture Sampling

Vertex Displacement

Fresnel Effect

Noise-Based Effects

Gradient

Rim Lighting

Dissolve Effect

Extending Built-in Materials

onBeforeCompile

Common Injection Points

GLSL Built-in Functions

Math Functions

Vector Functions

Texture Functions

Common Material Properties

Shader Includes

Using Three.js Shader Chunks

External Shader Files

Instanced Shaders

Debugging Shaders

Performance Tips

See Also

Reused across plugins

Similar Skills

Three.js Shaders

Quick Start

ShaderMaterial vs RawShaderMaterial

ShaderMaterial

RawShaderMaterial

Uniforms

Uniform Types

GLSL Declarations

Updating Uniforms

Varyings

Common Shader Patterns

Texture Sampling

Vertex Displacement

Fresnel Effect

Noise-Based Effects

Gradient

Rim Lighting

Dissolve Effect

Extending Built-in Materials

onBeforeCompile

Common Injection Points

GLSL Built-in Functions

Math Functions

Vector Functions

Texture Functions

Common Material Properties

Shader Includes

Using Three.js Shader Chunks

External Shader Files

Instanced Shaders

Debugging Shaders

Performance Tips

See Also

Reused across plugins

Similar Skills