---
uid: urp-use-built-in-shader-methods-shadows
---
# Use shadows in a custom URP shader

To use shadows in a custom Universal Render Pipeline (URP) shader, follow these steps:

1. Add `#include "Packages/com.unity.render-pipelines.universal/ShaderLibrary/Lighting.hlsl"` inside the `HLSLPROGRAM` in your shader file. The `Core.hlsl` file imports the `Shadows.hlsl` and `RealtimeLights.hlsl` files.
2. Use any of the methods from the following sections.

## Get a position in shadow space

Use these methods to convert positions to shadow map positions.

| **Method** | **Syntax** | **Description** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `GetShadowCoord` | `float4 GetShadowCoord(VertexPositionInputs vertexInputs)` | Converts a vertex position into shadow space. Refer to [Transform positions in a custom URP shader](use-built-in-shader-methods-transformations.md) for information on the `VertexPositionInputs` struct. |
| `TransformWorldToShadowCoord` | `float4 TransformWorldToShadowCoord(float3 positionInWorldSpace)` | Converts a position in world space to shadow space. |

## Calculate shadows

The following methods calculate shadows using shadow maps. To use these methods, follow these steps first:

1. Make sure there are objects in your scene that have a `ShadowCaster` shader pass, for example objects that use the `Universal Render Pipeline/Lit` shader.
2. Add `#pragma multi_compile _ _MAIN_LIGHT_SHADOWS _MAIN_LIGHT_SHADOWS_CASCADE _MAIN_LIGHT_SHADOWS_SCREEN` to your shader, so it can access the shadow map for the main light.
3. Add `#pragma multi_compile _ _ADDITIONAL_LIGHT_SHADOWS` to your shader, so it can access the shadow maps for additional lights.

| **Method** | **Syntax** | **Description** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `GetMainLight` | `Light GetMainLight(float4 shadowCoordinates)` | Returns the main light in the scene, with a `shadowAttenuation` value based on whether the position at the shadow coordinates is in shadow. |
| `ComputeCascadeIndex` | `half ComputeCascadeIndex(float3 positionInWorldSpace)` | Returns the index of the shadow cascade at the position in world space. Refer to [Shadow cascades](https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/shadow-cascades.html) for more information. |
| `MainLightRealtimeShadow` | `half MainLightRealtimeShadow(float4 shadowCoordinates)` | Returns the shadow value from the main shadow map at the coordinates. Refer to [Shadow mapping](https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/shadow-mapping.html) for more information. |
| `AdditionalLightRealtimeShadow` | `half AdditionalLightRealtimeShadow(int lightIndex, float3 positionInWorldSpace)` | Returns the shadow value from the additional light shadow map at the position in world space.  |
| `GetMainLightShadowFade` | `half GetMainLightShadowFade(float3 positionInWorldSpace)` | Returns the amount to fade the shadow from the main light, based on the distance between the position and the camera. |
| `GetAdditionalLightShadowFade` | `half GetAdditionalLightShadowFade(float3 positionInWorldSpace)` | Returns the amount to fade the shadow from additional lights, based on the distance between the position and the camera. |
| `ApplyShadowBias` | `float3 ApplyShadowBias(float3 positionInWorldSpace, float3 normalWS, float3 lightDirection)` | Adds shadow bias to the position in world space. Refer to [Shadow troubleshooting](https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/ShadowPerformance.html) for more information. |

## Example

The following URP shader draws simple shadows onto a surface.

To generate shadows, make sure there are objects in your scene that have a `ShadowCaster` shader pass, for example objects that use the `Universal Render Pipeline/Lit` shader.  

```hlsl
Shader "Custom/SimpleShadows"
{
    SubShader
    {

        Tags { "RenderType" = "AlphaTest" "RenderPipeline" = "UniversalPipeline" }

        Pass
        {
            HLSLPROGRAM

            #pragma vertex vert
            #pragma fragment frag
            #pragma multi_compile _ _MAIN_LIGHT_SHADOWS _MAIN_LIGHT_SHADOWS_CASCADE _MAIN_LIGHT_SHADOWS_SCREEN

            #include "Packages/com.unity.render-pipelines.universal/ShaderLibrary/Lighting.hlsl"

            struct Attributes
            {
                float4 positionOS  : POSITION;
            };

            struct Varyings
            {
                float4 positionCS  : SV_POSITION;
                float4 shadowCoords : TEXCOORD3;
            };

            Varyings vert(Attributes IN)
            {
                Varyings OUT;

                OUT.positionCS = TransformObjectToHClip(IN.positionOS.xyz);

                // Get the VertexPositionInputs for the vertex position  
                VertexPositionInputs positions = GetVertexPositionInputs(IN.positionOS.xyz);

                // Convert the vertex position to a position on the shadow map
                float4 shadowCoordinates = GetShadowCoord(positions);

                // Pass the shadow coordinates to the fragment shader
                OUT.shadowCoords = shadowCoordinates;

                return OUT;
            }

            half4 frag(Varyings IN) : SV_Target
            {
                // Get the value from the shadow map at the shadow coordinates
                half shadowAmount = MainLightRealtimeShadow(IN.shadowCoords);

                // Set the fragment color to the shadow value
                return shadowAmount;
            }
            
            ENDHLSL
        }
    }
}
```

## Additional resources

- [Shadows](https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/Shadows.html)
- [Shadows in URP](Shadows-in-URP.md)
- [Writing custom shaders](writing-custom-shaders-urp.md)
- [Upgrade custom shaders for URP compatibility](urp-shaders/birp-urp-custom-shader-upgrade-guide.md)
- [HLSL in Unity](https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/SL-ShaderPrograms.html)