How to Make a Shader-Based Website
Build site with custom GLSL shaders for hero — Three.js ShaderMaterial + vite-plugin-glsl + uniforms for time/mouse.
Making shader-based website: (1) Set up Three.js project with vite-plugin-glsl for inline shaders. (2) Build base scene with a fullscreen plane (PlaneGeometry covering viewport). (3) Apply ShaderMaterial with custom vertex/fragment shaders. (4) Pass uniforms — uTime (incrementing), uMouse (cursor position normalized), uResolution. (5) Write fragment shader using uTime/uMouse/uResolution to drive visual logic. Time: 16-40 hours including shader learning curve. Resources: thebookofshaders.com is the standard learning path.
Step-by-step outline
Step 1: scaffold the project (Vite + Three.js). Step 2: get a basic scene rendering — camera, light, geometry. Step 3: load the asset (glTF). Step 4: hook up animation timeline (GSAP or built-in). Step 5: add interactivity (click, scroll). Step 6: optimize for mobile (device-tier check, asset compression). Step 7: deploy. Each step builds on the previous; skipping leads to confusion later.
Common pitfalls
Three failure modes I see beginners hit: (1) trying to render before assets finish loading — always wait for the loader callback, (2) using full-resolution textures on mobile — always have KTX2 or compressed alternatives, (3) leaving the scene rendering when off-screen — pause the render loop with IntersectionObserver. Each pitfall has a clear fix; the trick is recognizing the symptom.
Want a faster path
If your timeline is short and the project matters commercially, hiring an experienced developer often beats self-learning by 4-6 weeks of effort. I take on How to Make a Shader-Based Website projects on a fixed-price basis — you get the working result without the learning detour. Reach out via the contact page if a structured engagement makes sense for what you're building.
Further reading
Three resources I recommend after this guide: the official Three.js fundamentals docs (excellent and underused), Bruno Simon's Three.js Journey (paid, comprehensive), and the React Three Fiber docs if you'll work in React. Beyond that, reading other developers' source on GitHub — search for 'three-js portfolio' on GitHub trending — accelerates learning faster than any tutorial.
Frequently asked questions
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