Why does my Shader Graph Time not match Animation Clip baked time?

Time node free-runs from app start. Animation clip controls a curve over 0..duration. To sync, expose a Custom Time uniform; drive from script with the clip's evaluated time.

For pause-immune effects, scrubbing, or syncing visual to gameplay state. Time node is convenient but not controllable from outside.

MaterialPropertyBlock with per-renderer SetFloat for the Custom Time. Different effects can age independently.

Fix: Shader Graph Time Mismatched Baked vs Realtime

Quick answer: Add Float property _CustomTime. Drive from C# with the clip’s normalized time. Replace Time node with this uniform.

Cutscene plays. Material flashes use Shader Graph Time. Time advances regardless of cutscene scrubbing. Custom uniform decouples from app time.

The Fix

Blackboard:
  Float _CustomTime  Reference: _CustomTime  Default: 0

C# driver:
void Update() {
    var stateInfo = animator.GetCurrentAnimatorStateInfo(0);
    float t = stateInfo.normalizedTime * stateInfo.length;
    material.SetFloat("_CustomTime", t);
}

Custom Time tracks the clip; scrubbing in Animation rewinds. Time node ignored.

Verifying

Scrub timeline. Material reflects scrub position. Without custom: continues forward.

“Custom Time. Driven externally. Syncs.”

Related Issues

For Shader Graph keyword toggle, see keyword toggle. For SubGraph property, see SubGraph.

Custom Time. Drive externally.