> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pixelate.tomblack.ca/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Render pipelines

> Use Pixelate with URP for Sprite-Lit 2D lighting, or configure Built-in projects when needed.

Pixelate supports Universal Render Pipeline and Built-in Render Pipeline capture workflows. Use **URP** when you can: Pixelate's demo content is built for URP, and URP supports Sprite-Lit 2D lighting with normal maps out of the box.

## Choose the pipeline

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="URP">
    Recommended for most Pixelate projects.

    For lit sprites, use `Universal Render Pipeline/2D/Sprite-Lit-Default` with a 2D Renderer and a 2D light with **Normal Maps** enabled.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Built-in">
    Use **Built-in** only when the project cannot use URP.

    For lit sprites, use the included `ToonLitSprite` shader as a fallback. URP is the recommended path for 2D lighting.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Set the profile

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the profile">
    Select the capture manager and use its local profile settings, or open an assigned `PixelateProfile` if you are sharing settings.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Normal Map">
    Expand **Normal Map**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Material Pipeline">
    Set **Material Pipeline** to **URP** for the recommended workflow, or **Built-in** only for Built-in Render Pipeline projects.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Read warnings">
    Pixelate shows a warning if the selected pipeline does not appear to match the current Unity project.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## URP checklist

* Universal Render Pipeline is installed.
* A URP asset is assigned in **Project Settings > Graphics**.
* The URP asset uses a 2D Renderer when you want Sprite-Lit lighting.
* The 2D Renderer asset has **Light Render Textures > Render Scale** set to `1`.
* The sprite material uses `Universal Render Pipeline/2D/Sprite-Lit-Default`.
* Each `Light2D` that should affect the sprite has **Normal Maps** enabled.
* Pixelate assigned the generated `_N.png` as the diffuse sprite sheet's `_NormalMap` secondary texture during export.
* `Assets/Pixelate/DEMO/Scenes/Visualize.unity` and `Assets/Pixelate/DEMO/URP` are available as working references.

## Built-in fallback

* No URP asset is assigned in Graphics or Quality settings.
* The sprite material uses `ToonLitSprite`.
* A light is present in the scene where you preview the sprite.