diff --git a/pytorch3d/renderer/mesh/shading.py b/pytorch3d/renderer/mesh/shading.py
index 2a142f28..05cb66ad 100644
--- a/pytorch3d/renderer/mesh/shading.py
+++ b/pytorch3d/renderer/mesh/shading.py
@@ -55,6 +55,46 @@ def _apply_lighting(
     return ambient_color, diffuse_color, specular_color
 
 
+def _phong_shading_with_pixels(
+    meshes, fragments, lights, cameras, materials, texels
+) -> Tuple[torch.Tensor, torch.Tensor]:
+    """
+    Apply per pixel shading. First interpolate the vertex normals and
+    vertex coordinates using the barycentric coordinates to get the position
+    and normal at each pixel. Then compute the illumination for each pixel.
+    The pixel color is obtained by multiplying the pixel textures by the ambient
+    and diffuse illumination and adding the specular component.
+
+    Args:
+        meshes: Batch of meshes
+        fragments: Fragments named tuple with the outputs of rasterization
+        lights: Lights class containing a batch of lights
+        cameras: Cameras class containing a batch of cameras
+        materials: Materials class containing a batch of material properties
+        texels: texture per pixel of shape (N, H, W, K, 3)
+
+    Returns:
+        colors: (N, H, W, K, 3)
+        pixel_coords: (N, H, W, K, 3), camera coordinates of each intersection.
+    """
+    verts = meshes.verts_packed()  # (V, 3)
+    faces = meshes.faces_packed()  # (F, 3)
+    vertex_normals = meshes.verts_normals_packed()  # (V, 3)
+    faces_verts = verts[faces]
+    faces_normals = vertex_normals[faces]
+    pixel_coords_in_camera = interpolate_face_attributes(
+        fragments.pix_to_face, fragments.bary_coords, faces_verts
+    )
+    pixel_normals = interpolate_face_attributes(
+        fragments.pix_to_face, fragments.bary_coords, faces_normals
+    )
+    ambient, diffuse, specular = _apply_lighting(
+        pixel_coords_in_camera, pixel_normals, lights, cameras, materials
+    )
+    colors = (ambient + diffuse) * texels + specular
+    return colors, pixel_coords_in_camera
+
+
 def phong_shading(
     meshes, fragments, lights, cameras, materials, texels
 ) -> torch.Tensor:
@@ -76,21 +116,9 @@ def phong_shading(
     Returns:
         colors: (N, H, W, K, 3)
     """
-    verts = meshes.verts_packed()  # (V, 3)
-    faces = meshes.faces_packed()  # (F, 3)
-    vertex_normals = meshes.verts_normals_packed()  # (V, 3)
-    faces_verts = verts[faces]
-    faces_normals = vertex_normals[faces]
-    pixel_coords = interpolate_face_attributes(
-        fragments.pix_to_face, fragments.bary_coords, faces_verts
+    colors, _ = _phong_shading_with_pixels(
+        meshes, fragments, lights, cameras, materials, texels
     )
-    pixel_normals = interpolate_face_attributes(
-        fragments.pix_to_face, fragments.bary_coords, faces_normals
-    )
-    ambient, diffuse, specular = _apply_lighting(
-        pixel_coords, pixel_normals, lights, cameras, materials
-    )
-    colors = (ambient + diffuse) * texels + specular
     return colors