Notch Notch Manual 0.9.23
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Text

Text

Add text as geometry to the scene.

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Method #

This node generates and renders a 3D mesh from the text that has been generated according to various attributes using a supplied font. The font must be in TrueType or OpenType format and loaded as a Font resource. Text must be entered via the Text String parameter. Text justification, spacing and kerning may be controlled by various attributes.

Text strings may be supplied directly via the Text String parameter, or generated by a suitable node connected to the Text String Nodes parameter. Nodes capable of generating text include OSC Text String and RSS Text nodes, enabling strings to be supplied via external sources. Finally, JavaScript scripts may modify the Text String parameter of a text node in order to control text from a script.

As well as being rendered directly, Text nodes may also be used as an input for various other nodes, including Particle Mesh Emitters, Field 3D Object Emitters, Clone To Mesh, Clone To Volume, Collision Affectors and numerous others.

If a valid font resource is not supplied or the text string is empty, this node is ineffective.
As Point Size gets smaller, less path data is used, lowering the resolution of the of the output text. We strongly recommend using Size Scale when resizing a font, unless you need to add more or less resolution to your text.
When using monospace fonts, ensure that Letter Space Scaling is always set to zero and scale your Word Spacing to ensure you match your space distance to the letter size.

This node outputs the normal transformation and translation values, but it also outputs geometry which can be modified with Deformer nodes, or used as a mesh sources for nodes which accept mesh connections, such as the Field 3D Object Emitter or the Procedural 3D Object.

Parameters

These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.

ParameterDetails
Position XMove along the local x-axis.
Position YMove along the local y-axis.
Position ZMove along the local z-axis.
Rotation HeadingRotate around the local y-axis.
Rotation PitchRotate around the local x-axis.
Rotation BankRotate around the local z-axis.
Scale XScale along the local x-axis.
Scale YScale along the local y-axis.
Scale ZScale along the local z-axis.

Toggle which transform channels should be inherited from the parent node. By default, all transforms will be inherited.

ParameterDetails
Position XToggle inheritance of the X Position from the parent.
Position YToggle inheritance of the Y Position from the parent.
Position ZToggle inheritance of the Z Position from the parent.
Rotation HeadingToggle inheritance of the Rotation Heading from the parent.
Rotation PitchToggle inheritance of the Rotation Pitch from the parent.
Rotation BankToggle inheritance of the Rotation Bank from the parent.
Scale XToggle inheritance of the X Scale from the parent.
Scale YToggle inheritance of the Y Scale from the parent.
Scale ZToggle inheritance of the Z Scale from the parent.
World Position OnlyInherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties.
Inherit TimeToggle inheritance of time from the parent.

These properties control the core behaviours of the node.

ParameterDetails
FontSelect a font to be used.
VisibleControl whether the node is visible or not to the scene.
Seen By RaysAllow the mesh to be seen by the raytracer. When set to 0, the mesh will still render in camera but will be ignored by any raytracing nodes.
Per Object Composite AlphaOverwrites the alpha channel beneath the object, giving simple effect of transparency. Best used when the mesh won’t overlap with other objects, as other meshes will not be seen through the mesh.
Text StringA string of text to be displayed.
Geometry TypeHow the text is generated to the screen.
  • Polygons : Text is generated into a 3D mesh.
  • Bitmaps : Text is generated into a bitmap image on a 3D plane.|
Words To ClonesSplit the text into clones.
Word Separator StringThe character used to split the text string into clones. Defaults to space.
KerningControl the kerning on the text.
Letter Spacing ScaleScale the spacing between each letter.
Letter GapScale the spacing between each letter.
Word SpacingControl the spacing between words.
Line SpacingControl the spacing between each new line.
Point SizeChanges the point size of the font.
Right To Left TextControl the direction of the text. Useful for languages that are written right to left.
Write On Off ModeChoose how the text is animated onto the screen.
Write Off FunctionChoose how the text is animated off the screen.
Write On/Off TimeControl the time it takes for the text to appear and disappear on the screen.
Write Off Time OffsetControl the time between the write on time finishing and the write off time beginning.
Write On Space DurationHow long it takes for a space character to be “written” on.
Write On/Off Fade TimeFades the alpha of text as it’s written on and off. Only functions in Bitmap mode.
JustificationChoose how the text is justified in reference to the gizmo.
Kerning ModeChoose whether kerning is done optically or through a kerning table.
AxisChoose which axis the text is generated on.
Size ScaleScale the size of the text.
Extrude AmountExtrude the text, so it is 3D.
Static Geometry (Generate Once)Only generate the mesh once on creation. Updates to the text string or geometry deformation will no longer function.
Normal Smoothing AngleThe angle difference between two faces that their common edge is will be rendered as smooth.
CircularGenerates the text into a circle format
Circular RadiusThe size of the circle for the text to be fixed around
Deformer Chunks ModeHow Connected Deformers in Chunks Vertex Source Mode will affect the text.
  • Letters : Each letter will be treated as a chunk.
  • Words : Each word will be treated as a chunk.
ParameterDetails
Fit To BoxEnable text to be clamped to fit inside of a defined box.
Box X0 / Y0Text boxes bottom left X / Y position.
Box X1 / Y1Text boxes top right X / Y position.
ParameterDetails
Lines VisibleControl whether the node is visible or not to the scene.
Lines AlphaControl the alpha value of the lines.
ColourControl the colour value of the lines.
Use Vertex ColoursColour lines based on the vertex colours of the geometry.
Blend ModeControl how the lines blend with the rest of the scene.
Thick LinesUse lines with thickness relative to their distance to camera.
Hide Back Face LinesHides the lines around back faces of geometry.
Lock WidthLock the line width to be consistent regardless of distance from camera. Only functions with Thick Lines enabled.
Thick Line WidthControl the thickness of all the lines. Only functions with Thick Lines enabled.
Show Silhouette LinesDraws lines along the edges of the object relative to the camera.
Show Normal Difference LinesDraw a line along the edges of the mesh, depending on the angle difference between their mutual faces.
Show Unshared LinesDraw lines along all edges of the shape.
Show Other LinesShow all the lines for each edge of the Mesh.
Unshared Lines WeightGreater control over the alpha of the unshared lines.
Silhouette Lines WeightGreater control over the alpha of the silhouette lines.
Normal Difference Lines WeightGreater control over the alpha of the normal difference lines.
Other Lines WeightGreater control over the alpha of the other lines.
Line Normal Difference AngleChange the threshold angle between two face normals that will generate a line along their common edge. Only functions with Show Normal Lines enabled.
Line Normal Fade SharpnessHow much the drawn normal lines will fade away the closer the edge angle is to the Line Normal Difference Angle.
Line Depth BiasExaggerate the width of the lines based on the distance to the camera. not functional with Lock Width enabled.
Line Silhouette Fade SharpnessHow much the drawn silhouette lines will fade away based on the size of the edge angle to the camera.

see Materials

Inputs

NameDescriptionTypical Input
EffectorsUse Cloner Effectors to transform the words or letters.Plain Effector
Text String NodesOverride the text string from in the node.OSC Text String
MaterialOverride the default material with a material node.Materials
Extruded MaterialSelect the Material to be applied to the extruded section of the mesh.Materials
Transform ModifiersApply the transforms of another node to this node.Null
Target NodeModifiy the rotations of the node to always direct the z axis towards the input.Null
Local Transform OverrideApply the transforms of another node to this node, relative to its parent.Null