Tile Sheet
Updated: 4 Dec 2023
Generates a combined sheet of images (sometimes known as a sprite sheet) from multiple inputs.
Tile Sheet
Method #
Generates a combined sheet of images (sometimes known as a sprite sheet) from multiple inputs.
The following example shows how to do this using Polygon generators, but any image node can be used as input. The number of connected input nodes is not limited.
This can be used, for example, to set up a single particle system where each particle uses a randomly-selected image from a set. Note that the number of tiles in X and Y needs to be matched on the Point Renderer manually.
Particles Example #
This node can be connected to any node which accepts an image input.
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.
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details Active Enables or disables the effect. Disabling the effect means it will no longer compute, so disabling a node when not in use can improve performance.
Preview In Viewport Preview the generated image as an overlay in the viewport.
- Off : No preview is generated.
- RGBA : Preview the image blended with alpha in the viewport.
- RGB : Preview the colour channels in the viewport.
- Alpha : Preview the alpha channel in the viewport.
- PIP : Preview the image blended with alpha in the viewport, in a smaller picture in picture display, on top of the existing content.
Width The resolution of the generated image horizontally.
Height The resolution of the generated image vertically.
Update Time Mode How the generator updates with relation to the timecode.
- Locked To Timecode : The generator animations are locked to the timecode and the same time will always yield the same result.
- Running / Loopable : The generator animations are disconnected from the timecode and will run seamlessly at the end of the composition.
Num Tiles Mode The method used to determine the arrangement of tiles.
- Auto : Automatically determine the number of tiles in X and Y from the total number of input images
- Use Num Tiles X Y : Uses the specified number of tiles in X and Y.
Num Tiles X The number of tiles in X. This is ignored in auto mode.
Num Tiles Y The number of tiles in Y. This is ignored in auto mode.
Tile Write Offset An index offset for the tiles.
Clear Mode The sheet clearing behaviour. Clearing less often can improve performance.
- Every Frame : Re-evaluates the input images on every frame.
- On Reset : Evaluate the input images on timeline reset.
- Never : Doesn’t update the image, except by manual timeline resets in Builder.
Border (Pixels) The size of the border to add around each tile. This helps to avoid issues with filtering and interpolation at tile edges.
Tile Sorting Control how the tile sheet should be sorted while being generated.
- None : Unsorted.
- Luminance : Sort the tiles by luminance.
These properties control how the generators are coloured and blended with other images.
Parameter Details Colour Change the colour of the generated image.
Blend Amount The amount the generated image blends with the project, depending on the compositing mode chosen.
Blend Mode Choose how the image blends with the scene. See Blend Modes for details.
- Solid : The generator is solid, with a filled alpha channel. Blend amount is ignored.
- Blend : The generator RGBA values have matching alpha channels.
- Pre-Mul Blend : The RGB values are solid white, and the generator colours are stored in the alpha channel alpha. Usually gives the best results for colour blending.
Inputs
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.
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Active | Enables or disables the effect. Disabling the effect means it will no longer compute, so disabling a node when not in use can improve performance. |
| Preview In Viewport | Preview the generated image as an overlay in the viewport.
|
| Width | The resolution of the generated image horizontally. |
| Height | The resolution of the generated image vertically. |
| Update Time Mode | How the generator updates with relation to the timecode.
|
| Num Tiles Mode | The method used to determine the arrangement of tiles.
|
| Num Tiles X | The number of tiles in X. This is ignored in auto mode. |
| Num Tiles Y | The number of tiles in Y. This is ignored in auto mode. |
| Tile Write Offset | An index offset for the tiles. |
| Clear Mode | The sheet clearing behaviour. Clearing less often can improve performance.
|
| Border (Pixels) | The size of the border to add around each tile. This helps to avoid issues with filtering and interpolation at tile edges. |
| Tile Sorting | Control how the tile sheet should be sorted while being generated.
|
These properties control how the generators are coloured and blended with other images.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Colour | Change the colour of the generated image. |
| Blend Amount | The amount the generated image blends with the project, depending on the compositing mode chosen. |
| Blend Mode | Choose how the image blends with the scene. See Blend Modes for details.
|
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Tile Images | The individual images to combine in to one sheet. | Loader |
| Colour Ramp | Specify a range of colours the generator can use through its gradient. | Colour Ramp |