Mapping
Updated: 27 Mar 2024
Control how an image is mapped onto surfaces.
Mapping
Method #
This node controls how texture coordinates (UVs) are generated for a given material or piece of 3D geometry. This allows UVs to be created procedurally, e.g. via planar, spherical or camera perspective mappings.
The Mapping node acts on a Material node’s Mapping input. It does not need parenting.
To map a texture to an object using the Mapping node:
- Add the 3D Object you wish to map on to
- Add a Material node and link it’s output to the 3D Object’s : Default Material
- Add a Video Source node and link it’s output to the Material’s : Colour Texture input
- Add a Mapping node and link it’s output to the Material’s : Mapping input.
- In the Mapping node:
- Select the Mapping Type you wish to use
- If using a geometrical applied mapping (Perspective, Spherical, Planar etc.) then:
- Set the transform properties of the mapping
- OR Inherit the transforms from a camera by linking your camera to the Inherit Transforms input.
Mapping nodes can be used in combination with Screen Resources to pipe content from one layer and apply it another via a mapping.
All nodes connected to this node are treated as if flowing to the parent node, and inherits any transformation changes along the chain. The output is generally applied to a Material Nodes mapping input, but can also be used to control how an image is used in many different systems, such as the Displacement Map for deformers or the Image Effector for clones.
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.
Parameter Details Position X The objects position along the local x-axis.
Position Y The objects position along the local y-axis.
Position Z The objects position along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading The objects rotation around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch The objects rotation around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank The objects rotation around the local z-axis.
Scale X The objects scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y The objects scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z The objects scale along the local z-axis.
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
Parameter Details Position Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent.
Rotation Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent.
Scale Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent.
World Position Only Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties.
Inherit Time Toggle inheritance of time from the parent.
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details Mapping Type What kind of mapping is to be applied.
- Original UV’s : The source values are output directly.
- Planar : The map is generated based on the planar view of the XY plane.
- Cubic : The map is generated based on the planar views of the x, y and z planes..
- Spherical : The map is a 360 spherical mapping back out into space.
- Normal Face-Map : The map is generated based on the normal.
- Perspective : The map is generated based on the position and rotation of the mapping node. Generally used with a Camera connected to the Transform Modifiers input.
- Equirectanglur : The map is generated based on a cubic map, but smoothed to the shape of a sphere.
Source Channel The linked 3D Objects source data that the mapping should use in it’s application.
- Local Position : The local position of the vertices before transformation.
- World Position : The world position of the objects vertices (most commonly used with Spherical, Planar, Perspective mappings)
- UV : The UV coordinates of the vertices
- Local Normal : The local normals before transformation.
- World Normal : The world normals after transformations are applied.
- Index : The vertex index is used as an input.
Dimension How many dimensions the map affects.
Generate Per Pixel Determines whether UVs are generated per vertex or per pixel.
Show Guides Show a visual guide for the mapping from this node in the viewport.
These properties offset the output mapping in the mappings UV space.
Parameter Details UV Offset X Move the mesh UV along the x axis.
UV Offset Y Move the mesh UV along the y axis.
UV Scale X Scale the mesh UV along the x axis.
UV Scale Y Scale the mesh UV along the y axis.
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.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position X | The objects position along the local x-axis. |
| Position Y | The objects position along the local y-axis. |
| Position Z | The objects position along the local z-axis. |
| Rotation Heading | The objects rotation around the local y-axis. |
| Rotation Pitch | The objects rotation around the local x-axis. |
| Rotation Bank | The objects rotation around the local z-axis. |
| Scale X | The objects scale along the local x-axis. |
| Scale Y | The objects scale along the local y-axis. |
| Scale Z | The objects scale along the local z-axis. |
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent. |
| Rotation | Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent. |
| Scale | Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent. |
| World Position Only | Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties. |
| Inherit Time | Toggle inheritance of time from the parent. |
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Mapping Type | What kind of mapping is to be applied.
|
| Source Channel | The linked 3D Objects source data that the mapping should use in it’s application.
|
| Dimension | How many dimensions the map affects. |
| Generate Per Pixel | Determines whether UVs are generated per vertex or per pixel. |
| Show Guides | Show a visual guide for the mapping from this node in the viewport. |
These properties offset the output mapping in the mappings UV space.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| UV Offset X | Move the mesh UV along the x axis. |
| UV Offset Y | Move the mesh UV along the y axis. |
| UV Scale X | Scale the mesh UV along the x axis. |
| UV Scale Y | Scale the mesh UV along the y axis. |
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Transform Modifiers | Apply the transforms of another node to this node. | Null |
| Target Node | Modifiy the rotations of the node to always direct the z axis towards the input. | Null |
| Local Transform Override | Apply the transforms of another node to this node, relative to its parent. | Null |