Vector Blur
Updated: 24 Feb 2025
Add a gradient based blur to an image.
Vector Blur
Method #
This node performs a blur operation on an image, but instead of blurring around each pixel uniformly the blur follows a path through the image. The path is determined by vectors extracted from the image itself, pointing in the direction of gradients in the image; for example, in the direction of a downward slope in image luminance. The result is a blur that conforms to details in the original image and produces a look similar to a traditional painting.
Parameters
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.
Blend Amount
Changes the opacity of the new effect over the original image.
Blend Mode (RGB)
Change how the generated effect blends with the parent image RGB.
Blend Mode (Alpha)
Change how the generated effect blends with the parent image alpha.
Steps
The number of steps that will be taken along the path for a single pixel.
Gradient Blur Iterations
The number of pre-blurring operations to perform on the extracted gradient vectors. this helps reduce artifacts in the end result.
Orientation
An offset applies to the rotation of the extracted gradient vectors.
Softness
Controls how much influence points further along the path have.
Step Size
Size of each step taken along each path.
Dampening
Controls how much influence the gradients have on the acceleration of the movement along the path.
Epsilon
Controls how finely the gradients are calculated. raising this value may help reduce artifacts or precision issues.
Normalize
Normalizes the gradient vectors, so the gradient magnitude isn’t used when calculating the paths.
Fixed Direction
If enabled, the effect will use only one calculated gradient for the whole path when blurring a pixel. this means the path is a straight line.
Toggle which of the RGBA channels are affected by the effect.
Inputs
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. |
| Blend Amount | Changes the opacity of the new effect over the original image. |
| Blend Mode (RGB) | Change how the generated effect blends with the parent image RGB. |
| Blend Mode (Alpha) | Change how the generated effect blends with the parent image alpha. |
| Steps | The number of steps that will be taken along the path for a single pixel. |
| Gradient Blur Iterations | The number of pre-blurring operations to perform on the extracted gradient vectors. this helps reduce artifacts in the end result. |
| Orientation | An offset applies to the rotation of the extracted gradient vectors. |
| Softness | Controls how much influence points further along the path have. |
| Step Size | Size of each step taken along each path. |
| Dampening | Controls how much influence the gradients have on the acceleration of the movement along the path. |
| Epsilon | Controls how finely the gradients are calculated. raising this value may help reduce artifacts or precision issues. |
| Normalize | Normalizes the gradient vectors, so the gradient magnitude isn’t used when calculating the paths. |
| Fixed Direction | If enabled, the effect will use only one calculated gradient for the whole path when blurring a pixel. this means the path is a straight line. |
Toggle which of the RGBA channels are affected by the effect.
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Direction Source | Add a texture whose luminance values will be used to drive the Vector blur directions instead. | Video Loader |