Distance
Updated: 9 Sep 2025
Generates a gradient from the node position.
Distance
Method #
This node generates a greyscale gradient for a shading system using the distance a surface or volume is from the nodes position.
The output of this node is a shader, which can either be combined with other Shading nodes for more complex designs, or applied to Materials to directly control one of the material channels. They can also be applied to Fields, where they can be used on the various channels on the Field Emitters to control how the smoke is generated, and Field Materials to control how the field is rendered.
Parameters
Parameter Details Position X
The shader’s position along the local x-axis.
Position Y
The shader’s position along the local y-axis.
Position Z
The shader’s position along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading
The shader’s rotation around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch
The shader’s rotation around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank
The shader’s rotation around the local z-axis.
Scale X
The shader’s scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y
The shader’s scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z
The shader’s 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
The input position channel.
- World Position : The shader is generated in world space.
- Object Local Position : The shader is generated relative to the object.
- Texture Coordinate : The shader is generated in UV space, and mapped using the object’s UV’s.
Mode
Determines how the distance value should be processed.
- Linear : Return the distance value directly.
- Sine : Returns a sine pattern using the distance value as input.
- Cos : Returns a cosine pattern using the distance value as input.
- Mod : Returns a repeating modulus pattern using the distance value as input.
Invert
Inverts the distance result.
Distance Scale
Scales the distance value.
Distance Offset
Offsets the distance value.
Range Min
Controls the lower value of the output range.
Range Max
Controls the upper value of the output range.
Power
Controls the power curve between the high and low values.
Axes
Choose which axes are used for calculating the axes. All 3 enables represents the distance from a point, 2 axes would be the distance from a line, and one axis the distance from a plane.
Preview In Viewport
Passes this node’s output to the destination material as a colour channel, so it can be previewed more easily.
Inputs
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position X | The shader’s position along the local x-axis. |
| Position Y | The shader’s position along the local y-axis. |
| Position Z | The shader’s position along the local z-axis. |
| Rotation Heading | The shader’s rotation around the local y-axis. |
| Rotation Pitch | The shader’s rotation around the local x-axis. |
| Rotation Bank | The shader’s rotation around the local z-axis. |
| Scale X | The shader’s scale along the local x-axis. |
| Scale Y | The shader’s scale along the local y-axis. |
| Scale Z | The shader’s 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 |
The input position channel.
|
| Mode |
Determines how the distance value should be processed.
|
| Invert | Inverts the distance result. |
| Distance Scale | Scales the distance value. |
| Distance Offset | Offsets the distance value. |
| Range Min | Controls the lower value of the output range. |
| Range Max | Controls the upper value of the output range. |
| Power | Controls the power curve between the high and low values. |
| Axes | Choose which axes are used for calculating the axes. All 3 enables represents the distance from a point, 2 axes would be the distance from a line, and one axis the distance from a plane. |
| Preview In Viewport | Passes this node’s output to the destination material as a colour channel, so it can be previewed more easily. |
| 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 |