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Projection Node

Access: Nodes > Projection > Projection

The Projection node is used to project an image onto the surface of an object in world space. The node can either use planar, cylindrical or spherical projection and allows you to use any object, camera, locator or light in your scene as the projector.

This node can be especially useful for placing an image in a specific position on an object. It avoids the need for the paint buffer and, if the image is being projected through a locator, it allows for continuous transformation using the Transform Selected Objects tool.

Because the image is being projected, moving the perspective or orthographic camera does not disturb the image's position unless the projector is set to Perspective or Ortho.

Example Node Network for Projection Node

Planar Projection Example

Projection Node Inputs

Input

Description

Position

Assigns the input position to the position of the projection.

Projection Node Outputs

Output

Description

Output

Assigns the projection output to the input of another node. For example, the Base or Over inputs of a Merge node or the Input of a Channel node.

UV

Outputs the UV coordinates that are in use when projecting the image so they can used repeatedly when sampling multiple images.

Masks

Contains the various mask values packed together. When output to specific RGBA channels, this is how the output is broken down:

R - Clipping mask

G - Distance mask

B - Facing mask

A - All masks multiplied together

Projection Node Properties

Image

file upload

Upload an image to project.

Projection Mode

dropdown list

This defines how the image is projected onto the surface.

Planar - The image is projected onto the XY plane defined by the projector.

Cylindrical - The image is projected cylindrically, with the cylinder axis aligned along projector's Y axis.

Spherical - The image is projected spherically, with the poles aligned along projector's Y axis.

Clip

dropdown list

This defines how the image is repeated across the projection.

Off - The image is not clipped, therefore repeated vertically and horizontally.

Horizontal - The image is clipped horizontally, therefore only repeated vertically.

Vertical - The image is clipped vertically, therefore only repeated horizontally.

Both - The image is clipped vertically and horizontally, therefore only shown once.

Scale

Horizontal

text field, slider

Scale the image horizontally.

Vertical

text field, slider

Scale the image vertically.

Facing Fade

Enabled

checkbox

This option determines whether the image fades out based on how much it faces towards the direction of projection.

Start

text field, slider

This defines at what point the image starts to fade out based on the amount that the image is facing the direction of projection.

A value of 0 means the image starts to fade out if it is facing the direction of projection.

A value of 0.5 means the image starts to fade out if is it facing perpendicular to the projection direction.

A value of 1 means the image starts to fade out if it is facing away from the projection direction.

End

text field, slider

This defines at what point the image is entirely faded out based on the amount that the image is facing the direction of projection.

A value of 0 means the image is entirely faded out if it is facing the direction of projection.

A value of 0.5 means the image is entirely faded out if is it facing perpendicular to the projection direction.

A value of 1 means the image is entirely faded out if it is facing away from the projection direction.

Absolute

checkbox

This makes the facing value absolute.

Distance Fade

Enabled

checkbox

This option determines whether the image fades out based on the distance to the origin or the projector.

Start

text field, slider

This determines the distance from the projector origin at which the image begins to fade out.

Range

text field, slider

This determines the distance beyond the Start value at which the image has faded out entirely.

Projection

Projector

dropdown list

Select what the image is projected from.

The list displays all the Objects, Locators, Cameras and Lights in the scene which can be used as a projector.

+

button

Add a new locator and set it as the projector.

P

button

Make the projector locator current and switch to the Transform Object Tool.

T

button

Toggle the visibility of the transform fields.

Translation

text field

Used to translate the projection in the x, y and z axis.

Note:  The transform fields (Translation, Projector Rotation, Scale) lock if you have something selected in the field. The transform field values mirror those of whatever you have selected.

Projector Rotation

text field

Used to rotate the projection around the x, y and z axis.

Scale

text field

Used to scale the projection in the x, y and z axis.