Sphere

The Sphere node creates an adjustable sphere in a 3D scene. You can map a texture on to the sphere by attaching an image to the img input.

Inputs and Controls

Connection Type

Connection Name

Function

Input

img

The texture you want to project on to the object’s face.

Control (UI)

Knob (Scripting)

Default Value

Function

Sphere Tab

display

display

textured

Adjust the display characteristics of the 3D object. These settings don’t affect the render output of the scene; these are for display purposes only in the 3D Viewer.

off - hides the 3D geometry object.

wireframe - displays only the outlines of the object’s geometry.

solid - displays all geometry with a solid color.

solid+wireframe - displays the geometry as solid color with the object’s geometry outlines.

textured - displays only the surface texture.

textured+wireframe - displays the wireframe plus the surface texture.

selectable

selectable

enabled

When enabled, you can make selections as normal in the Viewer. When disabled, points cannot be selected or changed.

render

render_mode

textured

Sets how the object will render. This control is independent from the display selection, but has the same settings.

cast shadows

cast_shadow

enabled

When enabled, the sphere object can cast shadows.

receive shadows

receive_shadow

enabled

When enabled, and a material shader has been added, the sphere object can have shadows cast onto it by other objects.

frame range

frame_first

1

Sets the start frame for the frame range displayed in the Viewer when the Timeline range is set to Input. This can be used to display the offset used in the TimeOffset node.

frame_last

1

Sets the end frame for the frame range displayed in the Viewer when the Timeline range is set to Input. This can be used to display the offset used in the TimeOffset node.

rows/columns

rows

30

Sets the number of rows on the outer face of the object. The maximum value is 512, but high values may cause instability.

columns

30

Sets the number of columns on the outer face of the object. The maximum value is 512, but high values may cause instability.

radius

radius

1

Sets the radius of the sphere.

u extent

u_extent

360

Sets the extent to which the input image wraps around the sphere horizontally without extrapolating from the image edges.

For example, a value of 180 wraps the input image 90° around the sphere on both sides of the y axis and closes any remainder by extrapolating from the edges of the input image.

v extent

v_extent

180

Sets the extent to which the input image wraps around the sphere vertically without extrapolating from the image edges.

For example, a value of 90 wraps the input image 45° around the sphere on both sides of the x axis and closes any remainder by extrapolating from the edges of the input image.

close top

close_top

enabled

When enabled, the top of the sphere is closed off.

close bottom

close_bottom

enabled

When enabled, the bottom of the sphere is closed off.

file_menu

N/A

Select to import or export a channel file:

Import chan file - import a channel file and transform the object according to the transformation data in the channel file. Channel files contain a set of Cartesian coordinates for every frame of animation in a given shot. You can create and export them using Nuke or 3D tracking software, such as 3D-Equalizer, Maya, or Boujou.

Export chan file - export the translation parameters that you’ve applied to the object as a channel file. This is a useful method of sharing setups between artists.

snap_menu

N/A

Match selection position - the object is snapped to a new position depending on the points selected.

Match selection position, orientation - the object is snapped to a new position and orientation depending on the points selected.

Match selection position, orientation, size - the object is snapped to a new position, orientation, and size depending on the points selected.

transform order

xform_order

SRT

Sets the operation order for scale (S), rotation (R), and translation (T). The possible operation combinations are SRT, STR, RST, RTS, TSR, TRS.

rotation order

rot_order

ZXY

Sets the order of rotation. The possible axial combinations are ZXY, XYZ, XZY, YXZ, YZX, ZXY, ZYX.

translate

translate

0, 0, 0

Lets you translate the object along the x, y, and z axes. You can also adjust translate values by clicking and dragging the object in the 3D Viewer.

rotate

rotate

0, 0, 0

Lets you rotate the object around the x, y, and z axes. You can adjust rotate values by holding down Ctrl/Cmd and dragging in the 3D Viewer.

scale

scaling

1, 1, 1

Lets you scale the object on the x, y, and z axes.

uniform scale

uniform_scale

1

Lets you scale the object simultaneously on the x, y, and z axes.

skew

skew

0, 0, 0

Lets you skew the object on the x, y, and z axes.

pivot

pivot

0, 0, 0

When you make changes to a 3D object’s position, scaling, skewing, and rotation, these occur from the location of the object’s origin point or pivot. The pivot x, y, and z controls allow you to offset the pivot point and move it anywhere you like - you can even move it outside of the object. Subsequent transformations applied will then occur relative to the new pivot point location.

You can also hold down Ctrl/Cmd+Alt and drag the pivot point to a new location in the 3D Viewer.

Local Matrix

specify matrix

useMatrix

N/A

Enable this to specify matrix values for the object you’re transforming as an alternative to setting transform, scale, skew and pivot values above.

matrix

matrix

N/A

The matrix displays values from the object’s transform, rotate, scale, skew, and pivot controls.

Check specify matrix and copy or drag-and-drop matrix values from another object to apply those values, for example, if you wanted to align objects in a scene.

Step-by-Step Guides

Working with Spheres

Video Tutorials