• Where to find it:

• Add Procedural Layer / Procedural / Extension Pack / Generators

• NodeGraph / Right Mouse Click / Add Nodes / Procedurals / Extension Pack / Generators

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• Video
• Pattern Engine

• Node Overview
• Node Outputs
• Node Ports
• Node Properties
• Main Tab

• Seed
• Amount
• Pattern
• Pattern Crop
• Input Image
• Size
• Position
• Rotation
• Symmetry
• Probability Masking
• Layering
• Color
• Color Randomization
• Output Alphas

• Transform Tab

• Triplanar Settings
• UV Settings
• Tips
• Seam Removal

Designed for creating random patterns, Splatter nodes allow Texture Bombing using a procedural shape

This Node shares Attributes with the Main Pattern Generator Nodes.

An in-depth tutorial on every feature of the Pattern Generator Nodes can be found below:

Pattern Engine Overview

This Node is part of a collection of Nodes making up the Pattern Engine:

• Pattern Generator X1 2D
• Pattern Generator X1 Triplanar
• Pattern Generator X4 2D
• Pattern Generator X4 Triplanar
• Symmetry Pattern X1 2D
• Symmetry Pattern X1 Triplanar
• Splatter X1 2D
• Splatter X1 Triplanar
• Splatter X4 2D
• Splatter X4 Triplanar
• Shape Splatter 2D

• Output

The Default Output

• Pattern UVs

Outputs the UV coordinates of the cells

• Pattern Center

Outputs the center UV coordinate for each cell as a uniform value across the entire cell

• Pattern Manifold

Outputs Manifold Data from the node that can be used to drive other nodes.

A simple example of a Pattern Generator Node driving another node via the Manifold Output

• Pattern Index

Outputs a R,G,B packed Index

• R - Row Index

Multiplies the normalized Row Number (0.0 - 1.0) against the result.

Each row will have a different value this way

       

• G - Column Index

Multiplies the normalized Column Number (0.0 - 1.0) against the result

Each column will have a different value this way

• B - Pattern Index

Multiplies the normalized Cell Number (0.0 - 1.0) against the result

Each cell will have a different value this way

• Pattern Scale

Change the Value of each Cell based on the Cell scale.

Evaluated are Random Size X/Y, Random Scale,Random Scale Map, Normal Map

Example of Scale Output

• Pattern Mask

Outputs the pure pattern result as a mask without the Background Color applied

• Pattern Random

Outputs the random signal used inside the node to randomize elements

• Seed

Overwrite the Seed Slider with a value fed in via the Nodegraph

• Amount

Allows setting the Amount of Cells via a Nodegraph Input.

Will overwrite the Amount X and Amount Y Sliders.

Separate values can be fed to X and Y by specifying different values for Red and Green channel of the attached node stream

• Pattern Specific 1

An option to change the look of the generated Pattern. Varies based on Patttern. Overwrites Pattern Specific 1 Slider if mapped,.

• Pattern Specific 2

An option to change the look of the generated Pattern. Varies based on Patttern. Overwrites Pattern Specific 2 Slider if mapped,.

• Background

Allows for setting a Pattern Background. Fill Background needs to be turned on

• Manifold 3D

When mapped the world space position the node uses to calculate the projection is supplied by the port.

This can be used for example to apply warping to the projection using Manifold Nodes

• 3D Rotation (XYZ)

When mapped the red channel of the attached connection is used to drive the Projection Rotate X Attribute,

the green channel the Projection Rotate Y Attribute and the blue channel the Projection Rotate Z Attribute

• UV Scale Right (UV)

Determines the UV Scaling of the Projection from the Right side

• UV Scale Top (UV)

Determines the UV Scaling of the Projection from the Top side

• UV Scale Front (UV)

Determines the UV Scaling of the Projection from the Front side

• UV Angle (XYZ)

When mapped the red channel of the attached connection is used to drive the UV Rotation Right Attribute,

the green channel the UV Rotation Top Attribute and the blue channel the UV Rotation Front Attribute

• UV Offset (UV)

When mapped the red channel of the attached connection is used to drive the U Offset  Attribute,

the green channel the V Offset Attribute

• Jitter Noise

By default the Edge Blending Jitter uses a node internal noise to perform its jittering/randomization of edges.

By attaching a noise of your choosing to the Jitter Noise Connection in the Nodegraph you can overwrite this

internal noise.

MAIN TAB

• Random Seed

By modifying the Random Seed, different looks can be achieved with the otherwise same settings. 

• Amount Multiplier

A multiplier on the amount of Cells generated. Each cell is processed independently with the given settings (Position, Rotation etc. etc.)

• Amount X

Amount of cells generated horizontally. Each cell is processed independently with the given settings (Position, Rotation etc. etc.)

• Amount Y

Amount of cells generated vertically. Each cell is processed independently with the given settings (Position, Rotation etc. etc.)

• Pattern

Determines what pattern is used to fill each cell.

Options are

• A File Texture (Input Image)

Supply a Texture in the Input Image Section

• One of 23 procedurally generated Patterns

For a complete overview of all procedural patterns visit the Shape Node Help 

• Pattern Specific 1

An Option to change the look of procedurally generated Patterns. Varies based on Patttern

• Pattern Specific 2

An Option to change the look of procedurally generated Patterns. Varies based on Patttern

• Pattern Size

Determines the size of the procedurally generated Pattern within a cell.

Please note this works together with any size/scale specified in the Size Group.

• Pattern Rotate

Determines the rotation of the procedurally generated Pattern within a cell

• Pattern Alpha Intensity

Determines the processing of the Alpha Channel of a procedurally generated pattern.

Example of reducing the Alpha Intensity from 1 to 0 on a large Hemisphere pattern

• Pattern Repeat U

Repeats the pattern or input image x-amount of times horizontally in each cell.

Example of increasing Pattern Repeat U

 on a 'Gaussian' Pattern

• Pattern Repeat V

Repeats the pattern or input image x-amount of times vertically in each cell.

• Pattern Random X

Randomly horizontally offsets the Pattern or Input Image within each cell

This is useful to have a more random look when using tileable textures

Example of randomly offsetting a tileable texture in X and Y

• Pattern Random Y

Randomly vertically offsets the Pattern or Input Image within each cell

This is useful to have a more random look when using tileable textures

• Invert Pattern

Invert pattern or Input Image

• Blend Mode

The Blend Mode used to overlay a cell over other cells

Example of different effects achieved by changing the blend mode

• Random Rotation

Applies a random rotation in 90 degree increments

• Keep Direction

If on, Random Rotation will rotate in 180 degrees to avoid changes of directions when using a texture map that has a 'directionality' (e.g. woodgrain, brushes metal etc.)

The Pattern Crop options allow to 'cut' the edges of a patterns or input images, allowing even more variation

Example of using the Pattern Crop to generate a triangle from a square

• Top

Control the Crop from Top to Bottom per Shape

• Bottom

Control the Crop from Bottom to Top per Shape

• Left

Control the Crop from Left to Right per Shape

• Right

Control the Crop from Right to Left per Shape

• Rotate

Rotate the Crop 'Frame' around its center

• Scale

A uniform scale factor.

• Random Scale

Mix Factor for uniform scale randomization.

Positive Values (0 - 1) will reduce the size of the cells randomly.

Positive Values (0 - 1) will increase the size of the cells randomly.

• Size X

The horizontal size of each cell

• Size Y

The vertical size of each cell

• Random Size X

Mix Factor for size randomization in X for each cell.

Positive Values (0 - 1) will  squash the cells along X.

Negative Values (-1 - 0) will stretch the cells along X.

• Random Size Y

Mix Factor for size randomization in Y for each cell.

Positive Values (0 - 1) will squash the cells along Y.

Negative Values (-1 - 0) will stretch the cells along Y.

• Position Random X/Y

Randomly offset the Cell Positions along X and Y.

• Global Offset X/Y

Applies a global offset of the generated Pattern (all cells) along X or Y

• Rotation

Applies a rotation to each cell

• Global Rotation

Rotates the end result of the Pattern Generation. (globally, instead of per cell)

• Rotation Pivot Centered

Controls the Rotation Pivot for the Global Rotation Slider.

If ticked on, the Pivot sits at the center of each UDIM (0.5,0.5)

If ticked off, the Pivot sits at U/V 0.0 of UDIM 1001

• Rotation Random

Applies a random rotation to Cells

• Rotation Steps

Determines the freedom of the Rotation Random.

WIth a value of 360, Rotation Random will rotate cells freely from 0 to 360 degrees.

With a value of e.g. 90, Rotation Random will rotate cells in a range from 0 to 90 degrees.

• Mask Random

Randomly hides Cells

• Noise Type

Determines the Noise Type used for hiding cells when using Mask Random.

• Noise Seed

Randomizes the Noise Type used for hiding cells when using Mask Random

• Layer Cutoff

The Layer Cutoff determines the number of iterations and radius around each cell the node runs through before it stops calculating.

If you are experiencing Seams this might be the reason

To better understand this behavior and to anticipate consider this:

• By default each cell is generated in a grid pattern at a scale of 1.
• Each cell has an internal position of 0.0 for its own coordinate system

If you change the position of a cell from its original position of 0.0/0.0 the Layer Cutoff needs to be increased

for a wider sample radius. So for example 

• adding a Random Position Value of 1.0/1.0 means we need to sample up to 1 additional cell around the original cell.
• We need to increase the Layer Cutoff to at least 2

• adding a Random Position Value of 2.0/2.0 means we need to sample up to 2 additional cell around the original cell.
• We need to increase the Layer Cutoff to at least 3

If you change the scale of a cell from its original scale of 1.0  the Layer Cutoff needs to be increased

for a wider sample radius. So for example 

• Changing the Scale to 2 means we need to sample 1 additional cell around the original cell.
• We need to increase the Layer Cutoff to at least 2

• Changing the Scale to 4 means we need to sample 3 additional cell around the original cell.
• We need to increase the Layer Cutoff to at least 4

• Attenuation

Attenuation lowers the value of layers in the background successively for each Layer ID until it reaches a value of 0

• Fill Background

If ticked on, the Pattern will be generated over the Background defined in the Background Color or the background attached to the Background Node port

• Background Color

The Background Color for the Pattern if Fill Background is ticked on. The Background Color is ignores if something is attached to the Background Node port

• Tint

Tint the result of the Pattern Generation with the specified color. Mutliplies the specified color against the result of the computation.

• Value Offset

Adds or subtracts the specified value from each layer of the pattern computation, lightening or darkening the output.

• Opacity

Set the Opacity for each cell

• Random Hue Multiplier

Affects how much the Hue is randomized in between cells

• Random Hue Min/Max

Sets the Min and Max Range for Random Hue changes in between cells

• Random Saturation Multiplier

Affects how much the Saturation is randomized in between cells

• Random Saturation Min/Max

Sets the Min and Max Range for Random Saturation changes in between cells

• Random Luminance Multiplier

Affects how much the Luminance is randomized in between cells

• Random Luminance Min/Max

Sets the Min and Max Range for Random Luminance changes in between cells

• Random Opacity Multiplier

Affects how much the Opacity is randomized in between cells

• Random Opacity Min/Max

Sets the Min and Max Range for Random Opacity changes in between cells

The Settings found in the Output Alphas Group determine how transparency of cell content is treated in the additional Output Ports of the Node 

(Pattern UVs, Pattern Center, Pattern Index, Pattern Manifold and Pattern Scale)

• UVs premultiply

Premultiplies the transparency of cell content returned on the Pattern UVs output Port

• Center premultiply

Premultiplies the transparency of cell content returned on the Pattern Center output Port

• Index/Manifold premultiply

Premultiplies the transparency of cell content returned on the Pattern Index and Pattern Manifold output Ports

• Scale premultiply

Premultiplies the transparency of cell content returned on the Pattern Scale output Port

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TRANSFORM TAB

The Triplanar Settings control the projection of the texture in 3d space.

The settings are similar to a regular Triplanar Node found in Mari.

• Manifold World Scale

The Manifold World Scale controls the size of the Manifold Coordinates returned by the Pattern Manifold Output Port of the Node.

It only affects this Output Port.

An example of using the Manifold World Scale would be when the node is connected to e.g. an Axis Projection via the Pattern Manifold -> Manifold 3D

connected to drive the look of the Axis Projection by the Pattern Engine Node.

The size of the projection of the Axis Projection in this case would be controlled by the Manifold World Scale of the Pattern Engine Node.

Example of driving an Axis Projection Node via the Pattern Manifold of the Pattern Engine Node.

• Projection Rotate X/Y/Z

Will change the rotation of the Triplanar 'Projection Cube' in space.

This should not be confused with changing UV Rotation which will rotate the projected image on

each side of the projection.

Projection Rotate is useful if your asset is not perfectly aligned in the main world space axis X Y and Z

and you see projection stretching as a result of it.

Sample of rotating a projection in 3d space. While this example is using

 an Axis Projection Node the concept is the same for the Texture Scatter Triplanar Node

• Edge Falloff Start

The Edge Falloff Start determines the minimum angle where the projection

starts to be fully opaque

• Edge Falloff End

The Edge Falloff End determines the maximum angle where the projection

starts to be fully transparent

• Edge Falloff

The Edge Falloff Curve determines the general Falloff of each projection axis to its sides.

This is similar to adjusting the Edge Falloff Start and Edge Falloff End Sliders however

it allows you to create non-linear edge blending

• Jitter Intensity

Jitter will make the edges of projections less uniform/straight.

The Jitter Intensity determines the amplitude of the the Jitter.

You can overwrite the Noise used for jittering the edges by mapping the Jitter Noise Port in the Nodegraph

• Jitter Scale

Determines the Frequency of the internal Noise used for jittering.

• Scale Right

Changes the UV Scale of the Right Side Projection

• U Scale Right

Will scale the UVs for the Right Side Projection along U (Horizontally)

• V Scale Right

Will scale the UVs for the Right Side Projection along U (Vertically)

• Scale Top

Changes the UV Scale of the Top Side Projection

• U Scale Top

Will scale the UVs for the Top Side Projection along U (Horizontally)

• V Scale Top

Will scale the UVs for the Top Side Projection along U (Vertically)

• Scale Front

Changes the UV Scale of the Front Side Projection

• U Scale Front

Will scale the UVs for the Front Side Projection along U (Horizontally)

• V Scale Front

Will scale the UVs for the Front Side Projection along U (Vertically)

• UV Rotation

Will rotate the result for all axis of the Triplanar Projection

• UV Rotation Right

Will rotate the UVs just along the X-Axis of the Triplanar Projection.

• UV Rotation Top

Will rotate the UVs just along the Y-Axis of the Triplanar Projection.

• UV Rotation Front

Will rotate the UVs just along the Z-Axis of the Triplanar Projection.

• U Offset

Will offset the result along U.

• V Offset

Will offset the result along V.

If you are seeing seams in your pattern try raising the Layer Cutoff