Getting Started with Nodes

Introduction

Nodes are an essential part of PixiEditor, while they might look scary, they follow very simple rules. The goal of this guide is not only to help you learn how to use nodes, but also to give you a deep understanding of how PixiEditor works.

What are Nodes?

Nodes are the individual elements that make up your scene in PixiEditor. They are blocks that you can connect together to create complex visuals and animations. Each node has its own inputs and outputs.

Here is what a node looks like:

In fact, this is a Vector Layer Node. Each Layer in PixiEditor is represented by a node.

Node Graph

The Node Graph is a combination of all nodes in your file/document. As the name suggests, it is a graph, where nodes are connected together.

Here’s an example of the simplest Node Graph:

This graph consists of two nodes: a Vector Layer Node and an Output Node. All it does is display the contents of the Vector Layer Node in the viewport.

Anything you connect to the Output Node will be displayed in the viewport. You can think of it as the “final output” of your scene.

Can I have more outputs than one?

Yes, PixiEditor allows you to have multiple Output Nodes in your Node Graph. This means you can display different parts of your scene in different viewports or even in the same viewport at the same time. For more information, check out Custom Workspaces.

How to access the Node Graph?

Each document in PixiEditor has its own Node Graph. You can access it by pressing  (open Node Graph) button, right next to the green play button in the top center of the window.

You can also use the View -> Open Tab -> Graph View menu to access the node graph.

Check your understanding

What are Nodes?

• Individual elements that make up your scene
• Tools to edit the properties of a single layer
• Components that export your scene to an image
• A group of cats

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What is a Node Graph?

• A single node that represents the whole scene
• It is a combination of all nodes in your file/document
• A graph that displays statistics of your image
• Pictures of a single cat

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What is the purpose of the Output Node?

• To confuse
• It is a tool that views the properties of a single node.
• It displays the result of the connected nodes in the viewport.

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