User Guide Cancel

Cross Section | Substance 3D Designer

'Cross section' node icon

In: Filters > Effects

Description

Draws a cross-sectional profile of an input. Can be adjusted to slice vertical or horizontal, and has controls for drawing style and graph offset and scaling.

This node is especially useful for debugging and analyzing heightmaps. giving you a pixel-perfect profile view, without needing complex nodes or a lengthy, less precise setup in the 3D View.

Alternatively it can be used to create 2D shapes and silhouettes that are hard to achieve otherwise. Combined with a Curve node it can directly visualize the curve profile applied to a linear gradient.


Parameters

Cross section coordinate Float
Set at what coordinate to sample the slice. Can be X or Y coordinate depending on Section Axis.

Section axis Integer
Set if the slice is vertical or horizontal.

Show helper Boolean
Enables an overlay displaying the position of the section over the input image.

Helper Settings

    Helper scale Float
    The size of the overlay expressed as a multiple, where 1.0 is the entire image.

    Helper position Float2
    The (X, Y) position of the overlay in the output image, where (0.0, 0.0) is top left and (1.0, 1.0) is bottom right.

Height scale Float

Scales entire graph down. Useful for HDR viewing.

Height offset Float
Shifts entire graph up or down. Useful for HDR viewing.

Drawing style Integer
Switch between solid fill and line drawing.

Invert Gradient Boolean
If Drawing Style is set to Gradient or Gradient mirrored, lets you invert that gradient without affecting the background.
Note: Only available when 'Drawing style' is set to 'Gradient' or 'Gradient mirrored'.

Smooth / Polygonal Boolean
Switches shape between perfect smooth profile, or jagged, polygonal.
Note: Only available when 'Drawing style' is set to 'Solid', 'Gradient' or 'Gradient mirrored'.

Segment amount: Integer
Sets the amount of segments used to draw when in Polygonal Style, or in Line Style.
Note: Only available when 'Smooth / Polygonal' is set to 'Polygonal', or when 'Drawing style' is set to 'Line'.

Line thickness Float
Sets the thickness of the line.
Note: Only available when 'Drawing style' is set to 'Line.

Line style Integer
Lets you choose coloring and falloff of the line.
Note: Only available when 'Drawing style' is set to 'Line.

Line smoothness Float
Sets gradient falloff of the line.
Note: Only available when 'Drawing style' is set to 'Line.

Color Float
Grayscale color of the line or shape.
Note: Only available when 'Drawing style' is set to 'Solid', or 'Line' and 'Line style' is set to 'Smooth' or 'Solid'.

Background color Float
Grayscale color of the background.
Note: Not available when 'Drawing style' is set to 'Line' and 'Line style' is set to 'Segment ID' or 'Gradient along line'.


Examples

Cross section: example 1

Cross section: example 2

Cross section: example 3

Cross section: example 4

Get help faster and easier

New user?