Feature Selector in action.

Description

The Feature Selector node generates a grayscale mask from a selection of features in the input texture.

The node defines a feature as a region of pixels. The node identifies features in the input texture automatically. You cannot manually define a feature area, but you can use the node properties to influence how the node identifies features. For a list of available properties and what they do, see the Properties section below.

To create a selection from one or more features, you can bring the node into the 2D Viewport and use the node’s 2D Viewport Overlay.

When you execute the node, it creates and outputs a black and white mask texture. The white pixels in this texture represent the features you selected. The rest of the texture is black.

Selecting features in the 2D Viewport

From the features the node identifies, you can select the ones to include in the output mask. To create and adjust a feature selection:

1. Bring the Feature Selector node into the 2D Viewport.
2. The 2D Viewport displays an overlay that separates the input texture into regions surrounded by black borders. Each region represents a single selectable feature. 
3. To select a feature, click on its region in the viewport. The region fills with the Overlay Color (by default, this is teal), which indicates that it is currently selected. To change the color and opacity of the overlay, see Properties.

When using the 2D Viewport Overlay, you can further manipulate the selection in the following ways:

• To add more features to the selection, hold Shift and click on additional regions.
• To remove features from the selection, hold Ctrl and click on a region you want to de-select.
• To invert the selection, use the Invert button in the node properties.
• For a full list of shortcuts, see 2D Viewport controls.

Using Lasso Selection

An alternative way to select features is by using the Lasso Selection tool. This allows you to draw a polygonal lasso by placing multiple points in the 2D Viewport. When you close the lasso, the node creates a new selection from the features that are inside the lasso area.

Note: The Lasso Selection tool only selects features that are completely enclosed within the lasso area.

To use Lasso Selection:

1. With the Feature Selector node in the 2D Viewport, press the L key.
2. A lasso icon appears in place of your mouse cursor. This indicates that the Lasso Selection tool is active. You can press the L key again to deactivate the tool.
3. To start a lasso selection, click the point in the 2D Viewport where you want the lasso to begin.
4. To add more points to the lasso, click elsewhere in the viewport.
5. To close the lasso, click the first point you placed.
6. By default, the node creates a selection from features inside the lasso area. You can use the Shift and Ctrl keys to add and remove the lassoed area from an existing selection, respectively.

2D Viewport Controls

Below is a complete list of shortcuts for working with the 2D Viewport Overlay.

Generating a mask from a selection

To create a new mask, select the features you want to include and execute the node.

The Feature Selector node outputs the mask as a texture, which you can export or use elsewhere in the Node Graph of your project.

Category and execution

Ports

Properties