Pattern Array

The Pattern Array node generates complex procedural patterns from a set of up to ten Bitmap inputs. It is useful when you want to generate textures that require some type of repetition - for example, wall tiles or brick surfaces. You can also use it to add a pattern over an existing texture or material, such as a wallpaper.

Description

To generate the output pattern, the node arranges the inputs on a rectangular grid. You can set the grid canvas size (the resolution of the produced output texture) and the size of each cell in the grid. The node populates each cell in the grid with one of the Bitmap inputs, then resizes the input to fit the cell dimensions.

The row/column tiling and offset properties control the arrangement of inputs in the pattern. The Distribution Seed property adds randomness to the input arrangement.

The node outputs a new Bitmap texture with the procedurally generated pattern. You can view the output texture the node produces in the 2D or 3D Viewport.

Usage

To get started using the Pattern Array node, follow these steps:

Create a new Pattern Array node on the Node Graph. To do so, move the mouse into the Node Graph, press Space, and choose Pattern Array. Alternatively, in the Node Library window, navigate to the Procedural category and drag the Pattern Array node onto the graph.
Select the node by left-clicking it in the Node Graph. The node’s properties display in the Properties window. Change the Bitmap Count property to the number of inputs you wish to use to generate the pattern.
Set the Canvas Width and Canvas Height properties to the resolution you wish the output texture to have.
Create Bitmap inputs to use with the node. Either use an existing Bitmap from the graph, import a new Bitmap into the Asset Library, or create a Basic Shape node to use instead.
Connect the desired inputs to the Pattern Array node.
View the output texture that the node produces in the 2D and/or 3D Viewport.
Use the Properties window to modify the pattern generation behavior and see how the changes are reflected in the output. For more information on what each property does, see the Node Reference section below.

Node Reference

Node category	Procedural
Node execution style	Automatic

Ports

Input Name	Input Type	Description
Map 1-10	Bitmap	The Pattern Array node takes up to 10 Bitmap inputs, determined by the Bitmap Count property. The Pattern Array node uses these inputs to generate the pattern texture.

Output Type	Description
Bitmap	The pattern texture the node generates from its Bitmap inputs.

Properties

Property/Setting	Description
Grid Parameters
Canvas Width	The width of the Pattern Array texture canvas, in pixels (min: 1, max: 8192). Enable the Link button on the left to update uniformly with Canvas Height. Disable the Link button to control these values separately.
Canvas Height	The height of the Pattern Array texture canvas, in pixels (min: 1, max: 8192). Enable the Link button on the left to update uniformly with Canvas Width. Disable the Link button to control these values separately.
Cell Width	The width of each cell in the pattern, in pixels (min: 1, max: Canvas Width). The pattern Array node resizes all Bitmap inputs to this width. Changing this value also affects the Rows value accordingly. Enable the Link button on the left to update uniformly with Cell Height. Disable the Link button to control these values separately.
Cell Height	The height of each cell in the pattern, in pixels (min: 1, max: Canvas Height). The pattern Array node resizes all Bitmap inputs to this height. Changing this value also affects the Columns value accordingly. Enable the Link button on the left to update uniformly with Cell Width. Disable the Link button to control these values separately.
Distribution Parameters
Tiling Type	Specifies the direction in which to tile the Bitmap inputs in the pattern. The options are: Horizontal: Arrange Bitmap inputs in rows. Vertical: Arrange Bitmap inputs in columns.
Distribution Seed	The seed that the Pattern Array node uses to randomize distribution of the Bitmap inputs in the pattern, as a value between 1 and 50. A value of 0 disables random distribution.
Rows	The total number of rows in the pattern. Changing this value also affects the Cell Width value accordingly, as a proportion of Canvas Width.
Columns	The total number of columns in the pattern. Changing this value also affects the Cell Height value accordingly, as a proportion of Canvas Height.
Offset Parameters
Offset Type	Specifies the direction in which to apply an offset. The options are: Horizontal: Apply the offset to rows. Vertical: Apply the offset to columns.
Row/Column Offset	The value, in pixels, which determines how far each row or column is offset. It is possible to set a negative value. There must be at least two Offset Rows/Columns for the offset value to take effect.
Offset Rows/Columns	The value which determines the number of rows or columns that apply the selected offset. After reaching this many rows/columns, the offset resets to zero, and the operation repeats. When this value is set to 1, offset is disabled.
Show Grid	Enable this checkbox to display a white-colored grid over the pattern texture. The grid indicates how cells in the pattern are arranged. Disabling the box turns off the grid. The grid applies to the pattern texture itself, and is baked into the output.
Bitmap Count	The number of Bitmap inputs that the Pattern Array node will accept (min: 1, max: 10).
Input Parameters
Bitmap Order	The order in which the Pattern Array node uses Bitmap inputs in the pattern generation process. To change it, left-click the Order button to the right of an item and select another item from the list to switch places with.

ArtEngine