Table of Contents
Introduction
“one node graph to rule them all”
nodeMeister allows you to create global node graphs in Layout that can be referenced in other node graphs using a node. Effectively this acts a lot like a native compound node, except that the contained graph is shared.
Often parts of a node graph need to be reused in another graph. This could be a set of procedurals driving a displacement as well as instances or a complex nodal motion applied to multiple items.
Without nodeMeister, those parts of the node graph need to be copied and pasted to the other graph manually. Any change to these parts will require a copy and paste again.
With nodeMeister, you can create a a single node graph that can be used multiple times, via a single node, in other node graphs. Changes to the nodeMeister graph will propagate via the node.
Since the nodeMeister graphs can also create a user interface on the nodeMeister node, you can create a library of node graphs to reuse across scenes or even projects.
Global vs. Local Node Graphs
nodeMeister allows you to use two different types of node graphs, global and local ones.
Global Node Graphs may be shared by different nodeMeister nodes and are saved in the scene file.
Local Node Graphs are only used by the nodeMeister node they belong to and are saved with the node only.
Caveats when using Global Node Graphs
Due to their shared nature, there are a few things to keep in mind when using Global Node Graphs in nodeMeister.
- If you load a nodeMeister Node using a Global Node Graph into a scene that contains that Global Node Graph already, only the node settings will be loaded. The existing, Global Node Graph will not change.
- If you load a nodeMeister Node using a Global Node Graph into a scene that does not contain that Global Node Graph already, the node will create the Global Node Graph from a backup stored in the node.
- If you wish to replace the Global Node Graph, you need to save/load it in the nodeMeister Master Plugin.
Glossary of terms
To make the documentation a bit easier to understand, the following terminology will be used:
- nodeMeister Graph
This is a node graph hosted by the nodeMeister plugin. It can be used via the nodeMeister node. - context
The context of where a node graph is run, determining which capabilities it has.