Node Wrangler

Introduction

This add-on gives you several tools that help you work with nodes quickly and efficiently. Many functions work for both the Compositor and shader nodes, and some functions bring features already in the Compositor to the shader nodes as well. Some tools are made for a specific function, however we have made it our goal to allow complete flexibility for you to use the tools in every situation, even where we did not intend.

Activation

  • Open Blender and go to Preferences then the Add-ons tab.
  • Click Node then Node Wrangler to enable the script.

Usage

Use panel in Sidebar of node editor or Ctrl-Spacebar keyboard shortcut or individual shortcuts for tools.

Description

Lazy Connect

Reference

Hotkey:Ctrl-RMB-drag, Shift-Ctrl-RMB

Make links between the nodes without having to precisely select the sockets. Just drag from one node to another while holding Ctrl-RMB. The nodes nearest the mouse are used, so you don’t even have to click on one precisely.

Also, use Shift-Ctrl-RMB to show a menu of inputs and outputs to make a more accurate connection. This is useful when working with a large node tree, since you can easily make connections without having to zoom in and out a lot.

Lazy Mix

Reference

Hotkey:Alt-RMB-drag

Merge outputs of two nodes using Mix Node or Mix Shader by dragging from one node to another while holding down Alt-RMB. Mix node or Mix Shader node will be added and outputs of the nodes will be connected to it.

Merge

Quickly add Mix, Math, Z-Combine, Alpha Over, Mix Shader or Add Shader nodes that will merge outputs of selected nodes.

Merge with Automatic Type Detection

Reference

Hotkey:Ctrl-0, Shift-Ctrl-=, Ctrl-Minus, Shift-Ctrl-8, Ctrl-Slash, Shift-Ctrl-Comma, Shift-Ctrl-Period

Selected nodes‘ outputs will be merged using Mix, Math, Mix Shader or Add Shader nodes, depending on types of selected nodes.

Add Shift-Ctrl-=
Sets blend type or math operation to Add. When shaders are selected an Add Shader will be used.
Multiply Shift-Ctrl-8
Multiply blend type or math operation.
Subtract Ctrl-Minus
Subtract blend type or math operation.
Divide Ctrl-Slash
Divide blend type or math operation.
Mix Ctrl-0
Mix blend type or when shaders are selected a Mix Shader node will be used.
Greater than Shift-Ctrl-Comma
Greater than math operation.
Less than Shift-Ctrl-Period
Less than math operation.

Merge Using Mix Node

Reference

Hotkey:Shift-Ctrl-Alt-=, Ctrl-Alt-Minus, Shift-Ctrl-Alt-8, Ctrl-Alt-Slash

Using Ctrl-Alt with proper keys will force to use Mix node for merging no matter what types of nodes are selected.

Merge Using Z-Combine Node

Reference

Hotkey:Ctrl-NumpadPeriod

Z-Combine nodes will be used for merging. If possible – image and Z-Depth outputs will be linked.

Merge Using Alpha Over Node

Reference

Hotkey:Ctrl-Alt-0

Alpha Over nodes will be used for merging.

Merge Using Math Node

Reference

Hotkey:Shift-Ctrl-=, Shift-Ctrl-Minus, Shift-Ctrl-8, Shift-Ctrl-Slash, Shift-Ctrl-Comma, Shift-Ctrl-Period

Using Shift-Ctrl with proper keys will force to use Math node for merging no matter what types of nodes are selected.

Batch Change Blend Type / Math Operation

Reference

Hotkey:Alt-Up, Alt-Down, Alt-0, Shift-Alt-=, Alt-Minus, Shift-Alt-8, Alt-Slash, Shift-Alt-Comma, Shift-Alt-Period

Select mix nodes or math nodes and change their blend type or math operation at the same time. Use keys specified above. They will change blend type or operation accordingly to: Mix, Add, Subtract, Divide, Less than, Greater than. Use Alt-Up or Alt-Down to go through all available blend types or math operations.

Change Mix Factor

Reference

Hotkey:Alt-Left, Shift-Alt-Left, Alt-Right, Shift-Alt-Right

Change Factor of selected Mix nodes or Mix Shader nodes.

  • Use Alt-Right to increase it by 0.1.
  • Use Alt-Left to decrease it by 0.1.
  • Use Shift-Alt-Right to increase it by 0.01.
  • Use Shift-Alt-Left to decrease it by 0.01.
  • Use Shift-Ctrl-Alt-Left to set factor to 0.0. Additional shortcut is Shift-Ctrl-Alt-0.
  • Use Shift-Ctrl-Alt-Right to set factor to 1.0. Additional shortcut is Shift-Ctrl-Alt-1.

Delete Unused Nodes

Reference

Hotkey:Alt-X

Clean your node tree. Delete all of the nodes that don’t contribute to the final result.

Reset Backdrop

Reference

Hotkey:Z

Reset position and scale of the backdrop.

Add UV Layout Attribute Node

Reference

Menu:Header ‣ Add menu

Add Attribute node with the attribute automatically set to UV Layout.

Add Vertex Color Attribute Node

Reference

Menu:Header ‣ Add menu

Add attribute node with the attribute automatically set to vertex color.

Shader Viewer

Reference

Hotkey:Shift-Ctrl-LMB

Viewer Node for shaders. Shift-Ctrl-LMB and the output of the node will be linked to newly created Emission Shader and Material Output. This is an easy way of previewing textures.

Frame Selected

Reference

Hotkey:Shift-P

Select nodes and „wrap“ them in Frame node by hitting Shift-P. Immediately after that hit F6 to set the color and label of the Frame.

Reload Images

Reference

Hotkey:Alt-R

All of the images used in the node tree (Image inputs, textures) can be reloaded by hitting Alt-R.

Switch Node Type

Reference

Hotkey:Shift-S

Change the type of selected node(s) to any other type. Hit Shift-S and you’ll get the menu ordered exactly the same as Add ‣ Node menu. Choose the new type.

Copy Settings

Reference

Hotkey:Shift-C

Copy settings of active node to all selected nodes of the same type.

Copy Label

Reference

Hotkey:Shift-C

Copy labels all selected nodes based on various criteria. Labels can be copied from labels (names) of active node Shift-V, or from names (labels) of nodes that are linked to selected ones or from the names of sockets that the selected nodes are linked to. All options will be revealed in sub-menu after hitting Shift-C.

Clear Label

Reference

Hotkey:Alt-L

Clear labels of selected nodes.

Modify Label

Reference

Hotkey:Shift-Alt-L

Batch change labels of selected nodes. Add text to beginning, to end, replace parts of text.

Add Texture Setup

Reference

Hotkey:Ctrl-T

Select any shader node, Ctrl-T and an image texture with nodes controlling coordinates will be added. If you select any texture node, only the coordinate and mapping nodes will be added. A background shader will get an Environment texture with generated mapping.

Add Reroutes to Outputs

Reference

Hotkey:Slash

Reroute nodes will be added and linked to each output of each selected node.

Align Nodes

Reference

Hotkey:Shift-=

Align nodes horizontally or vertically. Same as S X 0 or S Y 0, but with even spacing between the nodes.

Select within Frame (Parent/Children)

  • ] – Select all nodes wrapped in selected Frame node.
  • [ – Select frame node that selected nodes are wrapped in.

Detach Outputs

Reference

Hotkey:Shift-Alt-D

Detach output of selected node leaving linked inputs.

Add Image Sequence

Reference

Menu:Add ‣ Input menu for composite nodes, or Add ‣ Texture menu for shader nodes

Select just one image from a sequence in the File Browser and it will automatically detect the length of the sequence and set the node appropriately.

Add Multiple Images

Reference

Menu:Add ‣ Input menu for composite nodes, or Add ‣ Texture menu for shader nodes

Simply allows you to select more than one image and adds a node for each. (Useful for importing multiple render passes or renders for image stacking.)

Reference

Category:Node
Description:Various tools to enhance and speed up node-based workflow.
Location:node editor ‣ Sidebar or see the hotkeys of individual tools.
File:node_wrangler.py
Author:Bartek Skorupa, Greg Zaal, Sebastian Koenig, Christian Brinkmann, Florian Meyer
License:GPL
Note:This add-on is bundled with Blender.