Introduction

Blender contains different node-based editors with different purposes, so this section only explains how to work with nodes in general. The list below shows the different types of nodes and where they’re documented.

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Example of a node editor.

Icon

Name

Documentation

../../../_images/interface_controls_nodes_introduction_icons-material.png

Shader Nodes

Documentation is in the Render section.

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Composite Nodes

Documentation can be found in the Compositing section.

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Texture Nodes

Texture Nodes are covered in the UV editor docs.

Editor Interface

Toolbar

The Toolbar contains a set of tools that can be used in the node editor.

Adding Nodes

Reference

Menu:

Add

Shortcut:

Shift-A

Nodes are added via the Add menu in the editor’s header or using a keyboard shortcut.

Nodes can also be added by dragging a connection from an existing node’s input or output socket and dropping the connection above an empty space instead of connecting to another socket. This action will open a search menu with a list of compatible nodes and their sockets that can be added and connected to the existing node. Confirming the menu selection will add the node which can then be moved and placed.