User Manual

Disconnecting and Reconnecting Nodes
Node trees are a continuous work in progress, requiring constant revision and rearrangement
as you discover new details that need to be finessed, or things that you can do better once the
overall composition has taken shape. To facilitate quick changes, each connection between two
nodes is divided into two halves: the output half (connected to the upstream node’s output) and
the input half (connected to the downstream node’s input). This can only be seen when you
hover the pointer over a connection. The half your pointer is over is highlighted in blue.
The two halves of a connection line that are
revealed when you hover your pointer over it.
By clicking and/or dragging these two halves, it’s possible to quickly disconnect, reconnect,
and overwrite node connections, which is essential to rearranging your node tree quickly and
efficiently.
To disconnect two nodes, do one of the following:
 Click once on the input half of the connection between two nodes.
 Click on the input arrow to which a connection is attached, then drag to pull the
connection away from the tool and drop it anywhere in an empty area of the
Node Editor.
To overwrite a current connection:
 Drag the output or input half of a connection, and drop it directly onto another node’s
input or output. This simultaneously disconnects the previous connection and connects
the one you’re dragging.
To reconnect a connection from one node to another:
 Drag the output or input half of a connection to disconnect it from one node, and drop
the connection directly on another node’s input or output.
Tracing Connections Through the Node Tree
Positioning the pointer over a node causes the connections attached to that node to become
highlighted, which makes it easier to see which nodes it’s attached to. Additionally, highlighted
connections display the color of the input they’re connected to, which makes it easy to see if
they’re connected to a foreground, a background, or a particular kind of mask.
Hovering the pointer over a node highlights the color of all
connections, telling you what kinds of inputs are connected.
Chapter – 56 Working in the Node Editor 1085