Undertanding function node as it relates to Teragen !

[pclavett]

Was wondering if there is a reference (book or article) that explains the use and utility of function as it relates to 3D. I read some of the references to these nodes but have to say that I do not have the basic knowledge to understand what it all means. I get to see some of the functions when I dissect shared items and have come to understand some things but wonder if there would be a general reference that would get me to understand what it is that these functions do in the #d sphere and start to know what I am doing. Maybe this is simply and may remain out of my reach..... but I am retired, have plenty of time now and would like to explore this further ! Thanks for your help and take care ! Paul

[WAS]

Maybe this will help ya out: https://www.haroldserrano.com/blog/2014/12/27/introduction-to-3d-mathematics

[KlausK]

Hi,

I liked these (among others...):

Relatively easy read and lots of helpful illustrations.

- 3D Math Primer for Graphics and Game Development / Fletcher Dunn & Ian Perry / 2011 / CRC Press
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-4398-6981-9 (eBook - PDF) / www.taylorandfrancis.com / https://www.routledge.com/

https://www.routledge.com/search?kw=3D+Math+Primer+for+Graphics+and+Game+Development

Terathon Software is actively involved in many areas of game development and computer graphics.

http://terathon.com/index.html

Books by Eric Lengyel, Founder of Terathon:

http://mathfor3dgameprogramming.com/

http://foundationsofgameenginedev.com/


My favourite and goto help about Vectors. This was once an introductory student course back in 199x / 2000 or so.

https://chortle.ccsu.edu/VectorLessons/vectorIndex.html

And a corresponding site:

http://programmedlessons.org/


Hope that helps you (and perhaps others who want to know more aboout vectors).
CHeers, Klaus

[pclavett]

Thanks very much for the help !
Now the fun part...... trying to understand these !
Appreciated !
Paul

[Hetzen]

Something that might help you, is that blue nodes don't manipulate displacement directly, they tend to use colour information, be that a vector, colour or scalar, which you can then either use as masks or further displace/colour surfaces.

It helps to keep things in the black to white realms, so you can see what's happening at that point in the chain in the nodes preview window. Then multiply up to what ever you need towards the end.

One last quick point, is that the red nodes do a lot and often more than what you can do with blues. It tends to get useful when you have specific requirements for your network.