Scatter

Filter

Scatters many transformed copies of one or more stamp images across a canvas, in an area field or circular rings and spirals, with per-instance random scale, rotation, opacity, and flip.

Scatter stamps many copies of an image across a canvas at once. Two placement modes cover the common needs. Area lays the instances out across a rectangular region as a jittered grid (even coverage with an organic wobble) or a fully random field, while Circular arranges them in concentric rings or a spiral around a center point. Every result is deterministic for a given Seed, so a look you like is reproducible.

Connect one or more images to the Stamp inputs (the pin array grows as you wire it) and Scatter cycles through them, Sequential in connection order or Random per instance. A whole batch wired into a stamp slot cycles its frames as stamps, so a folder of leaves or sprites becomes the source set. The Background input is optional: with one connected, instances scatter onto it at its size; without one, Scatter renders onto a transparent canvas you size with Canvas Width and Height. An optional Density Mask varies how many instances land where, keeping brighter mask areas dense while darker areas thin out.

Each instance gets its own random scale, rotation, opacity, and flip within the ranges you set, then composites with any of the 18 blend modes. Z-Order controls paint order (By Scale paints large instances behind small ones for depth), Anchor sets the rotation and scale pivot, and Edge Mode can wrap instances across the border so the output tiles seamlessly. In the preview, drag the on-canvas manipulator to set the region (Area) or the center and radius (Circular).

Parameters

Pins

↳BackgroundImage

InputOptional

↳Stamp 1, Stamp 2, ...Batch

InputOptionalVariable count

↳Density MaskMask

InputOptional

↦ImageImage

Output

Placement

ModeChoice

Default: Area (Cartesian)

Area: random area scatter. Circular

• Area (Cartesian)Scatter instances across a rectangular region as a jittered grid or a random field.
• CircularArrange instances in concentric rings or a spiral around a center point.

CountInteger

Default: 50 Range: 1–5000

Mode = Circular

Total instances (Circular)

ColumnsInteger

Default: 8 Range: 1–70

Mode = Area (Cartesian)

Grid columns (Area). Columns*Rows is capped at 5000

RowsInteger

Default: 6 Range: 1–70

Mode = Area (Cartesian)

Grid rows (Area)

Position RandomNumber

Default: 0.60 Range: 0.00–1.00

Area: 0=perfect grid, 1=random. Circular: polar jitter amount

RingsInteger

Default: 3 Range: 1–32

Mode = Circular

Concentric rings (Circular)

RadiusNumber

Default: 0.85 Range: 0.00–1.00

Mode = Circular

Outer radius as a fraction of half the smaller canvas dimension

SpiralNumber

Default: 0.00 Range: 0.00–1.00

Mode = Circular

0=concentric rings, 1=spiral; morphs between

Face OutwardNumber

Default: 0.00 Range: 0.00–1.00

Mode = Circular

Orient each stamp toward the circle

Ring ShrinkNumber

Default: 0.00 Range: 0.00–1.00

Mode = Circular

Progressively shrink toward outer rings

DistributionChoice

Default: Jittered Grid

Mode = Area (Cartesian)

Jittered grid (default) or pure random

• Jittered GridStart from an even grid and offset each instance by Position Random, giving even coverage with an organic feel.
• RandomPlace every instance at a fully random position, clumpier and less even than a jittered grid.

Edge ModeChoice

Default: Clamp

Mode = Area (Cartesian)

Clamp inside, Wrap (tileable), or Overflow off-canvas

• ClampKeep every instance fully inside the canvas.
• WrapLet instances cross an edge and reappear on the opposite side, so the result tiles seamlessly.
• OverflowAllow instances to spill off the canvas edges, clipped at the border.

Randomization

ScaleNumber

Default: 1.00 Range: 0.05–8.00

Base scale multiplier

Scale MinNumber

Default: 0.85 Range: 0.05–8.00

Min per-instance scale multiplier (x base)

Scale MaxNumber

Default: 1.15 Range: 0.05–8.00

Max per-instance scale multiplier (x base)

Aspect XNumber

Default: 1.00 Range: 0.05–4.00

Horizontal stretch (advanced)

Aspect YNumber

Default: 1.00 Range: 0.05–4.00

Vertical stretch (advanced)

Rotation MinNumber

Default: 0 Range: -360–360

Min per-instance rotation (degrees)

Rotation MaxNumber

Default: 360 Range: -360–360

Max per-instance rotation (degrees)

Opacity MinNumber

Default: 1.00 Range: 0.00–1.00

Min per-instance opacity (advanced)

Opacity MaxNumber

Default: 1.00 Range: 0.00–1.00

Max per-instance opacity (advanced)

Random FlipChoice

Default: None

Random per-instance mirror

• NoneNever mirror instances.
• HorizontalRandomly mirror some instances left to right.
• VerticalRandomly mirror some instances top to bottom.
• BothRandomly mirror some instances on either axis.

SeedInteger

Default: -1 Range: -1–2147483647

Placement seed. -1 = randomize once (then persisted)

Stamping

Stamp CyclingChoice

Default: Sequential

Sequential cycles stamps in connection order; Random picks per instance. A batch wired into a stamp slot cycles its frames as stamps

• SequentialCycle through the connected stamps in connection order.
• RandomPick a stamp at random for each instance.

Use Density MaskToggle

Default: false

Use the density mask's grayscale value as per-instance keep probability — brighter = denser. White mask: all kept; black: none; mid-gray: ~50%

Compositing

Blend ModeChoice

Default: Normal Range: Normal / Multiply / Screen / Overlay / Linear Dodge (Add) / Subtract / Difference / Hard Light / Soft Light / Darken / Lighten / Color Dodge / Color Burn / Exclusion / Hue / Saturation / Color / Luminosity

Per-stamp blend mode

OpacityNumber

Default: 1.00 Range: 0.00–1.00

Global opacity applied to every stamp

Z-OrderChoice

Default: By Scale

Paint order. By Scale = large behind small

• SequentialPaint instances in placement order so later instances sit on top.
• RandomShuffle the paint order so overlaps look unbiased.
• By ScalePaint large instances first so smaller ones sit on top, adding a sense of depth.

AnchorChoice

Default: Center

Rotation/scale pivot

• CenterRotate and scale each stamp around its center.
• BottomRotate and scale each stamp around its bottom edge, good for grass, trees, and other ground-planted stamps.

Canvas WidthInteger

Default: 1024 Range: 1–16384

Output width when no background is connected

Canvas HeightInteger

Default: 1024 Range: 1–16384

Output height when no background is connected

Notes

• Stamp inputs use a variable-count pin array: connect the trailing empty Stamp pin and another appears, so you can feed any number of stamp images. Each stamp slot accepts a single image or a whole batch, and a batch cycles its frames as stamps. Stamp Cycling decides how stamps are picked per instance (Sequential walks them in connection order, Random picks one each time).
• The Background input is optional. With one connected, instances are scattered onto it and the output matches its size; with none, Scatter renders onto a transparent canvas at Canvas Width x Canvas Height. A batch on the Background pin produces one scatter per variant.
• Connect a mask to the Density Mask input and enable Use Density Mask to vary instance density across the canvas: brighter mask areas keep more instances, darker areas thin out.
• Region (Area mode) and Center / Radius (Circular mode) are set by dragging the on-canvas manipulator in the preview rather than by sliders.

Usage Tips

• Wire a batch (from Image Folder or Collect) into a single Stamp pin to scatter a whole set of sprites, leaves, or particles with one connection.
• Set Edge Mode to Wrap in Area mode to scatter a seamless, tileable texture.
• Connect a Density Mask and enable Use Density Mask to concentrate instances where you want them; paint a gradient or shape to steer the spread.
• Use Circular mode with Face Outward and a touch of Spiral for radial bursts, petal rings, or clock-face layouts.
• Leave Seed at -1 to roll a fresh arrangement once, then read back the locked value; set a fixed Seed to keep the layout stable while you tune other parameters.

Related Nodes

• Pattern
• Tile
• Composite
• Collect