Graph

• Opening the graph
• Document graph vs. layer graph, limitations
• Adding nodes
• Connecting nodes

Overlaid node graph editing

Opening the overlaid node graph shows the structure of nodes and layers that compose the document artwork. It's a more detailed view of what the Layers and Properties panels show.

Nodes are the entities with left-to-right input connectors.

Layers are the larger entities shown with thumbnails and a bottom-to-top direction of data stacking. Their purpose is to composite sources of graphical data on top of one another in a layer stack. Layers take input from other nodes or layers via a connector on their left side. When that connector is fed by another layer stack, the Layers panel considers it a group because it combines one stack into another parent stack.

Layers and nodes are wired together using links which send data between the outputs of nodes to the inputs of others. You can wire up a node by dragging from the output connector of one node to the input connector of its destination node. But note that forming cyclic graphs, where a loop can be traced along the links of a set of nodes, is not permitted. Graphical data flows into the Output node which then becomes rendered to the document viewport.

Node/layer controls

When a layer or node is selected, these buttons will show up on the left side of the control bar: