Fast Noise Texture Node

Fast Noise Texture creates procedural noise - no source image needed. Two key modes:

• 2D mode - uses the object's UVs, animatable with Seethe.
• 3D mode - uses UVW coordinates (including Z), a seamless volumetric texture on complex geometry.

Advantage: no visible tiling, no UV artifacts at the poles (spheres), infinite resolution.

• Effects Library: Tools > 3D > Texture > Fast Noise Texture
• Quick add: right-click in the Node Editor → Add Tool > 3D > Texture > Fast Noise Texture

• SourceMaterial - optional. Accepts a 2D image or a 3D material. If connected, the noise modulates that source. Otherwise, the noise is the direct output.

For a procedural bump map:

Fast Noise Texture → Bump Map → Blinn (Bump input) → Shape 3D

For displacement:

Fast Noise Texture → Displace 3D (Blur Image) → subdivided Shape 3D plane → Merge 3D

2D

Uses the object's UVs. Supports animation (Seethe). Limitation: the texture "tears" at UV seams (sphere poles, edges of a badly unwrapped cube).

3D

Uses 3D UVW coordinates. A seamless volumetric texture - works on any geometry without seams. But no Seethe animation (no time parameter).

Rule: 2D to animate (moving clouds, rippling water), 3D for static seamless textures (rock, marble).

Detail

Level of detail of the noise. Higher = more fine frequencies added (multi-octave fractal noise). Also increases render time.

Brightness

Overall brightness of the noise.

Contrast

Contrast. Boosts the extremes of the noise. Useful to separate bright areas from dark ones.

Scale

Scale of the noise along the UV axis. Low = large pattern, high = fine pattern.

Scale Z (3D only)

Scale along the W axis (perpendicular to UV). Lets you stretch the noise in depth.

Discontinuous

Creates hard edges in the noise instead of a smooth transition. Gives a "topographic map", granite or stylized look.

Invert

Inverts the pattern (positive → negative).

Material ID

Identifier for AOVs.

In 2D mode, the noise can evolve over time - this is not possible in 3D mode.

Seethe

Gently varies the pattern. Animatable to create smooth motion (like rippling clouds).

Seethe Rate

Speed of the automatic frame-by-frame drift of the pattern. Higher = faster motion. Automates the animation without keyframes.

Animated Seethe + a high Seethe Rate = a texture that "lives", ideal for fire, water, clouds.

• Procedural bump map - 3D Fast Noise Texture → Bump Map → Blinn = an instant rough surface with no texture file.
• Terrain displacement - 2D Fast Noise Texture with high Detail → Displace 3D on a highly subdivided plane = rocky terrain.
• Animated clouds - 2D mode + moderate Seethe Rate + high Contrast → a cloud texture scrolling on a sky plane.
• Marble / rock - 3D mode with Discontinuous + high Contrast → a veined marble pattern, seamless even on complex geometry.
• Variation mask on a color map - connect a Fast Noise Texture to the SourceMaterial to modulate an existing texture (clean / dirty surface based on the noise).
• Magic distortion effect - fast animated Seethe + Displace = visual hallucination / heat haze effect.
• Wood grain - 3D mode with very different Scale in X/Y vs Z (e.g. Scale X=1, Scale Z=0.05) = convincing wood rings.

• 3D mode by default to avoid problematic UV seams. Switch to 2D only if you need animation.
• Detail 3+ is expensive - each level adds an octave of noise. Keep it low for previews, raise it for the final render only.
• Discontinuous for style - breaks the standard smooth "cloud" look. Interesting for rocky textures, magnetic compass needles, glitch effects.
• Seethe Rate > 0 = automatic animation with no keyframes. For more controlled animation, animate Seethe itself.
• Combine with Falloff - a Falloff whose 2 materials use different noises gives complex effects very quickly.
• 3D noise on a deformed object - unlike 2D textures that slide with the deformation, 3D noise stays "locked" in the volume. Perfect for morphing without texture sliding.