Texture Transform Node

Texture Transform sits between a 3D material (or a 3D texture) and its destination to adjust the UVs in 3 dimensions. Unlike Texture 2D, which only handles U and V, Texture Transform also handles W (depth) - essential for volumetric 3D textures (Fast Noise 3D, Gradient 3D).

Output = always a material. Works with any procedural texture or image that goes through it.

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

• Material Input (orange) - required. Accepts a 2D image or a 3D material (Gradient 3D, Fast Noise Texture, Blinn, etc.).

Typical workflow to position a Gradient 3D:

Gradient 3D ──→ Texture Transform (Rotate 45°) ──→ Shape 3D (MaterialInput)

Animating a scrolling texture:

Fast Noise Texture ──→ Texture Transform (animated U Translate) ──→ Blinn Diffuse → Shape 3D

Translation

U / V / W Translate

Moves the texture along the UVW axes. Animatable to create scrolling effects.

Rotation

Rotation Order

Order in which the rotations are applied (UVW, VUW, etc.). Changes the result of combined rotations.

UVW Rotation (dials)

Rotation around each UVW axis. The equivalent of turning the texture on the object.

Scale

U / V / W Scale

Adjusts the texture size on each axis. > 1 = larger texture (less repetition), < 1 = smaller texture (more tiling).

Pivot

U / V / W Pivot

Reference point for rotations and scales. Centered by default. Move it to rotate/scale around another point.

Material ID

Identifier for AOVs.

Texture Transform (this node)

Handles U, V and W. Supports volumetric 3D materials (Fast Noise 3D, Gradient 3D). More controls (Pivot, Rotation Order).

Texture 2D

Handles U and V only. Enough for 2D images mapped on an object. No Pivot, no W.

Rule: Texture Transform for anything that is a 3D material or needs Pivot/W. Texture 2D for simple U/V adjustments on images.

• Positioning a Gradient 3D - Gradient 3D → Texture Transform (Rotation V 90°) → the gradient goes from horizontal to vertical. This is the recommended way to orient a Gradient 3D.
• Animating a scrolling texture - Fast Noise Texture → Texture Transform with an animated U Translate → a "flowing river" or "drifting clouds" effect.
• Texture rotation with a pivot - move the UV Pivot to rotate a texture around a specific point (a corner rather than the center).
• Stretching a texture in one direction - U Scale = 2, V Scale = 0.5 = a texture stretched horizontally and squeezed vertically. Useful to simulate motion or stretch.
• Seamless texture with an offset - a texture that looks identical but shifted between two objects (to avoid visible tiling repetition).
• Animating a 3D Fast Noise along the W axis - in 3D mode, Fast Noise Texture cannot be animated with Seethe. Use Texture Transform and animate W Translate = the pattern evolves over time as it travels through the volume.
• Wobble effect - slightly animate rotation + translate → a texture that wobbles, simulating energy.

• Essential for Gradient 3D - without Texture Transform, you cannot precisely position a Gradient 3D in 3D (see the Gradient 3D page).
• W Translate to animate 3D noise - a powerful trick. The 3D mode of Fast Noise Texture does not support Seethe, but animating W Translate in Texture Transform has the same effect: the pattern "travels" through the volume.
• Offset Pivot for local rotation - if you want to rotate a texture around a specific point rather than its center, move the UV Pivot.
• Non-uniform Scale to stretch a texture in one direction (U different from V). Perfect for motion streak effects.
• Rotation Order matters for combined rotations on several axes. If the behavior looks odd, try another Order.
• Animate Translate + Rotation together for "swirl" or "vortex" effects applied to a texture.