sMerge Node

sMerge is the vector equivalent of a Merge 2D, with two major differences:

• More than 2 inputs are possible (dynamic inputs that appear automatically).
• Each shape keeps its properties (color, style, border) - no visual fusion. Each shape stays distinct in the final render.

The stacking order follows the connection order: the first connected input = the bottom layer, the following ones stack on top.

• Effects Library: Tools > Shape > sMerge
• Quick add: right-click in the Node Editor → Add Tool > Shape > sMerge

sBoolean

Fuses two shapes into a single new vector form (Union, Intersection, Subtract, XOR). The shapes lose their identity, the result is one single shape. 2 fixed inputs.

sMerge

Stacks the shapes as layers that stay separate. Each shape keeps its own color / style. N dynamic inputs.

Rule: a new compound form → sBoolean. Several distinct shapes in the same chain (a composite logo, 5-star ratings, multi-element UI) → sMerge.

sMerge has a particular behavior:

• At first, 1 free input (orange or multicolored).
• As soon as you connect a shape, a new free input appears.
• No limit on the total number of inputs.
• Connection order = stacking order (from bottom to top).

To reorder the stack, you need to disconnect / reconnect in the order you want.

Composite logo (3 stacked shapes):
sRectangle (blue)   → sMerge input 1 (background)
sEllipse (red)      → sMerge input 2 (centered circle)
sStar (yellow)      → sMerge input 3 (star on top)
                          ↓
                       sRender → Merge 2D

Ratings ★★★★★:
sStar_1 (offset X=-0.2) →
sStar_2 (offset X=-0.1) →
sStar_3 (offset X= 0.0) →   sMerge → sRender
sStar_4 (offset X= 0.1) →
sStar_5 (offset X= 0.2) →

Composite UI:
sRectangle (card) →
sRectangle (header strip) →     sMerge → sRender
sEllipse (icon) →

Override Axis

A checkbox. Turns on an option to override the axis (reference point) of the child shapes. Useful to apply a consistent grouped transformation with an sTransform downstream.

sMerge has very few controls - it is a routing / assembly node, not a modifier.

• Multi-shape composite logo - combine a rectangle + circle + star into a single logo, each part with its own color. sMerge keeps everything visible.
• Ratings (★★★★★) - 5 identical sStar nodes with different X offsets → sMerge → sRender = a row of 5 stars.
• UI components - a card with a header + body + icon + badge, all shapes, combined in an sMerge for a complete UI element.
• Groups for hierarchical animation - several shapes → sMerge → sTransform = transform the whole composition in a single animation (an alternative to null objects).
• Multi-shape geometric pattern - rectangles + circles + triangles in a motif with sMerge to keep the different colors / styles.
• Two-color text-like shapes - several simple shapes that visually form a pictogram or letter mark, each part of the letter with its own color.
• Manually duplicated shapes - instead of an sDuplicate (identical clones), several slightly different shapes merged together for a more organic and varied pattern.

• Connection order = Z-order - the first input = background, the last one = on top. To change the order, reconnect in the order you want.
• Keep individual colors - with sMerge, each shape keeps its color. No need for Style Mode (which would force a uniform color).
• sMerge + sTransform for grouped animation - combine all the shapes of a logo in an sMerge, then an sTransform downstream animates the whole thing as a unit.
• No real mathematical merge - the overlapping areas of the shapes show the one on top, not a blend. For color blending effects, rasterize with sRender, then use a classic Merge 2D with blend modes.
• Practical limit of N shapes - there is no technical limit, but beyond 20-30 shapes, consider sDuplicate (if the shapes repeat) to keep the graph light.
• Rename explicitly - in an sMerge with 5+ inputs, naming the source shapes "Background", "Icon", "Badge" keeps the composition readable.
• For shapes that must interact (Boolean), use an sBoolean upstream, then feed the result into an sMerge with other independent shapes.