Coordinate Space Node

Coordinate Space performs a mathematical transformation: each pixel (x, y) of the source image is mapped into another space (polar or rectangular) and then read into the destination image.

Rectangular → polar: horizontal lines become concentric circles, vertical lines become rays. Polar → rectangular: the reverse operation. A specialized tool rarely used on its own, but fundamental in procedural generator pipelines or 360° projections.

• Effects Library: Tools > Warp > Coordinate Space
• Quick add: right-click in the Node Editor → Add Tool > Warp > Coordinate Space

Rectangular (Cartesian)

The standard system (X, Y). Each pixel has an independent horizontal and vertical position. It is the native space of any image.

Polar

Each pixel is defined by (radius, angle). The origin is in the center. A concentric circle = a horizontal line in the equivalent rectangular space.

Rectangular → Polar conversion: a horizontal gradient becomes a concentric colored circle, a checkerboard becomes a fan-shaped radial pattern.

• Input (orange) - the 2D image to reproject.
• Effect Mask (blue) - optional. Limits the transformation.

Radial pattern from a linear texture:
Fast Noise (linear pattern) → Coordinate Space (Rect → Polar)
                              → sRender or Merge → circular pattern

Kaleidoscope / mandala:
sNGon → Coordinate Space (Rect → Polar) → sRender
     = mandala-shaped geometric motif

Unwrap 360 VR → flat view:
360° image (equirectangular) → Coordinate Space (Polar → Rect)
                             → flat image for editing

Shape

Drop-down menu with two options:

• Rectangular to Polar: Cartesian → polar projection.
• Polar to Rectangular: polar → Cartesian projection (reverse).

The common controls shared with other warp nodes are in the Settings tab.

• Generating circular patterns - a linear texture (stripes, gradient, Fast Noise) → Rect → Polar = the equivalent radial pattern. A quick procedural motif.
• Geometric mandala / kaleidoscope - a polygon-based shape → Rect → Polar = a mathematically perfect kaleidoscope. An alternative to a radial sDuplicate.
• Unwrapping 360° / equirectangular VR - an equirectangular (360°) image → Polar → Rect to get various projections (fisheye, stereographic).
• Log-polar motion analysis - convert a shot to polar to analyze rotational movement more easily (scientific / specialized VFX applications).
• Visual "tunnel" effect - a horizontal landscape → Rect → Polar = a tunnel effect opening toward the viewer. Sci-fi / psychedelic use.
• Circular texture tiling - a tileable texture → Coordinate Space = a texture that wraps cleanly around a circle (e.g. clock, dial).

• A specialized node - rarely used in a classic compositing workflow. Very specific use cases.
• A well-chosen source - the source matters a lot. A random image often gives a chaotic result. Regular textures (gradients, geometric patterns, controlled Fast Noise) give predictable results.
• Combine with rotation - after Rect → Polar, add a Transform rotation to animate the circular pattern spinning.
• Natural symmetry - the polar result has an inherent circular symmetry. Great for logos, clocks, dials, rosettes.
• Polar → Rect to unroll - if you have a circular pattern (mandala), Polar → Rect "unrolls" it into a horizontal strip. Useful for analysis or linear animation afterward.
• For pro 360° VR, the dedicated nodes of the VR category (PanoMap, for example) are more precise. Coordinate Space is for simple geometric transformations.