Overview
An advanced version of Threshold. Threshold produces only black or white, while Histogram Scan can create a gradient around the boundary. It is the go-to node for extracting masks from noise.
Usage tips
- The golden pattern for turning noise into a mask is
noise_generate → histogram_scan. It extracts high areas as masks for islands, clouds, or grime.positioncontrols the covered area, whilesoftnesscontrols edge softness. - Promote
positionto an input pin 📌 and drive it over time to create a spreading reveal. This resemblesreveal, but performs the effect while generating the mask. - In pixel art, soft edges are often passed through downstream
ditheror threshold-like quantization instead of being used as-is.
Related nodes
threshold— when a binary result is enoughnoise_generate— the go-to upstream sourcemask/blend— common mask consumersremap— adjusts values before extraction
Technical details
- Values across
position ± softness/2are interpolated with smoothstep. - With
softness = 0, the result is the same hard binary output as Threshold. - Promote
positionto an input pin and connect Time Source to animate a mask spreading outward.
Examples
- Terrain mask from noise:
Noise(Perlin)→ Histogram Scan extracts only the high areas as an island mask. - Soft grime mask: use a mask extracted with
softness: 0.5as the opacity ofBlend(Multiply). - Wipe effect: animate
positionin Gradient → Histogram Scan to wipe the screen.