Surface Outline

Overview

Draws a pixel-art outline on a Surface. Unlike ordinary outline, which uses only the silhouette, this node uses depth and face IDs to draw internal 3D edges such as box corners and roof/wall boundaries. It is a go-to downstream step after solid rendering.

Usage tips

• It belongs in the standard chain: solid_render → surface_edge_highlight → surface_outline → surface_light_preview. It quickly makes a 3D-derived image feel hand-pixeled.
• Outer and internal lines (depth lines and face boundaries) can be adjusted independently. Start with the silhouette, then add internal lines only if the form still lacks depth.
• Use ordinary outline for an asset that is only an image. This node is specifically for a Surface carrying depth and face IDs.

Related nodes

• outline — image-based outline

• surface_edge_highlight — upstream bevel counterpart

• solid_render — supplies the Surface

• surface_light_preview — reviews the finished result

• Processes only albedo and passes every other map through, preserving the accuracy of the G-buffer.

Technical details

• Silhouette: four-neighbor boundary between opaque and transparent pixels. Inside replaces the edge on the opaque side; Outside adds pixels on the transparent side.
• Depth line: drawn on the nearer side when neighboring depth-map values (white = near) differ by at least the threshold.
• Face boundary: drawn along right/down boundaries where face_ids change, avoiding double lines.
• Pixels added by Outside receive flat normals and neighboring height/depth values to prevent artifacts in downstream lighting.

Examples

Solid Render → Surface Outline → Surface Light Preview creates an outlined isometric block.