Surface Unpack

Overview

Extracts every map inside a Surface as an ordinary image. Use it to inspect Surface contents or process individual maps with existing image filters.

Unset maps are returned as convenient default images: height and curvature are middle gray (0.5), depth is black (0.0), normals are flat, AO is white, and emission is transparent.

Usage tips

• Its counterpart is surface_set_map. The go-to loop for processing Surface contents with image nodes is: extract with Unpack → process with regular image filters → write back with Set Map.
• It is also valuable for debugging. When lighting looks wrong, visually inspect height, normal, and material_mask to quickly find the cause.
• It also serves as the conversion point when you need only albedo—the final appearance as a regular image.

Related nodes

• surface_set_map — writes processed maps back
• solid_render — a primary Surface source
• channel_split — similar operation for an image
• surface_light_preview — combines map inspection with lighting review

Examples

• Extract only emission, adjust its brightness with Levels, then write it back with Surface Set Map.
• Extract height and reuse it as a map for Blur or Displace.
• Inspect material_mask to see which material ID is assigned at each location.
• Inspect face_mask to verify face IDs for floors, walls, and roofs.