Remove `Strength` from the Bump node
The
strength
parameter on the bump node interpolates between the original normals and normals generated by the bump node.
However most beginners and even many advanced users use it to weaken/smoothen the bump (as in flatten it), where they would actually instead want to use the
distance
parameter. Often even assuming it's a multiplier for it.
Look up some material/procedural texturing tutorials and see how many of them adjust Strength while leaving Distance at 1.0.
I think the best course of action for it would be either:
- Just remove the parameter completely, it's very easily replicable with two extra nodes so no functionality is lost and it should be very easy to version.
-
Give it a different name, maybe
factor(similar to mix nodes, but might still be misinterpreted) oropacity(unusual term, but describes what the parameter does in practice well)? -
Change it be an actual multiplier on
distance?
Obviously, removing the parameter is an extreme solution, but because there are Blender users of 5+ years that don't realize they've been using one of the most common nodes wrong means that something needs to be done about it.
5 Comments
Maybe visually clumping Strength with the Normal input would also help.
What also would help is to start with reasonable default values. No one needs a Distance of 1.00 (aka 1 meter) of bump (unless you are making a city skyline helicopter flyby). Also that the node truncates values like 0.0001 to just 0.000 makes it super bad to read at a glance. One always has to click the field to know what value is in it.
Since 4.5 the default is
0.001.alright, still, a lot to be desired with the bump node.
Not sure that removing it is the way to go, but I do agree that something ought to be done about this.