icons for nodes
My proposal is to have icons above each node. This is just a visual helper icon like many other softwares have for what a node may do. Double clicking the icon could hide the icon or alternatively show you the blender manuals info about that particular node.
It could be turned off or on in general preferences or as an overlay option. The user should decide if they want icons or not.
Here is a similar proposal I found, but has the icons built into the main header of the node instead. blender.community/c/rightclickselect/Eq90/
5 Comments
I like the idea because it also forces the blender manual to explain it better, as the explanation may be a classic 10min decode for the meaning of the wiki meanings.
The blender manual is pretty good, it could have perhaps little blender file examples like Houdini has at the bottom of some of its node manuals. But overall I like it.
maybe to group nodes into categories (like all inputs have the same icon). Also, the title of math node appears as the operation that is currently doing; like Math node could have an icon representing "Math Converter", along with the current "Add". Even more useful, would be icons clarifying datatype of inputs and outputs. At least in 4.5, all i have is rollovers (wont allow overall perception) and colors (that can vary with monitor calibration and theme)
I'm very much a fan of including icons instead of (or with) text, especially in situations such as saving some space in a toolbar - or conversely, sacrificing space in preference towards clarity of function. But in this particular case, I don't see the need. I can read the word "cube", and don't see how an icon of a cube adds much value to the user.
With all the nodes we have, similarity also becomes a problem. By my count, are at least 5 nodes involving a rotation function. 27+ mesh nodes. I'm sure someone could come up with 27 unique mesh node icons, but would it be easier to just keep reading "Edge Angle" on the titlebar of the node?
(I mean, unless they just can't read, in which case there are a lot of other words on that node which will present an problem.)
hmm... its about navigation, icons let you find nodes quicker and remember what they do. I would agree that blender nodes that only have 1 output like position or normal/ or basic input nodes like Integer, It would be strange to have an icon. For the nodes that are not just a single output, I would be happy with icons. Houdini has named nodes and icons and it works well in my opinion.