Dotter
Samples dots along the input frame's paths. The dots are distributed by arc length, so they space evenly regardless of path complexity. Optional corner mode forces dots at detected corners so the shape's structure stays readable.
Inputs
| Port | Type | Default | Range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame | Frame | — | — | The frame to convert to dots |
| Count | Scalar | 20.0 | 1–200 | Total number of dots |
| Phase | Scalar | 0.0 | 0–1 | Shifts dot positions along the path |
| Path Mix | Scalar | 0.0 | 0–1 | Blends the original path back in (dimmed) underneath the dots |
| Corner Threshold | Scalar | 30.0 | 5–170 | Angle threshold for corner detection (degrees) |
| Color | Color | white | — | Per-dot color, overrides the source frame's color |
Outputs
| Port | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | Frame | Dots (and optionally the dimmed original path) |
Controls
Corner Mode: When enabled, dots are placed at detected corners in addition to the regular spacing.
Ideas
- Feed a Circle into Dotter for an evenly-spaced ring of dots: a point-cloud aesthetic that's clean and minimal.
- Animate Phase with a Phasor for rotating dots that travel along the path.
- Enable Corner Mode on a Polygon or Star so the vertices always get dots, keeping the shape recognizable even at low dot counts.
- Set Path Mix to 0.3 to show a dim version of the original shape underneath the dots.
Tips
- Dots are distributed proportionally across paths by arc length. A frame with multiple paths gets dots on each one.
- The Color input overrides the source frame's color per dot. Leave it disconnected for white dots, or wire a Color node driven by a Phasor or Noise for animated color.
- Corner detection uses the angle between adjacent path segments. Lower threshold values detect gentler corners.
Related
- Circle: base shape for dot ring patterns
- Colorize: color the dots after conversion
- Duplicator: duplicate dotted shapes for layered effects