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The output of five Text nodes being combined using Merge nodes is modified by a single Transform node.
Upstream and Downstream Nodes
Since nodes can be positioned anywhere in the Node Editor, and added in any direction, nodes are referred to as being upstream and downstream of one another. Once you select a node, all other nodes that directly or indirectly connect to its input are considered to be upstream. Any other nodes that are directly or indirectly connected to the output are said to be downstream.
This is an important distinction to make because, unlike layer-based systems, the visual positioning of nodes in your node tree has no bearing on the order of operations in that composition. The only thing that matters is whether nodes are upstream or downstream of each other.
TIP: To help you stay organized, there are Select > Upstream/Downstream commands in the Node Editor contextual menu for selecting all upstream or downstream nodes to move them, group them, or perform other organizational tasks.
TIP: To help you stay organized, there are Select > Upstream/Downstream commands in the Node Editor contextual menu for selecting all upstream or downstream nodes to move them, group them, or perform other organizational tasks.
TIP: To help you stay organized, there are Select > Upstream/Downstream commands in the Node Editor contextual menu for selecting all upstream or downstream nodes to move them, group them, or perform other organizational tasks.
Tools upstream (left) and downstream (right) of the Merge node.
Disconnecting and Reconnecting Nodes
Node trees are a continuous work in progress, requiring constant revision and rearrangement as you discover new details that need to be finessed, or things that you can do better once the overall composition has taken shape. To facilitate quick changes, each connection between two nodes is divided into two halves: the output half (connected to the upstream node’s output) and the input half
(connected to the downstream node’s input). This can only be seen when you hover the pointer over a connection. The half your pointer is over is highlighted in blue.
