Utility Tools

Backdrop, layout, connection, and batch tools

Backdrop Tools

A collection of tools for creating and managing backdrop nodes in the DAG.

  • Create with padding — Creates a backdrop around the selected nodes with configurable padding on all sides.
  • Fit to selection — Resizes an existing backdrop to tightly fit the currently selected nodes.
  • Resize — Interactively resize a backdrop by dragging its edges.
  • Send to back — Pushes a backdrop behind all other backdrops, useful when backdrops overlap.
🎬Creating a backdrop around selected nodes with automatic paddingimg/utilities/ut-backdrop-create.gif
Creating a padded backdrop around selected nodes.
🎬Interactively resizing a backdrop by dragging its edgesimg/utilities/ut-backdrop-resize.gif
Interactive backdrop resizing.

Connect Multi

Quickly create connections between multiple nodes in a single operation.

  • All-to-1 — Connect all selected nodes as inputs to the last selected node (e.g. feeding multiple plates into a ContactSheet or Switch).
  • 1-to-All — Connect the first selected node as an input to all other selected nodes.
  • Selection order — Connections follow the order in which nodes were selected, giving you precise control over input ordering.
🎬Connecting multiple nodes to a single target nodeimg/utilities/ut-connect-multi.gif
All-to-1 connection — multiple sources wired into a single target.

Batch Operations

Apply changes to multiple nodes at once. Select the target nodes, then choose an operation:

  • Enable / Disable — Toggle the disable state of all selected nodes.
  • Tile color — Set the tile color for all selected nodes in one click.
  • Rename — Batch rename with find/replace, prefix/suffix, and sequential numbering.
  • Labels — Set or clear labels on all selected nodes.
  • Set knob — Set any knob value across all selected nodes of the same class.
  • Copy / Paste values — Copy knob values from one node and paste them onto multiple target nodes.
📷Batch rename dialog with find/replace and numbering optionsimg/utilities/ut-batch-rename.png
The batch rename dialog with find/replace, prefix, suffix, and numbering options.
📷Batch tile color picker applied to multiple selected nodesimg/utilities/ut-batch-color.png
Setting tile color for multiple nodes at once.

Transform Tools

Move, scale, and rotate groups of nodes in the DAG.

  • Backdrop-based — Select a backdrop to transform all nodes inside it. Useful for rearranging entire sections of a script.
  • Overlay-based — Direct transform controls that overlay the DAG, providing interactive handles for move, scale, and rotate operations.
🎬Transforming nodes inside a backdrop — move, scale, rotateimg/utilities/ut-transform.gif
Transforming nodes within a backdrop selection.

Distance Tool

Measure distances between nodes in the DAG. Click two nodes to see the horizontal, vertical, and straight-line distance between them, displayed in DAG units. Useful for precise manual alignment and spacing.

📷Distance measurement overlay between two nodes showing pixel valuesimg/utilities/ut-distance.png
Measuring distance between two nodes in DAG units.

Dot Connector

Create named hub dots that serve as labeled connection points in your node graph. Hub dots make complex scripts more readable by giving meaningful names to key connection paths. The tool tracks which nodes connect through each dot, making it easy to trace signal flow.

🎬Creating named hub dots and connecting nodes through themimg/utilities/ut-dot-connector.gif
Named hub dots improve readability by labeling connection paths.