13: Streamlining Workflow with Switch Nodes and Group Inputs

As my project grew more complex, I needed to control various elements of the scene more efficiently. To achieve this, I implemented controls to enable and disable different meshes directly from the modifier panel.

Process

I introduced a Switch node after each Instance on Points node. The Switch node acts like a gatekeeper, allowing me to turn the instancing of specific objects on or off based on a Boolean value.

Next, I utilized the Group Input node to expose these controls externally. By adding Boolean inputs for each element (like trees, rocks, and grass), I created checkboxes in the modifier panel. This way, I could enable or disable elements without diving back into the node tree.

Connecting the Boolean outputs from the Group Input node to the corresponding Switch nodes made the setup interactive. This was especially helpful when I wanted to focus on a particular part of the scene or reduce clutter during adjustments.

Nodes Used and Their Functions