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TheBeat
Beat
Posts: 165
I want to make a switch (or otherwise select) between an IntSlider (Grey output) and a Curve Control (blue output). Both can be connected to the Profile input of a Noise component.
I can't use a Switch, as the Switch does not accept a blue connection into it's green inputs. Moreover, the green output of a Switch cannot go into the Profile (blue) input of the Noise. How can I solve this?
The Stone Age did not end because they ran out of stones. Niels Bohr
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rachelduim
So Called Tortured Artist

Posts: 2498
Filters: 188
Under Curve Ops there is a curve "Switch" component, which can go into the Profile input of Noise. Will this work for you? The input into this type of switch is a curve or a curve op.
Math meets art meets psychedelia.
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TheBeat
Beat
Posts: 165
I found the Curve Switch. It seems very handy, but unfortunately I cannot solve my little problem with it. For illustration of what I want to do, I attach a little snippet.
This is what the snippet should do, but the switch should be located before the Noise, so I don't need 2 identical Noise components.
But I cannot seem to put the switch in front of the Noise and switch between the grey IntSlider and the blue Curves and feed the result into the Profile input of the Noise.

By the way, is it not possible to make decent notes in the editor? I have made a clumsy attempt with the names of 3 color components, not very elegant smile:-)

Example for Rachel.ffxml
The Stone Age did not end because they ran out of stones. Niels Bohr
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rachelduim
So Called Tortured Artist

Posts: 2498
Filters: 188
There is no "simple" way to do what you want. To do it exactly like you want (a 6 way selector), I have provided the easiest way to do it, 6 perlin noises into a switch. More components, but only one of these noises is executed, so efficient but repetitive.

I also provided the way I'd do it, an extra checkbox but less components. Far from perfect, either way is ok. FF7 or FF8.

Example for Rachel 1.1.ffxml
Math meets art meets psychedelia.
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TheBeat
Beat
Posts: 165
Thanks Rachel, I understand your solution and have thought of that myself as well. But it takes twice the number of noise components (which is all 7 in my case, so 14) which also needs an extra switch (there I can use your solution to my previous question smile:-)

It would be nice if in future there could be a switch that just takes any input and outputs the selected input, no matter what format.

The example you send me back has another nice thing I discovered. By connecting the IntSlider to the Profile input of a Noise with remapping 'on', the selected profile name is visible in the Remap box. Neat. I was just wondering this morning, how nice it would be, if the components would show their input values (not with a map of course, but simple values). That makes it easier to understand a screenshot of a filter and also debugging.

I appreciate your help and patience.

Cheers, Beat
The Stone Age did not end because they ran out of stones. Niels Bohr
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rachelduim
So Called Tortured Artist

Posts: 2498
Filters: 188
Quote
It would be nice if in future there could be a switch that just takes any input and outputs the selected input, no matter what format.


Since FF is a node based toolkit, limitations are bound to be an issue. Essentially you are trying to combine an integer slider which controls a list (of perlin variations) with a curve profile. Ultimately it would be great if all the inputs were able to take all types (integers, floating numbers, curves, HDR math etc), but this is not practical from a design point of view. Also error checking prevents some combinations (integer slider goes to 6, but there are only 5 choices in the list). This is done for the public to keep filters "clean" and error free. You can design your own filters with the red "!" error flag on node inputs and they will still work to varying degrees, you just can't release them publicly.
Math meets art meets psychedelia.
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TheBeat
Beat
Posts: 165
I understand that the programming of a program like this needs to have some restrictions. Otherwise it will get extremely complicated to program and to work with.
I totally see that not every input can except any sort of data (output from another component).
But as the Profile input of a Noise can accept grey inputs (sliders etc.) as well as blue inputs (curves), it would have been nice to have a switch between the two. It's not really bad there isn't any smile:-). Through this question I have learned about the curves switch from you.
It's good to know though, that filters with error flags will not be accepted into the Filter catalogue.
The Stone Age did not end because they ran out of stones. Niels Bohr
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TheBeat
Beat
Posts: 165
I have come up with a solution for my particular problem to address the native profiles of a Noise and additional curves as profiles as well, all under one switch.

I have reverse-engineered the native profiles and put them into curves. With a Curve Switch component, I have the native profiles under the first 5 positions of the switch and have room for my own, or user adjustable profiles. Snippet attached.

I have a identical Noise in parallel in the editor, so you can compare as how far off my reverse engineering is smile:-)

## Profiles for Noises simulated A1.ffxml
The Stone Age did not end because they ran out of stones. Niels Bohr
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