Create SDF text
create_sdf_textRaymarch text into a 3D signed-distance-field slab with adjustable depth, rotation, camera, colors, and lighting. Creates a self-contained TouchDesigner network with live controls.
Instructions
Raymarch a text string as a signed-distance-field 3D slab: a Text TOP renders the glyphs to a mask, and a GLSL TOP treats that mask as an extruded distance field (glyph coverage in XY, closed by two Z planes at ±depth/2) so the letters read as solid, lit, rim-highlit 3D volumes that can spin. Distinct from create_sdf_field (primitive CSG only, no text) and create_text_3d (mesh-extruded text SOP) — this is the raymarched distance-field text look. The mask→SDF is approximate (coverage-derived, no external font SDF atlas required) and eased by smoothing. Creates a new baseCOMP under parent_path. Exposes CameraZ/Speed/StepCount/Intensity/Rotate/Fill/Edge/Background controls and previews the output. Returns a summary plus a JSON block with node paths, exposed controls, node errors, warnings, and an inline preview image.
Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| bold | No | Render the seed text bold (thicker glyph coverage). | |
| font | No | Font family for the Text TOP that seeds the glyph mask (must be installed in TD). | Arial |
| text | No | The string to raymarch as SDF text. | HELLO |
| depth | No | Extrusion thickness of the raymarched text slab along Z (uDepth). | |
| speed | No | Animation time multiplier (drives uTime). Live 'Speed' control. | |
| rotate | No | Y-axis rotation speed of the text (radians/s via uRotate * uTime). Live 'Rotate'. Reads 0 when the TD timeline is paused. | |
| camera_z | No | Camera distance from the text (uCameraZ). Live 'CameraZ' control. | |
| intensity | No | Output brightness multiplier (uIntensity). Live 'Intensity'. | |
| smoothing | No | How sharply the mask coverage maps to the XY distance field. Lower = crisper edges, higher = softer/rounder. | |
| background | No | Background / miss colour hex. Live RGB swatch 'Background'. | #0a0a12 |
| edge_color | No | Rim/edge highlight colour hex. Live RGB swatch 'Edge'. | #ff5c8a |
| fill_color | No | Letter body colour hex (e.g. '#ffd34d'). Live RGB swatch 'Fill'. | #ffd34d |
| resolution | No | Output resolution [width, height] of the GLSL TOP. | |
| step_count | No | Raymarch iterations (uSteps). Live 'StepCount'. | |
| parent_path | No | Parent COMP path the self-contained 'sdf_text' container is created inside. | /project1 |
| expose_controls | No | Expose live CameraZ/Speed/StepCount/Intensity/Rotate/Fill/Edge/Background controls. | |
| light_direction | No | Light direction, normalised in shader — baked as GLSL constant. |