Histogram Scan
Designer node for controlling gray values and masks
Also known as: Substance Designer Histogram Scan · Designer levels · Designer contrast mask · Histogram Scan node · Designer threshold
Definition
Histogram Scan is a Substance Designer node that picks a range of gray values from an image and stretches it, so it works as an adjustable threshold, a mask maker and a contrast control. Position sets which gray level is selected, Contrast sets how sharp the edge is, and Invert flips the result. Used on noise or a height map, it turns a soft gradient into a mask with a clean, controllable edge, which is why it appears in almost every graph.
In production
Use Histogram Scan to make masks from noise, to adjust the height of shapes and to control the width of edges and wear. Combine it with Blend and Levels to build detailed masks. It has Histogram Scan Non-Uniform and Histogram Range variants for more control. In Substance Painter, the Levels and Histogram Scan filters do similar jobs on masks.
Tools that use Histogram Scan
See also
Substance Graph
Procedural material authoring in Substance Designer
Tile Sampler
Designer node that scatters patterns
Flood Fill
Designer node that identifies each shape
Smart Mask
Mask presets driven by baked mesh maps
Curvature Map
Edge highlight + cavity shadow data
Grunge Map
Dirt and scratch pattern used as a mask