You can group (visually organize) nodes in the Node Graph panel using the Backdrop node or the Group node. The Backdrop node is used to visually organize areas of the Node Graph panel. The Group node is used to group several nodes into a single node, and the group node thus created acts as a container for these nodes. The Backdrop and Group nodes are discussed next.
Grouping Nodes Using the Backdrop Node
To group nodes using the Backdrop node in the Node Graph panel, choose the Other button from the toolbar; the Other menu will be displayed. Next, choose Backdrop from the menu; the BackdropNode# will be inserted in the Node properties panel, refer to Figure 1. In the Node Graph panel, drag the triangle on the lower right corner of the Backdrop node to increase its size, as required. Next, press and hold the left mouse button over the title of the box and then drag the node and slip it under the nodes that you need to visually organize, refer to Figure 2. Next, click on the empty area of the Node Graph panel and then drag the title of the Backdrop# node. You will notice that nodes grouped using it move together with it.
To display the properties panel of the Backdrop node, double-click on it in the Node Graph panel. To change the color of the Backdrop node, choose the tile_color button from the BackdropNode# properties panel; the BackdropNode#.title_color window will be displayed. Next, select the color as required. To change the name of the Backdrop node, enter the new name in the name field of the Backdrop node properties panel. To delete the Backdrop node and the nodes it contains, click once on the title of the node and then press DELETE. To delete only the Backdrop node, CTRL+click on the title of the node and then press DELETE.
Grouping Nodes Using the Backdrop Node
To group nodes using the Backdrop node in the Node Graph panel, choose the Other button from the toolbar; the Other menu will be displayed. Next, choose Backdrop from the menu; the BackdropNode# will be inserted in the Node properties panel, refer to Figure 1. In the Node Graph panel, drag the triangle on the lower right corner of the Backdrop node to increase its size, as required. Next, press and hold the left mouse button over the title of the box and then drag the node and slip it under the nodes that you need to visually organize, refer to Figure 2. Next, click on the empty area of the Node Graph panel and then drag the title of the Backdrop# node. You will notice that nodes grouped using it move together with it.
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| Figure 1 The BackdropNode1 node inserted in the Node Graph panel |
 Figure 2 The Grade1, Blur2, and ColorCorrect2 nodes visually grouped using the BackdropNode1 node |
Grouping Nodes Using a Group Node
To group nodes using the Group node, select the nodes that you need to group. If you want to replace the original nodes with the Group node, choose Edit > Node > Group > Collapse to Group from the menu bar or press CTRL+G; the Group# node will be inserted in the Node Graph panel. Also, a new panel will be displayed with the name Group# Node Graph.
To expand (ungroup) a group, select the Group# node in the Node Graph panel and then choose Edit > Node > Group > Expand Group from the menu bar or press CTRL+ALT+G. To open the Node Graph panel for the group, select the Group# node in the Node Graph panel and then choose Edit > Node > Group > Open Group Node Graph from the menu bar or press CTRL+ENTER. Alternatively, you can press the show button in the Group# node properties panel.
To keep the selected nodes in the Node Graph panel, choose Edit > Node > Group > Copy Node To Group from the menu bar or press CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+G; a free floating Group# node will be created in the Node Graph panel along with a separate Group# Node Graph panel.
This article is taken from the Nuke Book: The Foundry Nuke 7 for Compositors.
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