Editing Computer animation (section)

=== Procedural and node-based Animation ===
Another way to automate 3D animation is to use procedural tools such as 4D [[Perlin noise|noise]]. Noise is any algorithm that plots [[Pseudorandomness|pseudo-random values]] within a dimensional space.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Book of Shaders |url=https://thebookofshaders.com/11/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=The Book of Shaders}}</ref> 4D noise can be used to do things like move a swarm of bees around; the first three dimensions correspond to the position of the bees in space, and the fourth is used to change the bee's position over time. Noise can also be used as a cheap replacement for [[simulation]]. For example, smoke and clouds can be animated using noise.

Node-based animation is useful for animating organic and chaotic shapes. By using nodes, an animator can build up a complex set of animation rules that can be applied either to many objects at once, or one very complex object. A good example of this would be setting the movement of particles to match the beat of a song.