The Triplanar Map node provides a quick way to map a texture on any object and presents the possibility for texture transforms local to each projection axis. The Triplanar Map node has six inputs representing the positive and negative X, Y, and Z planes. The same or different texture nodes can be mapped to each of these inputs (figure 1).
Figure 1: The Triplanar Map node.
The Triplanar Map node divides a material map into six areas corresponding to the x, -x, y, -y, z, and -z axis. Initially, a texture would cover the entire surface of the object but the triplanar mapping confines visibility of the texture map onto the corresponding axes that are active for that texture.
This node may further depend on a Triplanar Projection node which localizes the projection of the texture to a corresponding plane and allows texture UV transforms relative to that projection axis. In figure 2, five different image textures are used for the Triplanar node according to the object space coordinates.
Figure 2: The Triplanar Map node used to mix textures from each side of an object.
Blend Angle
Softens the seams of the triplanar projection axes.
Single Texture
Only uses one texture applied to the "positive X" axis input.
Positive and Negative Axes
Specifies the procedural or image textures assigned to these axes.
Transform
Controls the triplanar textures through a connected Transform node.