How to import node group in Blender?

You can import a node group into your current Blender file by using the Append function from another .blend file.

Node groups are powerful tools for packaging complex node setups into reusable blocks. Once you've created a node group in one Blender project, you don't need to rebuild it from scratch in another. As noted in the documentation, existing node groups can be imported from a different blend-file using File ‣ Link/Append.

Appending vs. Linking Node Groups

When importing assets from another .blend file in Blender, you have two main options:

• Link: Creates a reference to the asset in the original file. If the original file changes, your linked asset will also change in your current project. You cannot edit linked assets directly in your current file.
• Append: Imports a copy of the asset into your current file. This copy is independent of the original file, and you can edit it freely within your current project.

For node groups, Append is typically the preferred method because it allows you to use and modify the node group within your current project without depending on the original file.

Steps to Append a Node Group

Follow these simple steps to import a node group using the Append function:

1. Open your target Blender file: This is the file where you want to import the node group.
2. Go to File Menu: In the top-left corner of the Blender window, click on the File menu.
3. Select Append: From the dropdown menu, choose Append... (or Link... if you intend to link, though Append is more common for this purpose).
4. Navigate to the Source File: A file browser window will open. Navigate to the .blend file that contains the node group you want to import. Select the file and click the Append (or Link) button in the bottom-right corner, or double-click the file.
5. Select 'NodeTree': After selecting the .blend file, another list will appear showing different data blocks within that file. Click on the NodeTree folder.
6. Choose the Node Group: Inside the NodeTree folder, you will see a list of all node groups saved in the source file (e.g., NodeGroup, MyCustomGroup, ShaderNodes). Select the specific node group(s) you wish to import. You can Shift+Click or Ctrl+Click to select multiple node groups.
7. Confirm Append: Click the Append (or Link) button in the bottom-right corner of the file browser window.

Using the Imported Node Group

Once appended, the node group becomes available in your current file. You can then add it to any compatible node tree (like Material, Geometry, or Compositing node editors) using the Add menu:

1. Go to the relevant node editor (e.g., Shader Editor).
2. Press Shift + A to open the Add menu.
3. Go to Group (or Shader > Group in Shader Editor).
4. You will find your newly imported node group(s) listed there by name. Click on the name to add an instance of the node group to your tree.

Appending makes a copy, so you can now use and even edit this node group within your current project without affecting the original file it came from.