---
title: "Generator Ray"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/html/NET_MAXON_PATTERN_NODE_GENERATOR_RAY.html"
section_path: "The Node Editor > The individual Assets > Material Generator > Generator Ray"
element_id: "NET_MAXON_PATTERN_NODE_GENERATOR_RAY"
description: "This page describes the Generator Ray node of the classic node materials in Cinema 4D. It casts a single ray from a chosen origin and reports hit …"
---

# Generator Ray

> **Note:** **What is it about?**
>
> This page describes the **Generator Ray node** of the classic node materials in **Cinema 4D**. It casts a single ray from a chosen origin and reports hit distance, position and normal — a raycast probe inside the material.

![Image: 042226.jpg](https://help.maxon.net/c4d/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/042226.jpg)\
The Generator Ray needs a starting point and a direction for the generation of a ray. When the ray hits a surface, information about the position and surface Normals, for example, will be calculated at that location.

> **Tip:** Note:
>
> This Node is only available when editing a classic Cinema 4D Node Material.

This Node can send a beam from a custom point of origin. If this ray hits a surface, the distance of the collision point, its position or its surface normal can be output, for example.