Create a Dynamic Number Counter in Blender with Geometry Nodes

Creating a countdown timer or a rising number counter in Blender used to require complex Python scripts or manual keyframing of text objects. With the power of Geometry Nodes, you can now build a fully dynamic, procedural number counter in minutes. This method is perfect for digital clocks, HUD elements, infographics, or comparison videos where you need precise control over the numbers without writing a single line of code.

Setting Up Your Workspace

Before we start connecting nodes, we need to optimize our interface. Blender allows you to view multiple editors simultaneously, which is essential for this workflow.

Start by splitting your screen to see both the 3D Viewport and the Node Editor. Hover your mouse over the bottom corner or edge of the 3D Viewport until the cursor changes to a crosshair. Right-click on the border line and select Horizontal Split. Click anywhere in the viewport to create the split.

In the newly created window, click the icon in the top-left corner and switch the editor type to Geometry Node Editor. This is where we will build the logic for our counter.

Building the Node Tree

Select the default cube (or any object you want to turn into text) in the 3D Viewport and click the New button in the Geometry Nodes header. This creates a new modifier stack.

By default, you will see a Group Input and Group Output node. Since we are generating new geometry (text) rather than modifying the cube mesh, click on the Group Input node and press Delete. We don't need the original geometry of the cube.

Press Shift + A to open the add menu and search for the following nodes to build your structure:

• Value: This will be the driver of our animation.
• Value to String: This converts the raw number from the Value node into text data.
• String to Curves: This takes the text data and turns it into actual 3D curve geometry that can be rendered.

Connect them in this specific order:

1. Connect the Value output of the Value node to the Value input of the Value to String node.
2. Connect the String output of the Value to String node to the String input of the String to Curves node.
3. Finally, connect the Curve Instances output to the Geometry input of the Group Output node.

If your text appears off-center or you lose track of it, select your nodes and press the Comma (,) key on your Numpad (or the Period (.) key depending on your keymap) to instantly focus the view on them.

At this stage, your number might be lying flat on the ground. To fix this, select your object in the 3D viewport and rotate it 90 degrees on the X-axis so it stands upright.

Animating the Numbers

Now comes the fun part. Instead of manually typing numbers for every frame, we will animate the Value node.

1. Set your Timeline to Frame 1.
2. In the Geometry Node Editor, set the number in the Value node to 0 (or your starting number).
3. Hover over the number field and press I or Right-click and select Insert Keyframe. The field will turn yellow.
4. Move your Timeline to the end, for example, Frame 250.
5. Change the number in the Value node to your target number, such as 100.
6. Hover over the field again and press I to insert the second keyframe.

Press Spacebar to play your animation. You should see the numbers counting up from 0 to 100.

Fixing the Timing: Linear vs. Bezier

You might notice that the counter starts slowly, speeds up in the middle, and slows down again at the end. This happens because Blender uses Bezier interpolation by default to smooth out movements. For a mechanical counter or a digital timer, you usually want a constant speed.

To fix this, we need to adjust the animation curve:

1. Select the Value node so it is active.
2. Switch one of your windows to the Graph Editor.
3. You will see a curved line representing the speed of your animation.
4. Select all keyframes by pressing A.
5. Press T (or right-click and look for Interpolation Mode) and select Linear.

The line in the graph will become straight. When you play the animation now, the numbers will count up at a perfectly steady pace, making it look much more like a digital clock.

Adding Decimals and Finishing Touches

If you are creating a stopwatch or a scientific display, whole numbers might not be enough. You can easily add precision to your counter.

Go back to the Value to String node. You will see an input labeled Decimals.

• Set it to 0 for whole numbers (1, 2, 3...).
• Set it to 1 or 2 to show decimal places (1.0, 1.5, 2.0...).

This setup is incredibly flexible. You can use it for simple countdowns, or combine it with other techniques like page flip animations to create complex motion graphics. Since everything is procedural, you can change the font, size, or counting speed at any time without having to redo the animation.

For more precise control over your object placement within the scene, using tools like Blender pro align tools can help you position your new text object exactly where you need it in your composition.