Deformers

Deformers create elaborate intercept paths without significant CPU cost or complication to the mesh topology.

Each intercept follows a path over time. This can be thought of as an automation of the point's position.

These paths are linear by default, but they can be deformed into more complex paths.

After a deformer is defined, it may be assigned to a vertex parameter. The steps to do this are:

a) Select a vertex at the lesser time pole of a vertex cube

b) In the Vertex Properties panel, identify the appropriate parameter (dimension) you want to deform

c) Select the deformer channel number from the dropdown menu of that parameter

The drawback of deformers is that they cannot themselves morph; they are static. To make a non-linear, morphable intercept path, we have to use the Axe tool.

Note: Most deformers affect their assigned dimension versus time, except for one: time. Assigning the deformer to the time dimension actually does not deform time, it deforms amplitude versus phase. Furthermore, when a time deformer is assigned, the curve vertex parameter behaves as a volume multiplier for the time deformer curve. These exceptions may be confusing and shall be amended, without loss of functionality, in a feature update.

Define a curve.

Select vertices from the lesser time pole.

Assign deformer to a particular vertex parameter.

The waveform surface with a deformed path.