9

PathDeform Modifier 757
The circle gizmo rotates to run through the
specified axes, deforming the text object
differentlywitheachchange.
7. Adjust the Percent spinner to view its effect,
and then set it to 0.TrythesamewithStretch,
Rotation, and Twist, and then restore them to
their orig ina l values. (Tip: Use the
Ctrl key
w ith Twist to amplify the effect.)
8. Turn Flip on and off to switch the direction of
the path.
9. In the stack display, choo se the Gizmo
sub-object level, and move the gizmo path
around.
The text object is fur ther deformed by its
relative position to the gizmo.
10. In the stack display, turn off sub-object
selection by selecting the original circle shape.
11. Adjust t he circle’s radius.
The deformation of the text object changes
because its gizmo is an instance of the shape
object.
Inter face
Modifier Stack
Gizmo—At this sub-object level, you can transform
and animate the gizmo like any other object,
altering the effect of the modifier. The PathDeform
gizmo is a representation of the deforming path
object, s o transforming it determines which par t
of the p ath affects the m o d ified object.
Parameters rollout
Path Deform group
Provides controls that let you pick a path and
adjust an object’s position and deformation along
the path.
Pat h —Displaysthenameoftheselectedpath
object.
Pick Path—Click this button and then select a spline
or NURBS curve to use as the path. The gizmo
that appears is shaped like the path and is aligned
w ith the local Z axis of the object. Once you assign
the path, you can adjust the deformation of the
object using the remaining controls in this rollout.
The path you pick should contain a single, open or
closed curve. If you use a path object consisting of
multiple curves, only the first one is us ed.
Percent—Movestheobjectalongthegizmopath
based on a percentage of the path length.
Stretch—Scales the object along the gizmo path,
using the object’s pivot point as the base of the
scale.
Rotation—Rotates the object about the gizmo path.
Twi st—Twists the object about the path. The tw ist
angle is based on the rotation of one end of the
overa l l length of the path. Typically, the deformed