9

Ripple Modifier 783
Ripple Modifier
Modify panel > Make a selection. > Modifier List >
Object-Space Modifi ers > Ripple
Make a selection. > Modifiers men u > Parametric
Deformers > Ripple
The Ripple modifier lets you produce a concentric
rippling effect in an object’s geometry. You can
seteitheroftworipplesoracombinationofboth.
Rippleusesastandardgizmoandcenter,which
you c an transform to increase the possible ripple
effects.
The Ripple (page 2–102) space warp has similar
features. It is useful for applying effects to a large
number of objects.
An object with the Ripple modifier app lied.
Top (from left to right): Amplitude 1 only, Amplitude 2 only and
both amplitudes.
Bottom: Both amp litudes with the Decay effect.
See also
Wave Modifier (page 1–957)
Procedure
Ex ample: To use the R ipple modif ier:
1.
Start with an empty scene, and add a Plane
object (page 1–185) in the Perspect ive viewpor t.
SetLengthandWidthbothto100.0,andset
Length Segs and Width Segs both to 10.
The Plane object is useful as the basis for the
surface of a body of water in which ripples form.
2. Go to the Modify panel, c lick Modifier
List,and,fromtheObject-SpaceModifierslist,
choose Ripple.
This applies the modifier to the Plane object.
3. On the Parameters rollout, set Amplitude 1 to
10.0.
A large ripple forms in the Plane object.
You c an change the horizontal scale by adjusting
thewavelength.
4. Set Wave Length to 20.0.Thewavesbecome
smaller, but no w it’s apparen t that the Plane
object needs greater geometric resolution to
properly display t he number of waves.
5. In the modifier stack, click the Plane item, and
then set Length Segs and Width Segs both to 30.
The smaller wav es become more apparent. The
Ripple modifier needs a relatively high number
of subdivisions in the geometry it’s applied to
in order to work properly.
YoucanusetheAmplitude2parametertoadd
complexity to the wave forms created by Ripple.
6. ReturntotheRipplelevelofthemodifierstack,
andthenclickandholdontheAmplitude2and
drag downward.
As you drag, a new set of wave forms are
combined with the existing ones. The farther
youdrag,themoredominantthesecondset
becomes. Using a negative value for Amplitude
2 (or a positive one if Amplitude 1 is negative)
produces more of an interference effect between
the two sets of waves.
You can animate the waves with the Phase
control.