User Guide > Deformation > Optimizing the Skeleton > Setting up the Zone of Influence Fade Radius

Setting up the Zone of Influence Fade Radius

To better illustrate the Zone of Influence Fade Radius and its effect, the bitmap picture will be swapped with a grid pattern.

 

There is an area called the deformer Fade which surrounds the Zone of Influence, this is the link between the strict boundaries of the Zone of Influence and the surrounding region. This area gradually stretches or squashes following the deformation. You can edit the Fade Radius value to modify the size of this area and the exponent of the deformation fade effect.

 

You can change the default behaviour so that the fading effect is inside the Zone of Influence instead of outside. This is explained in this exercise.

To modify the Fade Radius and Exponent:

1. In the Network view, select the deformer module you want to modify. Note that this deformer needs to have an Elliptic or Shaped Zone of Influence type.
2. Click on the square yellow button of the module to open the Layer Properties dialog box.

3. Use the Influence Fade Radius field to modify size of the fading area. The default value is 0.5. You can use the up and down arrows to increase of decrease the radius, or type a specific value directly in the field.
4. Click on Close to exit the Layer Properties dialog box.
5. In the Network view, locate the Deformation-Switch module situated just under the Deformation-Composite module in your deformation chain.
6. Click on the square yellow button on the Deformation-Switch module to open the Layer Properties dialog box.

7. In the Layer Properties dialog box:
Influence Fade Exponent: Use the up and down arrow to modify the exponent value or type the exact value in the field.
A value of 1 is similar to a linear curve.
A higher value will result in an ease-in type of curve.
A lower value will result in an ease-out type of curve.
Fade Inside Region: By default this option is disabled, meaning that the Fade effect will occur outside of the Zone of Influence. You can enable this option so that the fade effect is inside the Zone of Influence.

Related Topics 

Optimizing the Skeleton