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Mesh tool

Pro Feature

Pro features are available with a Professional licence. To upgrade, visit cavalry.scenegroup.co.

Intro​

Create a mesh by adding control vertices which can be used to deform raster graphics (images) and/or other Shaders.

Support

The Mesh tool is only supported for use with the Mesh Shape.

UI​

Add a vertex​

With a Mesh Shape selected, hold Option/Alt and click on the Shape.

Keep holding Option/Alt and clicking to create more vertices with connecting edges.

Edit a vertex​

Vertices have two positions, Bind and Offset. See the Mesh Shape (Mesh tab) for more information.

Hold Option/Alt and click and drag a vertex to move its Bind Position.

Click and drag a vertex to move its Offset Position. A 'ghosted' vertex will also appear to indicate its Bind Position.

When holding Option/Alt, the vertices will return to their Bind Positions in the Viewport. This is the equivalent of unchecking th Mesh Shape's Mesh checkbox.

Create an edge​

The direction of triangles within the mesh can be customised by:

  1. Holding Shift.
  2. Clicking on a vertex.
  3. Dragging to another vertex and releasing the mouse.

This is useful for refining the resulting deformation. For example, in the situation where 4 individual vertices have been added to form a rectangle, that rectangle will be split across opposite diagonals to form two triangles. By following the steps above, the split can be set to connect the other two vertices.

Options​

Right click a vertex in the Viewport and choose from the following options:

  • Control with Null(s) - Create and connect a Null to the selected vertices.
  • Set Keyframe - Set Offset Position keyframes for the selected vertices.
  • Delete Vertex - Delete the selected vertices.

Hotkeys​

ShortcutDescription
Option/AltAdd a vertex.
ShiftDraw/connect an edge.
S + click + dragIncrease/decrease the Soft Selection Size.

Tool settings​

See Tool Settings for the context specific options available for this tool.

Example
  1. Import an image to the Assets Window.
  2. Right click on the image and choose Add to Composition as Mesh.
  3. Enable the Mesh tool.
  4. Click on the Mesh Shape to ensure it is selected.
  5. Hold Option/Alt and click in the centre of the Mesh Shape to create a vertex.
  6. Release Option/Alt and click and drag the vertex.