Improve deformer node performance

You can change dependency graph node evaluation performance so that the scene refreshes right after you drag the mouse, only when you tell the scene to refresh, or only when you release the mouse button. Changing the evaluation performance can improve scene display speed if you have many complex objects being deformed.

To change dependency graph node performance

1. Select Windows > Settings/Preferences > Performance Settings.
2. In the Performance Settings window, note the Dependency Graph Evaluation section.
3. Turn on one of the Refresh On options.
4. Click Close.

To change deformer performance settings

1. Select Windows > Settings/Preferences > Performance Settings.
2. In the Performance Settings window, note the Deformers section.

   You can turn the performance of the following on, off, or to Interactive: sculpt influence objects (Sculpts), lattice influence objects (Lattices), wire influence objects (Wires), blend shapes, and clusters. You can set Cluster Resolution to Per Node, Global, or Interactive. You can set the Lattice Resolution to Per Node, Global, or Interactive.

3. Click Close.

A deformed object has more nodes in its history than an undeformed object, so you can delete the object's history when you're done using the deformers to make the deformation performance faster.

To delete an object’s history

1. Select the object.
2. Select Edit > Delete by Type > History.

In the deformation chain for some objects, when the Deformation order of one (or more) of the deformers is set to Parallel, you can blend the influences of the deformers in the chain in parallel using the Channel Box.

Note:

You can set the Deformation order to Parallel in the Advanced deformer options for each deformer.

To edit channels with the Channel Box

1. Select a parallel blender node (default name: parallelBlendern).

   One quick way to select the blend shape deformer node is to select the object being deformed, and then select the parallel blender node in its history from the Channel Box (under INPUTS).

2. Add any channels that are not currently displayed as keyable attributes (channels) to the Channel Box - see Make a channel keyable or nonkeyable.
3. In the Channel Box, click the name of the channel you want to edit.
4. In your scene, middle-drag the mouse to the left or right. By moving the mouse, you interactively change the value of the selected channel. As you move the mouse, note that pressing the Ctrl key gives finer control, and pressing the Shift key gives you broader control.