Edit squash nonlinear deformers

After you create the squash deformer, its handle is displayed in your scene and its nodes are listed in the Channel Box. The nodes include the squash handle node (default name: squashnHandle), the squash handle shape node (squashnHandleShape), and the squash deformer node (default name: squashn).

You can edit the effects of the squash deformer by editing the squash handle node and the squash deformer node. You can move (translate), rotate, and scale the squash handle to edit the effects of the deformation. You can also edit the squash deformer node’s keyable attributes (channels), which are displayed in the Channel Box.

Tip: You can also paint weights to adjust the effect of the deformer. See Paint nonlinear deformer weights.

To edit squash deformers using handle manipulators

  1. Select the squash deformer node (default name: squashn).
  2. Select the Show Manipulator Tool (default shortcut: t key).
  3. In the scene, select one of the manipulators on the squash deformer handle.

    The manipulators on the squash deformer handle let you edit attributes.

  4. Middle -drag the mouse to edit interactively. Note that the Channel Box updates the values you are changing.

To edit squash deformers by moving, rotating, or scaling handles

  1. Select the squash deformer handle node (default name: squashnHandle).
  2. Move (translate), rotate, or scale the handle to change the effect of the deformation.
  3. Move or rotate the handle pivot point by pressing the Insert or Home key, moving the pivot point, and then pressing Insert or Home again.

    Remember that you can access the deformer handle’s local axes (Display > Transform Display > Local Rotation Axes), rotate and scale pivots (Display > Transform Display > Rotate Pivots or Scale Pivots) and selection handle (Display > Transform Display > Selection Handle).

Tip:

Adjust Expand, Start Smoothness, and End Smoothness from the Channel Box.

To edit squash deformers with the Channel Box

  1. Select the squash deformer node (default name: squashn).

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

    You can control which attributes are listed as keyable attributes (channels) in the Channel Box with the Channel Control editor (select Window > General Editors > Channel Control).

  2. Click the name of the channel you want to edit.
  3. In your scene, middle-click and move 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 will give you finer control, and pressing the Shift key will give you less control.

To delete a squash deformer

  1. Select the Squash deformer handle.
  2. Select Edit > Delete, or press the Backspace or Delete keys..

    The squash deformer handle, squash deformer handle shape, and squash deformer nodes are all deleted. However, the object still has the tweak node as an input node, so any tweaks you might have made are preserved. Also, note that the various input nodes that structure the evaluation of the deformation are not deleted.

To edit squash deformers with the Attribute Editor

  1. Select the squash deformer node (default name: squashn).
  2. Open the Attribute Editor.
  3. Edit the attributes.

    See squash.

Tip: If you want to create a falloff (or ramp effect) for this deformer, so that the results of the deformation decrease or drop off after a specified distance, use Component Tags. See Create deformer falloffs.

Related topics

Parent topic: Squash deformer