Colour Ramp Deformer
Updated: 3 Feb 2025
Colours a mesh based on an input Colour Ramp
Colour Ramp Deformer
Method #
This node applies the colour from an input Colour Ramp to the vertex colours of a mesh.
Parameters
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
Parameter Details Position X
The objects position along the local x-axis.
Position Y
The objects position along the local y-axis.
Position Z
The objects position along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading
The objects rotation around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch
The objects rotation around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank
The objects rotation around the local z-axis.
Scale X
The objects scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y
The objects scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z
The objects scale along the local z-axis.
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
Parameter Details Position
Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent.
Rotation
Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent.
Scale
Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent.
World Position Only
Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties.
Inherit Time
Toggle inheritance of time from the parent.
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details Apply Mode
Choose whether the deformer applies to the individual vertices or the mesh chunks.
- Vertices : The mesh deformations are applied to the mesh vertices.
- Chunks : The mesh deformations are applied to the separated mesh pieces.
Transform Space
Choose which transform space the deformer uses for deformation. Does not affect falloffs.
- Local : Deformations are calculated in the Local Space of the object, so transformations of the parent mesh will not affect the deformation.
- World : Deformations are calculated in the World Space of the scene, so transformations of the parent mesh will apply the deformer differently depending on the mesh position.
Blend Amount
Global override for how much the deformer affects the mesh.
Time Mode
How the deformer updates with relation to the timecode.
- Locked To Timecode : The deformer deformations are locked to the timecode and the same time will always yield the same deformations.
- Running / Looping : The deformer deformations are disconnected from the timecode and will run seamlessly at the end of the composition.
Source Channel
Change how the colour ramp is applied to the parent mesh.
- Texture Coordinate U : Apply the colour ramp to the UV map of the mesh along the U axis.
- Texture Coordinate V : Apply the colour ramp to the UV map of the mesh along the V axis.
- Position X : Apply the colour ramp to the mesh dependant on the position of the deformer along the X axis.
- Position Y : Apply the colour ramp to the mesh dependant on the position of the deformer along the Y axis.
- Position Z : Apply the colour ramp to the mesh dependant on the position of the deformer along the Z axis.
- Distance : Apply the colour outwardly from position of the deformer, fading away with distance.
- Fractal Noise : Give each vertex a random weight based on 3D fractal noise and apply the colour ramp based on those weights.
- Vertex Index : Apply the colour ramp along the vertex index.
- Weightmap Channel : Apply the colour ramp using an input weightmap on the object.
Source Scale
Scale the size of the input colour ramp.
Source Offset
Offset the start of the colour ramp.
Modulation Mode
How colour should be applied at the end of the ramp.
- Clamp : The final colour in the colour ramp is used to infinity.
- Repeat : The ramp is repeated to infinity.
- Sine : The ramp goes back to the beginning and starts again.
Noise Scale
Scale the size of the generated fractal noise. Only functions with Fractal Noise set in the Source Channel.
Lacunarity
How large the gaps between larger areas of noise are. Only functions with Fractal Noise set in the Source Channel.
Gain
The overall smoothness of the generated fractal noise. Only functions with Fractal Noise set in the Source Channel.
Animation Rate
The speed at which the fractal noise is animated. Only functions with Fractal Noise set in the Source Channel.
These properties control where the deformer affects the geometry.
Parameter Details Enabled
Enable falloff from the position of the deformer.
Shape
Select which shape to use to draw falloff from.
- Sphere : Falloff is drawn outward from a central point, forming a spherical falloff.
- Cylinder : Falloff is drawn outward from a line, forming a cylindrical falloff.
- Plane : Falloff is drawn outward from a plane.
Shape Orientation
Along which axis the shape should be drawn.
Outer Range
The outer range from which the falloff is calculated from.
Inner Range
The inner range from which the falloff is calculated from.
Curve Power
How quickly the falloff drops to 0 at the outer falloff.
Invert
Invert the direction of the falloff.
The properties control the time at which the node is active. See Timeline for editing time segments.
Parameter Details Duration
Control the duration of the node’s time segment.
- Composition Duration : Use the length of the composition for the node’s time segment duration.
- Custom : Set a custom duration for the node’s time segment.
Node Time
The custom start and end time for the node.
Duration (Timecode)
The length of the node’s time segment (in time).
Duration (Frames)
The length of the node’s time segment (in frames).
Time Segment Enabled
Set whether the node’s time segment is enabled or not in the Timeline.
Inputs
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position X | The objects position along the local x-axis. |
| Position Y | The objects position along the local y-axis. |
| Position Z | The objects position along the local z-axis. |
| Rotation Heading | The objects rotation around the local y-axis. |
| Rotation Pitch | The objects rotation around the local x-axis. |
| Rotation Bank | The objects rotation around the local z-axis. |
| Scale X | The objects scale along the local x-axis. |
| Scale Y | The objects scale along the local y-axis. |
| Scale Z | The objects scale along the local z-axis. |
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent. |
| Rotation | Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent. |
| Scale | Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent. |
| World Position Only | Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties. |
| Inherit Time | Toggle inheritance of time from the parent. |
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Apply Mode |
Choose whether the deformer applies to the individual vertices or the mesh chunks.
|
| Transform Space |
Choose which transform space the deformer uses for deformation. Does not affect falloffs.
|
| Blend Amount | Global override for how much the deformer affects the mesh. |
| Time Mode |
How the deformer updates with relation to the timecode.
|
| Source Channel |
Change how the colour ramp is applied to the parent mesh.
|
| Source Scale | Scale the size of the input colour ramp. |
| Source Offset | Offset the start of the colour ramp. |
| Modulation Mode |
How colour should be applied at the end of the ramp.
|
| Noise Scale | Scale the size of the generated fractal noise. Only functions with Fractal Noise set in the Source Channel. |
| Lacunarity | How large the gaps between larger areas of noise are. Only functions with Fractal Noise set in the Source Channel. |
| Gain | The overall smoothness of the generated fractal noise. Only functions with Fractal Noise set in the Source Channel. |
| Animation Rate | The speed at which the fractal noise is animated. Only functions with Fractal Noise set in the Source Channel. |
These properties control where the deformer affects the geometry.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Enabled | Enable falloff from the position of the deformer. |
| Shape |
Select which shape to use to draw falloff from.
|
| Shape Orientation | Along which axis the shape should be drawn. |
| Outer Range | The outer range from which the falloff is calculated from. |
| Inner Range | The inner range from which the falloff is calculated from. |
| Curve Power | How quickly the falloff drops to 0 at the outer falloff. |
| Invert | Invert the direction of the falloff. |
The properties control the time at which the node is active. See Timeline for editing time segments.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration |
Control the duration of the node’s time segment.
|
| Node Time | The custom start and end time for the node. |
| Duration (Timecode) | The length of the node’s time segment (in time). |
| Duration (Frames) | The length of the node’s time segment (in frames). |
| Time Segment Enabled | Set whether the node’s time segment is enabled or not in the Timeline. |
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Colour Ramp | Select a colour ramp to be the source for the colours. | Colour Ramp |
| Mask Image | Use an image to mask out areas for the deformer to not function. | Video Loader |
| Falloff Node | Use an input node to control the transformation values of the falloff. | Null |
| Generated Weightmap | Add a weightmap to vary the strength of the deformer across the surface. | Generate Weightmap |
| Transform Modifiers | Apply the transforms of another node to this node. | Null |
| Target Node | Modifiy the rotations of the node to always direct the z axis towards the input. | Null |
| Local Transform Override | Apply the transforms of another node to this node, relative to its parent. | Null |
