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Animation > Shape mixing

Shape mixing


Shape mixing makes one object's shape change as it approaches other objects, the modifiers.

This can create interesting interactivity, especially when the two modifier are not visible.

Shape mixing works with three objects: the first and second serve as the shape modifiers. The closer you move the third object to either modifier, the more it resembles that shape. In the following illustration, the shape of the crown changes as you move it from the queen's crown on the left, to the king's crown on the right.


Example: Mixing shapes
  1. Create a cube.
  2. To subdivide the cube, choose Modeling > Modify Surface > Subdivide. Repeat this step to subdivide the cube twice.
  3. Duplicate the cube twice and translate the three objects so they are lined up along the X axis.
  4. To create two modifer objects, edit some of the points on the first and second cube so that they are visually distinct (you could try making a plus sign and a star shape.)
  5. Ctrl-select the modifiers and then the third cube, in that order.
  6. Choose Animation > Mix Shapes.
  7. When you translate the third cube towards a modifier, its shape changes.

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