Surface Waves
Applies sinusoidal wave displacement along the surface normals. This is the simplest and most versatile wave effect — use it to add gentle undulations, rhythmic ripples, or bold corrugated patterns to any mesh.
The Direction parameter switches between circumferential waves (rippling around the object) and vertical waves (rippling along the height).
Parameters
Amplitude- Strength of the wave displacement in mm (0–20). Higher values create deeper, more dramatic waves.
Frequency- Number of complete wave cycles across the surface (1–50). Higher values pack more waves into the same space.
Phase- Shifts the wave pattern in radians (0–2\u03C0). Use to align or offset the waves relative to other effects.
Direction- 0 = circumferential waves that ripple around the object. 1 = vertical waves that ripple along the height.
How It Works
Surface Waves computes a single sine function over the UV coordinates of each vertex. When Direction is 0, the sine is driven by the U coordinate (circumference), producing ridges that run vertically. When Direction is 1, the sine is driven by the V coordinate (height), producing horizontal rings.
The resulting displacement is applied along the ring normal at each vertex, pushing the surface inward or outward by the sine value scaled by the amplitude.