Animated Waves

Author: Phoul

Tools Needed

• Vue 4 Professional

Support Files

• Fake_Waves_QT.zip
• Clouds_1024.zip

I will show you how to animate big 'fake' waves (like in storm) with Vue 4 Professional (could also work in Vue d'Esprit 4 with Mover 4). And it will not be animated material.

Note: here the final shot's length will be only 8 seconds.

Create a new file. Select the atmosphere called Thick Fog in the Daytime collection.

Create a new Terrain. Size: 1024 x 1024. Do not close the terrain Editor yet.

Click on Iceberg. Then click on Picture.

In Import Terrain Data load the file called Clouds_1024.JPG (to download that file, please see above the SUPPORT FILES link); that picture was created in Photoshop (filter > clouds). Close the Import Terrain Data: click OK. Close the Terrain editor with another OK.

The terrain is selected. In the Numerics tab, change the terrain's sizes to: X=7000, Y=7000, Z=300.

Now load a material for the terrain: Foamy Water in the Liquids collection. In the material Editor, check the Mapping.

World-Standard must be selected (that's very important!).

Scale the Material to 7.

Select the main Camera. Go to the Numerics tab. Enter the new position : X=2500, Y=-2500, Z=500.

Then, change the orientation with new parameters: Pitch=115, Yaw=0, Roll=225.

The Main Camera is always selected. Go to the Animation tab, and in Motion, select Standard. If the Mover Assistant is opening, please close it (Alt+F4).

The Timeline is now opened, and the camera appears in it. Move the cursor to 8 seconds. The camera is selected; with your keyboard: one click to up, then one click to down, so a new key position is added.

In Timeline, back to start: 0.

Select the terrain. Go to the Animation tab, and in Motion, select Standard. If the Mover Assistant is opening, please close it (Alt+F4).

Open the Animation Toolbox. Check Spin. In Overall revolving speed enter: 5 degrees. Select Z axis for the Revolution Axis. Then click Ok.

That's all! Launch a preview. As you see the center of the terrain is lost in fog. The liquid material is not mapped to the terrain, but to the world, so it is automatically animated. That's work.

Philippe Bouyer