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Morphing in the Distort Module

Morphs are created by creating corresponding splines on two clips and linking them together. You then set interpolation values controlling how the features contained in the first set of splines morph into the features contained in the second set of splines. This method is called source interpolation. Finally, you blend the two clips over time to complete the morph. For example, you can draw splines around the outline of an actor and each of the actor's facial features. Then copy these splines onto a second clip containing the actor to whom the first actor will morph into. Edit the copied splines to more accurately contour the features of the second actor, link the corresponding splines, and then blend the two clips to complete the morph. Both sets of splines, those on the first clip, and those on the second clip, can be animated. Additionally, you can edit and animate the interpolated splines.

Source splines drawn on actor Image courtesy of Behavior Communications Inc. | Corresponding splines on second actor are linked Image courtesy of Behavior Communications Inc.

Distort Morphing Workflow

The general morphing workflow in the Distort module incudes the following steps.

Step: | Refer to:
--- | ---
1. Load clips into the Distort module. | Accessing the Distort Menu.
2. Draw a source spline on the Input1 clip. | Drawing Splines. TipUse Distort's schematic as you work with splines to help organize your work. See Using Distort's Schematic.
3. Edit the Input1 source spline. | Editing Splines.
4. Animate the Input1 source spline. | Animating and Tracking Splines.
5. Display the Input2 clip. | Toggling Between Inputs.
6. Copy the Input1 spline, then toggle the copied spline to become an Input2 spline. | Copying Nodes and Toggling Spline Nodes from One Input to Another.
7. Edit the Input2 source spline. | Editing Splines.
8. Animate the Input2 source spline. | Animating and Tracking Splines.
9. In the Distort schematic, link the spline on the Input1 clip with the spline on the Input2 clip. | Linking Source Nodes.
10. Set Blend and Interpolation values. | Blending Clips and Interpolating Features.
11. Refine the morphing effect. | Refining Distortions.

NoteRepeat this workflow for each morphed feature you want to correlate from the Input1 clip to the Input2 clip.