Space warps are objects that provide a variety of "force field" effects on other objects in the scene.

Space warps themselves are not renderable. You use them to affect the appearance of other objects, sometimes a large number of objects at the same time. Some space warps deform object geometry by generating ripples, waves, or explosions. Other space warps are meant specifically for use with particle systems, and simulate natural effects such as wind blowing snow or rain about, or a rock in the path of a waterfall.

Space warps behave somewhat like modifiers, except that a space warp influences world space, rather than object space as geometric modifiers do.

When you create a space warp object, viewports show a representation of it. You can transform the space warp as you do other 3ds Max objects. The position, rotation, and scale of the space warp affect its operation.

To have an object or selection set be affected by a space warp, you bind the object to the space warp. A space warp has no effect on objects unless the objects are bound to it. When an object is bound to a space warp, the warp binding appears at the top of the object's modifier stack. A space warp is always applied after any transforms or modifiers.

When you bind a space warp to multiple objects, the space warp's set of parameters affects all the objects equally. However, each object's distance from the space warp or spatial orientation to the warp can change the warp's effect. Because of this spatial effect, simply moving an object through warped space can change the warp's effect.

You can also use multiple space warps on a single object or objects. Multiple space warps appear in an object's stack in the order you apply them.