Animating Terrain Geometry

There are two ways of changing the geometry of a terrain object: by painting directly on the 2D Preview or by applying an elevation effect. When you paint on the canvas you create large changes in the terrain like the creation of new mountains or valleys.

The violent motion of great rock columns shooting up from the ground was created by applying the Mounds filter onto an existing terrain at different points along the timeline.

When you apply an effect you create smaller more subtle changes like a mountain eroding over time. The rolling motion in this terrain was created by applying the erode effect at one point in the Timeline and then undoing it in another.

You can also use this technique to record how a terrain object was formed. By adjusting the Current Time as you add elements to the terrain, you'll have a complete record of all your steps.

To animate terrain geometry:

1. Click a terrain object.
2. Click the triangle icon in the Animation Controls and make sure Auto-Key is enabled.
   
   
3. Click the button that appears next to the terrain object's bounding box. The Terrain Editor appears.
4. Move the Current Time Indicator to the point in the Timeline where you want the terrain to change.
5. Either paint new areas in the terrain using the Grayscale paintbrush or apply one of the effects in the Elevation tab.
6. Move the Current Time Indicator to a different point on the Timeline.
7. Change the shape of the terrain again using an effect or the paintbrush.
8. Continue moving the Current Time Indicator and changing the terrain's shape until you achieve the desired effect.
9. Click the OK icon to exit the editor.

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