Mesh Cache Modifier

The Mesh Cache modifier main use is for animated mesh data to be applied to a mesh and played back, deforming the mesh.

This works in a similar way to shape keys, but is aimed at playing back external files and is often used for interchange between applications.

Tip

Both MDD and PC2 depend on the vertex order on the mesh remaining unchanged. This is a limitation of this method, so take care not to add, remove or reorder vertices once this modifier is used.

Options

Format

The input file format (currently .mdd and .pc2 are supported).

File Path

Path to the cache file.

Influence

Factor to adjust the influence of the modifier’s deformation, useful for blending in/out from the cache data.

Deform Mode

This setting defaults to Overwrite which will replace the vertex locations with those in the cache file. However, you may want to use shape keys, for example, and mix them with the mesh cache. In this case you can select the Deform option which integrates deformations with the mesh cache result.

Note

This feature is limited to making smaller, isolated edits and will not work for larger changes such as re-posing limbs.

Interpolation

None, or Linear, which will blend between frames. Use linear when the frames in the cache file do not match up exactly with the frames in the blend-file.

Vertex Group

If set, restrict the effect to the only vertices in that vertex group.

• Invert <->

  Inverts the influence of the selected vertex group, meaning that the group now represents vertices that will not be deformed by the modifier.

  The setting reverses the weight values of the group.

Time Remapping

Time Mode

Select how time is calculated.

• Frame:

  Allows you to control the frames, which will ignore timing data in the file but is often useful since it gives simple control.

  Time:

  Evaluates time in seconds, taking into account timing information from the file (offset and frame-times).

  Factor:

  Evaluates the entire animation as a value in the [0, 1] range.

Play Mode

Select how playback operates.

• Scene:

  Use the current frame from the scene to control playback.

  • Frame Start

    Play the cache starting from this frame.

    Frame Scale

    Scale time by this factor (applied after the start value).

  Custom:

  Control animation timing manually.

  • Evaluation Value

    Property used for animation time, this gives more control of timing (typically this value will be animated).

Axis Mapping

Forward/Up Axis

The axis for forward and up used in the source file.

Flip Axis

In rare cases you may also need to flip the coordinates on an axis.