Use marker atoms to visualize internal motion

Figure 8. Marker atoms in a deforming crystal

Marker atoms in a deforming crystal


Marker atoms can be used to make the internal deformation in a solid visible as shown in the example on the right. Another possible application is tracking diffusing particles in a fluid over the course of a simulation.

The example animation has been created as follows:

  1. First we apply the Slice modifier at frame 0 of the simulation (the initial state) to select a stripe of atoms. Activate the Select particles option to let the modifier create a selection (instead of deleting atoms).

  2. We then apply the Freeze property modifier and choose the Selection particle property as the one to be frozen. The modifier automatically takes a snapshot of the particle selection state generated by the Slice modifier and preserves it over time.

  3. Finally the Assign color modifier is used to assign a special marker color to the selected particles.