"John D. Gwinner" wrote:
> 
> Folks:
> 
>   I'm trying to figure out the best way to do an aquarium.  I want to show
> the 'ripple pattern' of light moving across the top surface of the water.
> This is a 'reef tank' and has high water flow.  I want this to be in effect
> a clear block (withan IOR) with a 'wavy' top surface.  My goal is to put
> some bright lights in the center where the 'hood' would be to show the
> 'glitter lines' tracing down through the turbulent top surface.
> 
>   I can get the look I want with MegaPOV and a heightfield using a pattern,
> but this doens't do the refraction properly.  I've also considered an
> Isosurface, but I need some variable 'noise' added to the ripples so that
> they can 'move' across the tank.
> 
>   If anyone needs, I can post my heightfield attempts, but I'm not sure this
> is the right apprach.

Have you thought about using surface normals ? You can also feed an
isosurface function into a normal statement to modifiy the waveform
to your liking.

-- 
Ken Tyler

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