Sway

Sway rocks an object gently about its base, like something tall in a light wind: a tree, a reed, a lamp post, a sign. The base stays planted on the ground while the top swings back and forth.

How it works

The swing is a pendulum with a little extra shaping that flattens it at the ends, so the object lingers at each side before swinging back, the way real plants and hanging things move. It pivots at the bottom of the object, so it never slides or lifts. It eases in when switched on and settles back upright when switched off, and it is layered over the object's own position and animation, so it combines with other motion.

Settings

• Direction: side to side, or front to back.
• Angle: how far it leans at each end of the swing.
• Speed: how fast it rocks.
• Duration: one pass of building up, swaying and settling; with Loop on it keeps swaying.

Use it for

Plants, trees and grass in nature scenes, signs, flags on poles, tall products and characters idling. Keep it on with Loop for an ambient scene, run it on hover so objects sway when the cursor passes over (triggering again settles them), or switch it on inside an action. For a circular lean instead, use Wobble; for a gust that carries the object away, Leaf fall.