Applies a periodic wave deformation to the image, displacing pixels along a sine-like pattern that evolves over time.
Although the distortion is spatial, the filter is temporal in behavior because the wave motion is animated internally by the Speed parameter.
Wave is a spatial distortion effect evaluated per frame. Motion in the effect is generated internally by the Speed parameter, not by clip movement.
Parameter description
Amplitude (1 - 500)
Controls the spatial scale of the wave pattern, affecting how wide each wave is rather than how strong the distortion feels.
Low values (≈1 - 50)
Many tight, short waves appear across the image.
Distortion is fine-grained, with short distances between wave peaks.
Mid values (≈50 - 200)
Waves become wider and more readable.
The image bends in smoother, more continuous curves.
High values (≈200 - 500)
Very large, slow waves dominate the frame.
The image may appear to be bent by a single broad wave.
Important clarification:
Higher values do not simply increase distortion strength; they increase the distance between wave peaks, changing the scale of the deformation.
Speed (0 - 1000)
Controls how fast the wave pattern moves over time.
-
0
Static wave pattern. The image is distorted but does not animate. -
Low values
Slow, gentle wave motion. -
High values
Fast-moving waves, producing strong motion and visual instability.
Important clarification:
- Speed affects only the temporal movement of the wave, not its size.
- Very high values can appear chaotic or flickery.
Note:
This effect should be evaluated during playback; a single frame does not represent its behavior.
Deform horizontally (checkbox)
Enables horizontal wave displacement.
- Pixels are shifted left and right along horizontal wave patterns.
- Vertical lines are most affected.
Deform vertically (checkbox)
Enables vertical wave displacement.
- Pixels are shifted up and down along vertical wave patterns.
- Horizontal lines are most affected.
Keyframes
None of the parameters are keyframeable.
Animation is driven entirely by the Speed parameter.
Parameter interaction
- Amplitude defines how strong the distortion is.
- Speed defines how fast the distortion evolves over time.
- Horizontal and vertical deformation can be used independently or together.
- Enabling both directions produces a compound, grid-like ripple.
Visual characteristics
- Continuous wave-like distortion
- Bending of straight lines
- Animated rippling when Speed > 0
- Can resemble heat haze, water ripples, or signal distortion
- Effect applies uniformly across the frame
Recommended use cases
- Stylized distortion effects
- Simulating heat shimmer or fluid motion
- Abstract or experimental visuals
- Dream, hallucination, or instability effects
- Animated background textures
Usage notes and tips
- Start with low Amplitude values; distortion increases rapidly.
- Set Speed to 0 to create a static warped image.
- Combining both deformation directions produces more complex motion.
- Evaluate during playback to judge motion accurately.
Limitations
- No control over wave frequency or phase
- Not keyframeable
- Can be visually overwhelming at high values
- Not suitable for subtle correction tasks