Wave Fill
Parallel flowing paths that bend across the image while their width follows tone.
Wave begins with a directional line field and turns each line into a sampled polyline. The source signal changes its movement and width, producing a softer, more fluid alternative to Linear.
Controls
- Thickness controls maximum ribbon width.
- Spacing controls the distance between neighboring waves and their overall frequency.
- Angle sets the dominant flow direction.
- Organic introduces spacing variation, wobble, and rougher edges.
Try Thickness 6, Spacing 14, Angle 30°, Organic 10. Increase Organic gradually; very high values can overpower small image details.
Color
Static mode produces a unified line color from Illustrator's stored paint. Dynamic Color samples the source along each wave, making color transitions follow the flow.
Best Sources
Wave works well on portraits, fabric, hair, water, clouds, and landscapes with broad tonal transitions. If the source is noisy, increase Spacing to keep the paths readable.
Compared with Linear
Use Linear when you want precision and an obvious hatch angle. Use Wave when the direction should feel organic and image-responsive.