3D Displace with Sphere mesh

[peter007]

I'd like to find a way to move a grid of 3d objects "forward" using something like displace and a 3d sphere mask. My goal is to have the objects move forward x amount when the center of the sphere is over them, and move back into normal position as the sphere moves away. So far I have only be able to get them to snap forward and back into place. The key setting seems to be Exponent on the 3d mask. If I set it to anything over 0, it makes weird rotating things happen.

Here's an example with exponent set to 0:
Exponet = 0
Here's an example with exponent set to 0.5:
Exponent = 0.5

Is there a way to move, 3d objects with nice fall-off around mask without the weird flipping/rotating morph happening?

[Walter_heen]

Hey Peter!
Did you try with a layer mask which contain a circular gradient? It might be more relevant for you to use that (if i have correctly understood your wish)

[peter007]

Thanks for the suggestion! I was able to make a circular gradient work better. Closest solution was to affect scale. Anytime I try to affect position it affects all geometry, not just the position of each cloned object.