Soft caustics: rippling ice light, like sun through shallow water
Soft caustics uses the Ripple field, so instead of one band you get concentric rings that travel outward from the center like light on the bottom of a pool. The ice spectrum keeps the rings cool, Glow is raised to 80 for a luminous, slightly blown-out feel, and the backdrop is a midnight navy. Shape scale at 110 keeps the rings large enough to feel slow and restful.
Make it yours
Tighten the rings into fine water lines
Shape scale is 110 here, which gives a few generous rings. Drop it to around 60 and noticeably more of them fit the frame, closer to rain on a pond. Pair that with a lower Spread so neighboring rings do not merge.
Dial back the bloom for text
With Glow at 80 the ring crests get very bright. If body copy sits on top, bring Glow down to 45-55 and check the Landing page preview; the ripples stay visible but stop competing with type.
FAQ
What are caustics, and how does this preset imitate them?
Caustics are the bright, shifting lines light makes after passing through moving water or curved glass. This preset approximates them with expanding rings, a cool ice spectrum and Complexity at 5, which draws thin bright lines inside each ring. It is a stylized take, not a physical simulation.
How it works
Pick a field and a curve
Choose one of 5 fields and 4 curves, or start from one of 17 looks such as Prismatic ribbon or Iridescent halo.
Tune the light
Adjust scale, bend, spread, detail, angle, glow, grain and speed.
Color and use it
Choose a spectrum or set your own paper, primary and secondary colors, then sign in with a free UX Pilot account to use it on the canvas or export it.