In addition to the Distort Tool found in the Tools Palette, AVA offers an advanced distortion method which increases, or indeed decreases the amount an area is distorted by.

Setting up the Distort Settings

Before using this method, the Distort Settings should be set up to meet your requirements.

Go to AVA Menu > Settings , and select Distort. You may need to click on the Navigator button at the top of this window before you see all the available options. 

• Number of grids across - this is the number of cells used across the distort grid you draw. If you feel the grid you draw does not have enough cells, simply remove that grid, increase this number and re-draw the grid. Alternatively, if you feel the grid you draw is too dense, simply remove the grid, decrease this number and re-draw the grid.
• Auto render- choose when the distortion happens
  • Off - switches rendering off and the changes will not be seen until you apply the distortion using the keyboard shortcut ⌘9, or go to Edit Menu > Select > Apply Distortion.
  • On - will show the distortion in real time as you drag the nodes and lines of the distortion grid
  • At end of dragging - will show the distortion as soon as you stop dragging a node or line

Distorting a selected area

1. Select an area using any of the selection tools such as the Lasso Tool or Rectangular Selection Tool.
2. Go to Edit Menu > Select > Distort. A grid is placed over the selection and a grid layer is added at the bottom of the layer list in the Layers Palette. The Grid Selection Tool is automatically selected in the Tools Palette and is used to manipulate the grid.
   
   A floating window will also open when the Grid Selection Tool is selected.
   
   
3. Toggle the Gravity brush setting on and off according to the work you are doing.  With this option selected, you are able to specify the size of your cursor.

Moving individual points and lines

Distort the selected elements using the techniques below:

• Points - place the cursor over one of the points on the grid. The cursor will change to a bold cross. Click down on the point and drag it. You will see the grid cells around the point moving and changing shape as you move.
• Lines - place the cursor over a horizontal or vertical line on the grid. The cursor will change to a pointing finger. Drag the line up, down or across. The whole line will move.

Go to Edit Menu > Select > Apply Distortion when you are happy with the effect you have created. This will apply the distortion to the active image or layers. Use the keyboard shortcut ⌘ D to deselect the area.

Using the gravity settings 

Several cells and points are moved in one go giving smoother editing over a chosen radius of the grid and quicker end results (this is generally the best method to use). Once Gravity is activated, select your preferred brush shape, width and height which determines the area covered by the distortion. A larger brush size usually results in a more fluid distortion. When the oval shape is selected, the slider at the bottom of the window can be altered to changed the brush height in relation to the entered brush width.

Using Spline Grids to achieve extra fluidity to your distorted selections

Spline Grids increase the fluidity of a distortion when applied with the standard grids, making it easy to edit your designs quickly and authentically.

1. Set the number of cells you want across your grid in the settings window;
   
   
2. Make a selection using either the Lasso Tool, Rectangular Selection Tool or magic wand tool, then go to Edit Menu > Select > Distort.
3. Go to the Grid Menu and select Convert to Spline Grid. Each cell of your existing grid is automatically subdivided into 8 smaller cells.

Use the gravity function with the Grid Selection Tool to manipulate the grid.