I can handle the manual deformation (thanks)
sorry for not being more clear, but how would I show the animation of the indention.
the rope is to be wrapped and then pulled to tighten.
so all the indention happens at once. can you set vertex modifications as key points? and then key point back to the original shape when the rope is removed?
OR (it just know came to me) could I use the indention as a target shape?

thanks for everyone's help.