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Chapter 12 Using Shapes and Masks 1063
Applying Filters to Shapes
You can apply filters to shapes, just like any other layer. When you apply a filter to a
shape, it remains editable, even though the filter changes it from a vector-based object
into a bitmapped object in order to perform the operation.
You can apply filters to individual shapes or to a group that contains a number of
shapes. You can use filters to stylize shapes far beyond the options that are available in
the Shape tab of the Inspector. More importantly, you can use filters in conjunction
with the Shape tab parameters to interactively customize a shape’s look, while
preserving the ability to re-edit the shape at any time.
Important: Once you apply a filter to a shape, you can no longer smoothly increase the
size of that shape using the object’s transform controls. This is because filters change
shapes from vector objects to bitmapped objects. As a result, they scale like other
bitmapped objects, which display artifacts if they’re enlarged too much.
For more information on using filters, see “Using Filters” on page 841.
Animating Shapes
You can animate shapes using both behaviors and keyframes. In addition to using Basic
Motion, Simulation, and Parameter behaviors, shapes have their own special category
of Shape behaviors. Shape behaviors allow you to oscillate, randomize, or wriggle the
individual control points of shapes, to write on a shape outline over time, or to apply
tracking data to the control points of a shape.
You can also modify a paint stroke created with the Paint Stroke tool (in the Toolbar)
based on how it was drawn with the stylus. For example, you can apply the Apply Pen
Pressure behavior to a paint stroke in your project and map the pressure used in
drawing the stroke to opacity. The resulting stroke appears more opaque in the
segments where you pressed hardest when drawing that stroke.
Original shape Shape with filter applied