User Guide

Using Image Effects310
The effect automatically controls
mixing of the secondary color with
Nozzle elements to produce depth
shading. Shadows tend toward
black, so this is a good color to use.
5 Choose Effects menu > Esoterica
> Place Elements.
6 In the Place Elements dialog box,
specify a number of iterations.
In each iteration, the points seek to
distance themselves from each
other on the surface of the virtual
sphere. The points start at random
locations, so if you set zero as the
number of iterations, their
placement is completely random.
Higher numbers of iterations
increase the regularity of the
spacing.
7 Adjust the Points slider to set the
number of points to create on the
virtual sphere.
Each point created correlates to an
image element placed.
8 Select the Number of Levels.
With one level, each point receives
only one element.
With two levels, each point
receives an element, then is used as
the center for another virtual
sphere on which point iteration
and element placement repeats.
The third level extends sphere
creation and element placement
once more.
The number of elements increases
rapidly with more than one level.
For example, if you choose 12
points and three levels you'll create
12+(12x12)+(12x12x12) = 1884
elements. Of course, many of these
will probably be covered by later
placements.
9 Adjust the Radius Fraction slider.
Radius Fraction determines the
size of the virtual spheres created
at the second and third levels. The
first level radius is multiplied by
the fraction amount to determine
the radius of the second level
spheres.
The fraction is used again between
the second and third levels. Higher
values (above 1.0) increase
overlapping of the spheres. Lower
values (below 1.0) preclude
overlapping (when sufficient
iterations are used to distribute the
points.)
10 Adjust the Oversizing slider.
Oversizing controls the diameter
of the level one virtual sphere in
relation to the selection marquee.
At 2.5, the sphere fits within the
selection. Higher numbers shrink
the sphere. Lower numbers stretch
it beyond the selection.
11 Adjust the Ambient Amount slider.
Ambient Amount controls the use
of the secondary color in elements
that appear on the virtual sphere
away from the light source. This is
how the clump of placed elements
exhibits coherent three-
dimensional shading when black is
used as the secondary color. The
default is 0.7, which produces good
shading results. Increasing the
value brings in more of the
secondary color. Decreasing it
reduces secondary color mixing.
12 Enable Display Iterations to
display a small marker for each
point after each iteration.
When this option is enabled, you
can see the points move as they
seek to avoid each other. This can
be a help in deciding the number
of iterations to use.