Generator Parameters

The Caustics generator creates an animated, simulated water surface. The size, speed, refraction, brightness, and color of the Caustics pattern can be modified and animated. You can use the Caustics generator to add light patterns to a project, or as the source object for an image map.

The Cellular generator creates an animated pattern that looks like cells moving under a microscope. You can change the color, size, and speed of the cells.

The Checkerboard generator creates a static checkerboard pattern. The contrast, color, size, and position of checkerboard squares can be edited and keyframed.

The Clouds generator creates an animated cloud pattern. You can modify or animate the color, scale, speed, and strength of the cloud layers.

The Color Solid generator creates a single-colored object. You can adjust the color of the solid, as well as keyframe the color to create an animated texture of changing colors.

Note: To create and animate a small, color-filled box or shape, use the Shape tools to draw a vector-based shape rather than creating and masking a Color Solid generator. This is more efficient in terms of processor performance and workflow.

The Concentric Shapes generator creates a repeating pattern of shapes.

The Gradient generator initially creates a linear gradient. You can change the gradient type from linear to radial, add and remove colors in the gradient, and change the gradient start and end points. You can save a modified gradient to the Gradient category in the Library and apply it to shapes, text objects, or particle cells. Additionally, gradient controls can be keyframed to create a moving, color-changing gradient.

The Grid generator creates a grid pattern made of two colored lines. By default they are white lines on a black background. Using the controls in the Inspector, you can customize the colors and line widths of the grid, and add graph paper lines.

Lens flares result from a bright light source pointed right at a lens, refracting off multiple elements in the lens assembly of a camera. This filter allows you to add a simulated lens flare to an object.

This filter can be used to simulate a bright light source in the picture.

The Membrane generator creates a sheer, animated sheet that appears to move gracefully about in 3D space. The speed, start and end points, offset, brightness, and color can be modified and animated. To expand the animation beyond the Canvas borders, increase the Width and Height parameters in the Inspector.

The Noise generator creates a random, colored static pattern. To make animated noise, you can keyframe the Random Seed parameter in the Noise HUD or Inspector. When filters are applied to an animated Noise generator, you can create unique textures. In the second image below, the Stripes distortion filter is applied to an animated Noise generator to create a vibrant, electric light-type texture.

The One Color Ray generator creates a ray pattern based on variations of a color. You can select the color, the degree of variance, the number of divisions represented, and the rotation of the pattern.

There are three Op Art generators to help confuse your background-foreground senses. The Op Art generators create mathematically oriented patterns using a repetition of simple shapes. Although some static patterns create a visual illusion of movement, you can keyframe Op Art parameters to create moving moiré patterns.

This generator creates mathematically oriented patterns using a repetition of simple shapes. Although some static patterns create a visual illusion of movement, you can keyframe Op Art parameters to create moving moiré patterns.

This generator creates mathematically oriented patterns using a repetition of simple shapes. Although some static patterns create a visual illusion of movement, you can keyframe Op Art parameters to create moving moiré patterns.

The Soft Gradient generator creates a soft-edged, radial gradient. The gradient contains an alpha channel so you can place the generator over another image in the project. You can change and keyframe the color, size, and position of the Soft Gradient.

This generator creates a repeating circular spiral pattern.

The Star generator creates a glowing star shape that contains an alpha channel. The scale, width, angle, epsilon (which fine-tunes the size of the star spikes), and opacity of the spikes can be modified and keyframed, as well as the position, color, and radius of the star.

The Stripes generator creates a default image with vertical bands of two alternating colors. You can change and keyframe the position, colors, size, and contrast of the stripes. Animate the Center parameter to make the stripes move continuously across the screen.

The Two Color Ray generator creates a ray pattern alternating between two colors. You can select the colors, the number of divisions represented, and rotation of the pattern.