Sorts lines of pixels based on color or tone, and creates a linear smearing effect. The Min Brightness and Max Brightness settings allow you to define a specific range of values to be included in the sorting. In each line of pixels, all pixels within the specified value range will be grouped, then sorted by value.
- Sort Order From: Choose the layer whose contents will be used to calculate the sort order. Select None to use the contents of the layer to which the Pixel Sort effect is applied. Choose any other layer on the timeline to calculate sort order based on its contents.
- Sort Order Channel: Select the channel of the chosen layer whose data will be used for sorting the pixels. This can dramatically affect the results. Sorting pixels based on saturation values will give much different results than sorting them by Luminance values, for example.
- Grouping From: Choose the layer whose contents will be used to calculate the pixel grouping. Select None to use the contents of the layer to which the Pixel Sort effect is applied. Choose any other layer on the timeline to calculate pixel grouping based on its contents.
- Grouping Channel: Select the channel of the chosen layer whose data will be used for generating the pixel groups. This can dramatically affect the results. Grouping pixels based on saturation values will give much different results than grouping them by Luminance values, for example.
- Min Brightness: Specify the lowest value that will be included in the sorting. Pixels with values below the specified brightness will remain unaffected.
- Max Brightness: Specify the highest value that will be included in the sorting. Pixels with values above the specified brightness will remain unaffected.
- Edge Threshold: Increasing the Edge Threshold value preserves edge details in the image, preventing the sorting from crossing the edges.
- Direction: Specify the angle of the sorting.
- Sort Transparent: Enable this option to include transparent pixels in the sorting. For layers with masks or alpha transparency, disabling this option keeps the sorted pixels within the limits of the matte. Enabling it allows the pixel sorting to extend beyond the matte borders.
- Reveal Mode: The Reveal controls can be keyframed to gradually apply the pixel sorting. Select the mode used to reveal the effect.
- Re-Order: Linearly moves the pixels to their final sort locations.
- Flow (Dark): Pixels are sorted progressively, with the darkest pixels being sorted first, working through to lightest pixels last.
- Flow Over (Dark): Pixels are sorted progressively, from dark to light, and blended over the original image.
- Flow (Bright): Pixels are sorted progressively, with the brightest pixels being sorted first, working through to darkest pixels last.
- Flow Over (Bright): Pixels are sorted progressively, from light to dark, and blended over the original image.
- Reveal: Sets the percentage of the selected brightness range that is currently applied. 0% shows the original, unaffected image. 100% shows the fully pixel sorted image. The Reveal Mode setting above controls what method is used to reveal the pixels at all other values.
- Reveal Noise: Controls the granularity of the effect. Lower values smooth out the reveal, while higher values increase fine detail in the sorting results.