Breaks the surface of our layer up into in a two dimensional patterned array of dots. The results are similar to a half-tone effect, but the dots are consistent in size, and are laid out in a fixed grid of horizontal and vertical lines.
- Seed: Randomizes the placement of the variations included in the dot matrix pattern. If the Variation controls are all set to 0, this property will have no effect.
- Size: Changes the size of each dot, and therefore the number of dots that are present within the frame.
- Coverage: Controls how much of the source image is visible within the dot matrix. This is achieved by controlling how the dots are affected by the variation properties. At 0% coverage, all dots will be given the lowest value within the range set for each variation property. At 100% coverage, all dots will be given the highest value within the range set for each variation property. So if you have Scale Shape set to 100% in the Variation controls, each dot has a range from 0% scale to 100% scale available. Keyframing the Coverage from 0 to 100% in that case will cause each dot to gradually increase in scale from 0 to 100%, but in a randomized pattern.
- Gradient: Adjusts the number of dots within the matrix which will be affected by Variation settings.
Position
- Position: Sets the location for the center of the dot matrix, using X (horizontal) and Y (vertical) values.
- Use Layer: Select another layer from the timeline using this menu, to use the selected layer’s position as the center of the dot matrix. When a layer is selected, the Position property above functions as an offset from the parent layer’s position.
Dot Appearance
- Shape: Select the shape of each dot within the matrix.
- Square: Each dot uses a square or rectangular shape.
- Circle: Each dot uses a circular or elliptical shape.
- Size: Adjusts the size of each dot, as a percentage of its available space within the matrix. At 100%, each dot will touch its neighboring dots on each side.
- Gradient Type: Select the type of gradient used to fill each dot.
- Radial: The color of each dot is strongest in the center, and fades out radially toward the edges.
- Pyramid: The color of each dot is strongest in an X pattern, and fades out between the arms of the X.
- Cross: The color of each dot is strongest in a cross pattern, and fades out between the arms of the cross.
- Gradient: Controls how much gradient is present on each dot.
- Gradient Alpha: Modifies the transparency of the gradient on each dot. At 0.0, the color within each dot will fade to black. At 100%, the color within each dot will fade to transparent.
- Aspect Ratio: Stretches the shape of each dot horizontally.
- Dot Texture: Select the layer that will be used to map color onto the dots. None uses the contents of the layer to which the effect is applied.
Matte
- Enable: When enabled, this option allows you to matte the shape of the dot matrix pattern using a second layer.
- Layer: Choose any layer from the timeline to use its contents as a matte source.
- Matte Channel: Select the channel of the selected layer which will be used to crate the matte. Luminance is most commonly used. If you select a layer containing an alpha channel, then Alpha will allow you to apply that transparency data to the dot matrix.
- Variation Mix Mode: Select how the matte is combined with the original contents of the dot matrix.
- Add: Adds the selected matte, increasing the visible area.
- Mix: Mixes the matte with the effect.
- Mult: Multiplies the selected matte, reducing the visible effect outside of the matte area.
Variation
- Noise: Increasing noise randomly removes individual dots from the matrix. Changing the Seed above will alter which dots are removed.
- Scale Shape: Adjusts the range of size variations that will be used.
- Scale Gradient: Adjusts the range of gradient variations that will be used.
- Scale Color: Adjusts the range of color variations that will be used.
- Scale Alpha: Adjusts the range of alpha variations that will be used.
- Distortion: Warps the matrix, thereby modifying the shape of each dot.