Beam Effect; Cell Pattern Effect - Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 7.0 Manual

ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 7.0
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User Guide
Specifies a starting point for randomizing the effect. Random Seed starts the randomizing
Random Seed (Analog)
at a different point, changing the appearance of the waveform.
Specifies the inside and outside colors of the waveform.
Inside Color, Outside Color
Specifies how to display a stereo audio waveform. Mono combines the left and right channels of
Waveform Options
the audio layer. Non-stereo audio layers play as Mono.
Specifies how to display the audio waveform. Digital displays each sample as a single vertical line
Display Options
connecting the minimum and maximum source sample. This option simulates the display used on digital
equipment. Analog Lines displays each sample as a line connecting the previous and next sample from either the
minimum or maximum audio source sample. This option simulates the retrace seen in the display of an analog oscil-
loscope. Analog Dots displays each sample as a dot representing either the minimum or maximum audio source
sample.

Beam effect

The Beam effect simulates the movement of a beam, such as a laser beam. You can make the beam shoot, or you can
create a wand-like beam with stationary start and end points. This effect uses a 3D perspective based on the change
in Starting Thickness and Ending Thickness. The beam looks best when motion blur is enabled and the shutter angle
is set to 360.
This effect works with 8-bpc color.
Original (left) and with a simulated beam (right)
The Length control specifies the length of the beam based on a percentage of the Time specified. For example, a
setting of 100% means that the visible beam length is at its maximum when the Time control is 50%. Time specifies
the time of the beam's travel from start to end as a percentage. The 3D Perspective control uses 3D perspective when
animating Time.

Cell Pattern effect

The Cell Pattern effect generates cellular patterns based on cellular noise. Use it to create static or moving
background textures and patterns. The patterns can be used in turn as textured mattes, as transition maps, or as a
source for displacement maps.
This effect works with 8-bpc color.
The crystal cell pattern creates a displacement map (center) that is used with the Displacement Map effect (right).