ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 7.0
User Guide
457
Contour Specifies the shape in the source layer that you want to use as the emitted wave. Contour numbers the
shapes by their order in the frame from top to bottom, left to right. The shape in the top left corner is number 1.
Wave Motion controls for the Radio Waves effect
Wave Motion controls specify how the wave emits from the center point.
Frequency Specifies the number of waves per second flowing out of the producer point.
Expansion Specifiesthespeedatwhichthewavetravelsfromtheproducerpointonceitisborn.Thisdoesnotaffect
the number of waves per second.
Orientation Specifies the rotation of the shape at birth around its center point. To animate the rotation, use the Spin
control.
Direction Specifies the wave’s initial direction when Velocity is greater than 0. By default, particles are emitted from
the producer point in an expanding radial pattern.
Velocity Specifies the speed at which the wave moves in the specified direction.
Spin Controls the continued rotation of a shape after it is born.
Lifespan (sec) Specifies the time, in seconds (including the fade-in and fade-out times), that the wave exists.
To prevent waves from abruptly disappearing when their lifetime ends, use the Fade Out Time control.
Reflection Specifies whether the waves bounce off the edges of the layer and back into the scene. This is effective for
generating displacement maps for use as water ripples.
Stroke controls for the Radio Wave effect
Stroke controls specify the appearance of the wave’s stroke.
Profile Controlstheappearanceofthestrokethatdefinestheshape.Theoutlineoftheshapeisanimatedinthewave
that emanates from the effect point. The quality of the stroke is defined as a 3D wave type.
Color Specifies the color of the stroke.
Opacity Specifies the maximum possible opacity of the stroke. The actual opacity of the stroke takes into account
this setting in conjunction with the Fade-in Time and Fade-out Time controls.
Fade-in Time Specifies the amount of time it takes the wave to fade into view. Fade-in Time is measured in seconds
and begins with 0 opacity at birth. For example, if the Lifespan is 3 seconds and Fade-in Time is 1 second, the stroke
is completely transparent at birth and fades smoothly to full opacity at 1 second.
Fade-out Time Specifies the amount of time it takes the wave to fade out of view. Fade-out Time is measured
backward in time from the end of the Lifespan. If the Lifespan is 3 seconds and Fade-out Time is 1 second, the wave
begins to fade out at 2 seconds. If the sum of Fade-in Time and Fade-out Time is greater than the Lifespan value, the
intersection point of the two fades is calculated so that the wave does not reach full transparency. If either Fade-in
Time or Fade-out Time is longer than the Lifespan, that amount is truncated to equal the Lifespan.
Start Width Specifies the width of the shape at its birth. End Width specifies the width of the shape at the end of its
lifespan.