ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 7.0
User Guide
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Repeat Mode Specifies how a scaled-down bottom layer is tiled. Once uses only one tile, basically turning tiling off.
Tilesusesthetraditionaltilingmethodofabuttingtherightedgeofonebottomlayertiletotheleftedgeofanother
bottom layer tile. This option works well if the bottom layer contains a repeating pattern, like a logo, that needs to
read a certain way. Reflected abuts each edge of a bottom layer tile to a mirrored copy of the tile. This option can
eliminate a hard edge where the two tiles meet.
If Layer Size Differs Specifies how to handle the bottom layer when it is smaller than the composition.
Blur Specifies the amount of blur applied to the bottom layer. To make the bottom totally sharp, set this control to
0. Higher values make the bottom appear increasingly blurry, especially where the water is deeper.
Water controls for the Caustics effect
Water Surface Specifies the layer to use as the water’s surface. Caustics uses the luminance of this layer as a height
map for generating a 3D water surface. Light pixels are high, and dark pixels are low. You can use a layer created by
using the Wave World or Radio Waves effect; precompose the layer before using it with Caustics.
Wave Height Adjusts the relative height of the waves. Higher values make the waves steeper and the surface
displacement more dramatic. Lower values smooth the Caustics surface.
Smoothing Specifies the roundness of the waves by blurring the water surface layer. Very high values eliminate
detail. Very low values show imperfections from the water surface layer.
Water Depth Specifies depth. A small disturbance in shallow water moderately distorts the view of the bottom, but
the same disturbance in deep water distorts the view significantly.
Refractive Index Affects the way the light bends as it passes through the liquid. A value of 1 does not distort the
bottom. The default value of 1.2 accurately simulates water. To add distortion, increase the value.
Surface Color Specifies the color of the water.
Surface Opacity Controls how much of the bottom layer is visible through the water. If you want a milky effect,
increase the Surface Opacity and Light Intensity values; a value of 0 results in a clear liquid.
Set Surface Opacity to 1.0 to perfectly reflect a sky later. With a suitable texture map, you can use this technique to
create the effect of liquid mercury.
Caustics Strength Displays the caustics, the concentrations of light on the bottom surface, caused by the lensing
effect of the water waves. This control changes the way everything looks: The waves’ dark spots get much darker, and
the light spots get much lighter. If you don’t set a value for this control, the effect distorts the bottom layer when the
waves pass over it, but it doesn’t render the lighting effect.
Sky controls for the Caustics effect
Sky Specifies the layer above the water. Scaling makes the sky layer larger or smaller. If the edges of the sky layer
show, scale the layer up. Scaling down is useful for tiling a layer to make a complex pattern.
Repeat Mode Specifies how a scaled-down sky layer is tiled. Once uses only one tile, basically turning tiling off. Tiles
uses the traditional tiling method of abutting the right edge of one layer tile to the left edge of another layer tile. This
optionworkswellifthelayercontainsarepeatingpattern,likealogo,thatneedstoreadacertainway.Reflectedabuts
each edge of a layer tile to a mirrored copy of the tile. This option can eliminate a hard edge where the two tiles meet.
If Layer Size Differs Specifies how to handle the layer when it is smaller than the composition. Intensity specifies the
opacity of the sky layer. Convergence specifies how close the sky and the bottom or water layer appear, controlling
the extent to which the waves distort the sky.
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