Reference / Effects / Generate
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Fractal noise
Fractal noise is a Generate effect.
What it does
Section titled “What it does”Making a repeatable pattern of fractal noise, with options for animation and complexity. Normally used as a base for more complex effects or textures.
Parameters
Section titled “Parameters”| Parameter | Control | Range | Default | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise type | Dropdown | Value · Perlin | Perlin | - |
| Fractal type | Dropdown | Basic · Turbulent | Turbulent | - |
| Invert noise | Checkbox | On or off | Off | - |
| Contrast | Slider | 0 to 400; higher | 100 | Per cent |
| Brightness | Slider | -200 to 200; any value by typing | 0 | Per cent |
| Rotation | Dial | Any angle; snaps every 15° while a modifier is held | 0° | Degrees |
| Uniform scaling | Checkbox | On or off | On | - |
| Scale | Slider | 1 to 2000; higher | 200 | Pixels at composition size |
| Scale width | Slider | 1 to 2000; higher | 200 | Pixels at composition size |
| Scale height | Slider | 1 to 2000; higher | 200 | Pixels at composition size |
| Offset x | Slider | 0 to 3840; any value by typing | 960 | Pixels at composition size |
| Offset y | Slider | 0 to 2160; any value by typing | 540 | Pixels at composition size |
| Complexity | Slider, whole numbers | 1 to 10 | 6 | - |
| Sub influence | Slider | 0 to 100; higher | 60 | Per cent |
| Sub scaling | Slider | 5 to 100 | 55 | Per cent |
| Evolution | Dial | Any angle; snaps every 45° while a modifier is held | 0° | Degrees |
| Cycle evolution | Checkbox | On or off | Off | - |
| Cycle | Slider, whole numbers | 1 to 30 | 1 | - |
| Seed | Seed | Any whole number | A fresh random seed per instance | - |
| Mix | Slider | 0 to 100 | 100 | Per cent |
| Blend | Dropdown | Normal · Darken · Multiply · Colour burn · Linear burn · Darker colour · Add · Lighten · Screen · Colour dodge · Lighter colour · Overlay · Soft light · Hard light · Linear light · Vivid light · Pin light · Hard mix · Difference · Exclusion · Subtract · Divide · Hue · Saturation · Colour · Luminosity | Normal | - |
| Matte | Layer | Any layer in the composition | None | - |
| Invert | Checkbox | On or off | Off | - |
| Channel | Dropdown | Luminance · Alpha · Red · Green · Blue | Luminance | - |
In the Effect Controls panel:
- Transform groups Rotation, Uniform scaling, Scale, Scale width, Scale height, Offset x, Offset y.
- Sub settings groups Sub influence, Sub scaling, and starts closed.
- Evolution options groups Cycle evolution, Cycle, and starts closed.
- Scale is editable while Uniform scaling is on.
- Scale width is editable while Uniform scaling is off.
- Scale height is editable while Uniform scaling is off.
- Cycle is editable while Cycle evolution is on.
- Matte is an input to an effect, scaling the strength. Invert inverts the mattes for calculating strength.
What each control does
Section titled “What each control does”- Noise type: Perlin is the smooth, cloud-like pattern. Value is cheaper and squarer.
- Fractal type: Basic adds layers as they are. Turbulent folds each layer about its middle.
- Invert noise: inverts the finished pattern.
- Contrast: increases the difference between white and dark areas of the noise.
- Brightness: lifts or darkens the noise after Contrast.
- Rotation: turns the noise pattern.
- Uniform scaling: when off, Scale width and Scale height scale separately.
- Offset x and Offset y: offset the noise pattern’s position.
- Complexity: how many layers of detail are contained in the fractal noise.
- Sub influence: amount to scale down how much each layer of complexity adds to the noise relative to the last.
- Sub scaling: amount to scale down the size of each layer of complexity relative to the last.
- Evolution: the current phase of the fractal noise.
- Cycle evolution and Cycle: make Evolution loop. With Cycle at 3, the evolution at 0 revolutions and the evolution at 3 full revolutions are the same, which allows for seamless looping.
- Seed: which random pattern is drawn.
- Mix: how much of the result replaces the original.
- Matte and Invert drive the strength of the effect from another layer’s brightness; see Effects.