Suggestion of GRADIENT SHAPES (not only circles) filter for Skybase

This is a cool idea, SpaceRay

I don't think you need seperate filters for different shapes though. You could add a checkbox for each shape, and a density (chance) for each shape.that way if I want everything, I check all the checkboxes and adjust the density for each shape. If I only want squares, I can uncheck all the rest.

Love this example.

And another one

one more

another one

Thanks Ghislaine, glad you like them, and I think that this next example shows better the love

And for girls like you Ghislaine I think this one below could be of your liking, I personally do not like it but you could like it.

Yeah why not. Probably rename the filter "Gradient Shapes" now because it's so packed with features.

Here is another shape that although it looks like normal rings, they are not as this has been built with gradient and some shading so it is not a plain normal ring, is more like the polo mints candies.

And more more complex with smaller rings

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Skybase wrote: Not all the features will make it to the final version... like multi-shapes. Only reason for that is because the number of sliders gets ugly if I decide that each shape should have independent controllers

I wish there was an option that all irrelevant sliders would be hidden. For example, if you have 5 shapes in the filter, a checkbox would add the shape to the bomber, and also show it's chance slider in the settings. If on the other hand I opt not to use a star shape, the checkbox would be un-checked, and the star shape chance slider would dissapear.
That would clear a lot of the clutter off the settings tab.

After some time to recover from having seen the amazing and awesome thing you have done with the Lionfish in your last example, I am still impressed and can still belive that you have done this incredible image with the squared rings above !!!

If you want to have a view of how does it look the 14 group of components (well really 12 are shown as 2 of them could not fit) here is a screenshot using the Megaswitch map script by Totte that allows to have a 16 switch.

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Skybase wrote: Not all the features will make it to the final version... like multi-shapes. Only reason for that is because the number of sliders gets ugly if I decide that each shape should have independent controllers

OH YES!! That is the same problem I am having with this filter, having 14 shapes and having at leat 10 of them customizable makes the settings list a large one, and the problem is not the large list, is that is difficult to give the names to the setting and then find them when you need to modify a specific shape.

NOT MAKE THE MULTI SHAPES CUSTOMIZABLE

In my own version I have done of the Gradient Shapes, the Shapes themselves are NOT customizables in any way, they are fixed and defined and all the changes are done with the filters previous size and scale settings, I have not added any other new settings, and it works right.

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I do not mean that you will be able to mix ALL the shapes inside the same result, perhaps only be able to mix between 2 and 4 of them

This is a good idea. You can have a coice of 9 shapes, but you may use only 3 at all times. All you need to do is add 3 switches with 3 shapes grouped togather. for example, circles, rings and cresents in one switch, squares, hollow squares and diamonds on another switch, and stars, poligons and snowmen on the last switch.

Here's a "beta" version of it. I'm going to sort the sliders and rewrite the description. But it's pretty much complete as is. But I want to make minor adjustments to the shape generation and also do something about the background. Currently because the way I'm producing the particles, if the background is anywhere near white, you can't see any particles. So I want to do something about that before I submit to the library. Either way let me know what you think.

Gradient Circles Modified copy.ffxml

Here are some descriptions of the sliders (in order of their appearance.)
1. Base color = the basis color in which particles will be colored. This parameter needs to be moved down to where it makes a bit more sense.

2. Amount controls the "roughness" parameter of the particle bomber, this produces more smaller iterations of the particles on the image. Keep in mind that higher numbers result in slower render times.

3. SPH_Sides(+2) = limited parameter for the number of sides on the particle shape. By default values because the shape is fully round, you won't see a significant change in the number of sides. You'll need to change the parameter SHP_Round Out for the effect to be visible.

4. SHP_Star = makes the current shape into a form of a star.

5. SHP_Outline = Makes the shape look like its been outlined. This parameter also changes the position of the profile curve allowing for the particle to remain stationary while the bevel width is changed. Normally when you use bevel width, the shape's size changes with it, so I'm just doing some tinkering to keep the shape in the same spot.

6. Color Variation = randomizes the color scheme only, this parameter exists so you can alter schemes later if you want the position of the particles to remain constant.

7. Hue/Luminance/Saturation Randomness = Degrees of variability in the noise gradient.

8. Use Image Color / IMG Saturation = Color the particles based on the image instead of the noise pattern. Saturation does as it says.

9. Light Angle (Parameter needs to be modified) = Light Angle was originally intended because the previous forum thread created was about having masks n stuff. I'm reverting the name back to "angle" instead to avoid confusion.

10. Angle Chaos / Scale / Scale Chaos = parameters that affect size and stuff. Pretty straight forward.

11. Density = This value will significantly change the number of particles. Higher the value the more shapes you'll get but the slower the render.

12. Linear Dodge Mode = changes the blend mode of each particle fr om screen to linear dodge. This is just a style thing.

13. More Colors (needs to be moved) = just gives you more colors . Just badly placed heh.

14. Image Mask Mode = Allows you to use the image as a mask input. Selection is not supported on the grounds that if you're using FilterForge alone without Photoshop... it kinda sucks. So this parameter uses threshold to draw the mask instead. If you really really really want to use selection, just replace where the threshold is with selection.

15. Preview Mask = shows you what you're selecting. White areas = wh ere particles will populate.

16. Mask Threshold / Smooth / Invert Selection = controls the mask and it will affect the overall output.

17. Background Color (Needs to be altered) = Background color really shouldn't be there because if the user selects anything near white, they won't be able to see the particles.

18. Alpha Out = Makes it usable with a transparency mask. This way you can integrate the filter with other images or games or whatever you got going that needs this filter.

19. Opacity Chaos (needs to be moved) = Alters opacity.

20. Organize (needs to be moved) = turns the H and V chaos parameters leaving you with an orderly look for the particles.

Alright that's all.

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Skybase wrote: Here are some descriptions of the sliders (in order of their appearance.)

OOOHH! THANKS REALLY VERY MUCH for taking the time to make this great and long detailed list of what all the 20 sliders do. You are very kind and helpful.

The new changes will allow for even more insane things. Oh boy the possibilities. Here's the garlic default image. Renders in around 30 seconds. Not bad for the level of complexity.

Here is in the above in more detail to show the new excelent texture

The key parameters that produce the result are... Amount = 31, Angle Chaos = 100, Scale = 4 (no size chaos). Density = 2. The density is actually the reason why the effect works.

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Skybase wrote: The key parameters that produce the result are... Amount = 31, Angle Chaos = 100, Scale = 4 (no size chaos). Density = 2. The density is actually the reason why the effect works.

Thanks for it, I have done example with this and really LOVE MUCH this. I can´t thank you enough for having made this filter !!!!!

Did I say how much I LOOOVE this filter ?