Filters

Effects Basics

In Vectorian Giotto you have, at your disposal, some 30 highly customizable effects that can be applied to any shape, text, imported object (bmp, jpg, tif, png, gif, ico.), SWF movie, or movie clip. You can, also, assign two or more effects to the same object.

Filter Basics

Filters let you apply interesting visual effects to graphic elements. They can be animated in motion tween for performing dynamic effects on animated objects. You can experiment with applying as many effects you want for achieving combined effect. Filters can be applied to text, buttons, and movie clips.

Applying Filters

To apply a filter you need to open the filters window (see beside), select applicable object and then, by clicking on add filter icon, select the appropriate filter. You can customize each filter effect by changing specific options for each.
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Filter Types

Drop Shadow

The Drop Shadow filter simulates the look of an object casting a shadow onto a surface, shadowy object (Inner shadow effect), cutting out a hole in the background in the shape of the object (knockout effect) or just shadow of an object (Hide object effect).
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Drop Shadow Options

Blur X/Y : This option enables you to modify how much the shadow is blurred on X or Y axis. Higher the value, shadow is more blurred.
Strength : This value affects the solidity of the shadow. Higher the value, shadow is thicker.
Quality : Use this option to change the resolution of the shadow. There are three levels: Low, Medium and High. This option can influence the performance of the animation.
Color : Here you can choose the color of the shadow. Choose from the basic 40 colors, or try the custom colors.
Angle : Use this option to change the angle by which the shadow falls from the object. Shadow changes its position clockwise (90o – directly below an object, 270o – directly above an object).
Distance : With this option you can increase or decrease the distance of the shadow from object.
Knockout : Checking this option will make the effect of cutting out a hole in the background in the shape of the object. The shadow of the object will remain.
Inner shadow : Checking this option will make the effect of a shadowy object on which its original brush and shadow mingle.
Hide object : Checking this option will hide the appropriate object and only leave its shadow.

Blur

This filter is used to reduce image noise and reduce detail levels. The Blur filter softens the edges and details of objects. Applying a blur to an object can make it appear as if it is behind other objects, or make an object appear to be in motion.
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Blur Options

Blur X/Y : This option enables you to change the level of blurriness of an object on X or Y axis respectively. Higher the value, object is more blurred on appropriate axis.
Quality : Use this option to change the resolution of the blur. There are three levels: Low, Medium and High. This option can influence the performance of the animation.

Glow

The Glow filter lets you apply a shining color all around the edges of an object.
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Glow Options

Blur X/Y : This option enables you to change the blurriness of glow on an object on X or Y axis respectively. Higher the value, the glow is more blurred on appropriate axis.
Strength : This value affects the solidity of the glow. Higher the value, glow is thicker.
Quality : Use this option to change the resolution of the glow effect. There are three levels: Low, Medium and High. This option can influence the performance of the animation.
Color : With this option you can change the color of glow. Choose from the basic 40 colors, or try the custom colors.
Knockout : Checking this option will make the effect of cutting out a hole in the background in the shape of the object. The hole will be surrounded by remaining glow.
Inner glow : Checking this option will make the effect of an object which glows from inside its boundaries. The brush color and glow will mingle.

Bevel

Applying a bevel highlights the object in a way it makes it appear to be curved up above the background surface. You can create an inner bevel, an outer bevel, or a full bevel.
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Bevel Options

Blur X/Y : This option enables you to change the blurriness of bevel effect on an object on X or Y axis respectively. Higher the value, the bevel effect is more blurred on appropriate axis.
Strength : This value affects the solidity of the bevel effect. Higher the value, bevel is thicker.
Quality : Use this option to change the resolution of the bevel effect. There are three levels: Low, Medium and High. This option can influence the performance of the animation.
Shadow : Here you can set the color of the bevel shadow. Choose from the basic 40 colors, or try the custom colors.
Highlight : Here you can set the color of the bevel highlight. Choose from the basic 40 colors, or try the custom colors.
Angle : Use this option to change the angle by which the bevel shadow and highlight falls from the object. Both effects change their position clockwise (90o – directly below (S) / above (H) an object, 270o – directly above (S) / below (H) an object).
Distance : With this option you can increase or decrease the distance of the shadow from object.
Knockout : Checking this option will make the effect of cutting out a hole in the background in the shape of the object. The hole will be surrounded by remaining bevel effect.
Type : Here you can choose between three types of bevel: inner, outer and full. Inner bevel makes bevel effect to stay inside the boundaries of an object. Outer bevel makes bevel effect around an object. Full bevel makes bevel effect inside and outside an object.

Gradient Glow

Applying a gradient glow produces a glow look with a gradient color across the surface of the glow.
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Gradient Glow Options

Blur X/Y : This option enables you to change the blurriness of gradient glow effect on an object on X or Y axis respectively. Higher the value, the glow effect is more blurred on appropriate axis.
Strength : This value affects the solidity of the gradient glow effect. Higher the value, glow is thicker.
Quality : Use this option to change the resolution of the gradient glow effect. There are three levels: Low, Medium and High. This option can influence the performance of the animation.
Angle : Use this option to change the angle by which the gradient glow falls from the object (for outer type) or by which gradient glow shifts inside the object (for inner type). Both types of effect change their position clockwise (90o – directly below an object, 270o – directly above an object).
Distance : With this option you can increase or decrease the distance of the gradient glow from an object (for outer type) or how close the secondary color is to the center of the object (for inner type).
Knockout : Checking this option will make the effect of cutting out a hole in the background in the shape of the object. The remaining gradient glow effect will remain.
Type : Here you can choose between three types of gradient glow: inner, outer and full. Inner makes gradient glow effect to stay inside the boundaries of an object. Outer makes gradient glow effect around an object. Full removes an object and leaves the gradient glow of it.
Color selection : Here you can choose the colors included in gradient glow. Minimum number of colors is two and maximum is 8. To choose the colors first click on pencil icon on gradient strip then choose the color from the specter above, and then determine the presence or absence of light in the color by moving the slider on black – white bar. If you want to add new gradient color just click anywhere on the gradient strip, new pencil icon will appear. Distance between pencil icons determines the distance between the gradient colors.

Gradient Bevel

Applying a gradient bevel produces a raised look that makes an object appear to be raised above the background, with a gradient color across the surface of the bevel.
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Gradient Bevel Options

Blur X/Y : This option enables you to change the blurriness of gradient bevel effect on an object on X or Y axis respectively. Higher the value, the bevel effect is more blurred on appropriate axis.
Strength : This value affects the solidity of the gradient bevel effect. Higher the value, bevel is thicker.
Quality : Use this option to change the resolution of the gradient bevel effect. There are three levels: Low, Medium and High. This option can influence the performance of the animation.
Angle : Use this option to change the angle by which the gradient bevel falls from the object (for outer type) or by which gradient bevel shifts inside the object (for inner type). Both types of effect change their position clockwise (90o – directly below an object, 270o – directly above an object).
Distance : With this option you can increase or decrease the distance of the gradient bevel from an object (for outer type) or how close the secondary and third color is to the center of the object (for inner type).
Knockout : Checking this option will make the effect of cutting out a hole in the background in the shape of the object. The remaining gradient bevel effect will remain.
Type : Here you can choose between three types of gradient bevel: inner, outer and full. Inner makes gradient bevel effect to stay inside the boundaries of an object. Outer makes gradient bevel effect around an object. Full makes gradient bevel effect inside and outside an object. Color selection: Here you can choose the colors included in gradient glow. Minimum number of colors is three and maximum is 8. First pencil icons are fixed on their positions; you can change only their colors not position. To choose the colors first click on pencil icon on gradient strip then choose the color from the specter above, and then determine the presence or absence of light in the color by moving the slider on black – white bar. If you want to add new gradient color just click anywhere on the gradient strip, new pencil icon will appear. Distance between pencil icons determines the distance between the gradient colors.

Adjust Color

Applying an adjust color filter enables you to control the color parameters within the object.

Adjust Color Options

Brightness : Here you can change brightness value of appropriate color by dragging the slider left or right. Values range from -100 to +100.
Contrast : Here you can change contrast value of appropriate color by dragging the slider left or right. Values range from -100 to +100.
Saturation : Here you can change saturation value of appropriate color by dragging the slider left or right. Values range from -100 to +100.
Hue : Here you can change hue value of appropriate color by dragging the slider left or right. Values range from -180 to +180.
Reset : By clicking on this button you can reset all modifications and place all values on 0.

Removing Filters

To remove a filter just select the object on which the filter is applied, in filters window select the unwanted filter, and then click remove icon, or press delete key on your keyboard.