Live Explosion produces copies of a selection in a pattern that spreads from a central point. The copies can be arranged and resized to represent explosions moving toward or away from the viewer's perspective. Live Explosion can be applied to an object, objects, groups of objects.
Original object can be edited, and the effect will automatically update.
This effect is compatible with Illustrator’s “Action.”
Example:
From sample file live_explosion_01.ai
- Create a new document (set Units as Points) from “Illustrator > File > New…” menu.
- Select “Illustrator > Window > FILTERiT5 > Live Explosion” menu. “FILTERiT5: Live Explosion” panel will open.
- Create an ellipse on the document’s artboard. Use Illustrator’s “Ellipse Tool” and draw an ellipse with Width as 60 pt, Height as 3 pt. Set the Fill Color to White and Stroke to none.
- Select the ellipse.
- From the panel menu (located on the upper right corner), select “Default Settings.”
- Click “Apply” button on the panel.
- Check “Same Sequence” on the panel.
- Change the Size and Fill color on the Ellipse.
- Change settings on the panel by referring to the following paragraph.
Setting items:
Total
The total represents the number of copies created plus the original object or objects.Radial Deviation
The Radial Deviation value governs the regularity of the distribution of copies. When set to 0, copies will be placed uniformly and regularly throughout the range of the effect. As the value increases, groups or clusters of copies may be produced.Keep Angle
When checked, each copy will retain the original object's vertical orientation.Core Radius
Core Radius determines the distance from the original object to the center of the effect. The value can range from -4000 points to 4000 points, or the equivalent in the unit of measure specified in the Preferences. Positive numbers locate the effect's center to the left of the original object; negative numbers move the effect's center to the right of the original object. The Core Radius defines a circle along which the effect is created, and is measured from the center left point of the selection's bounding box. A Core Radius of 0 centers the effect on the original object or group's left-center point.Spread
The Spread value determines where copies will be placed in relation to the circle defined by the Core Radius. A Spread of 0 results in objects aligning to that circle. Negative numbers concentrate the variation toward the center of the circle, while positive numbers result in copies spreading outward from the circle.Space
The relationship of the copies among themselves is determined in part by the Space setting. There are three options.Dec: The Deceleration option groups copies closer together the farther they are from the center of the effect.
Uni: Copies of objects will be distributed uniformly, regardless of distance from the effect's center.
Acc: The Acceleration mode groups copies closer together when they are closer to the center of the effect.Show Center Mark
The Center Mark is a small cross in the middle of the effect. Its distance from the original object is governed by the Core Radius.Shrink/Grow
The Shrink/Grow value governs the variation is size of the copies created by Live Explosion. At 100%, all copies are the same size as the original object. At 1%, the farthest objects are smallest; at 200% the copies farthest from the center are twice the size of the original. When a negative value is entered, copies will be reduced in size to the midpoint of the radius, and then will increase in size toward the edges, to the value entered. The effect is similar to looking directly at a stream of debris headed directly toward you from a distant explosion: Many objects in the center and at the edges appear larger, while more distant objects can be seen between them.Transparentize (Group Box)
Specify transparency in the radial axis direction.
Choose the direction "inside," "outward," "random." "Opacity" is a convergence value.
Same Sequence
Checking the Same Sequence box allows you to edit an existing distribution of objects. If the box is unchecked, each change in the Live Explosion palette generates a new set of copies.Live Update
Updating the Artboard while you work can result in slow screen redraw times, especially when Live Explosion is creating a high number of steps. Unchecking this option leaves the selected object unchanged until you click the Apply button. When checked, Live Update will automatically apply the Live Explosion settings as you make changes.Expand/Release/Apply
The Expand button creates individual objects from each of the intermediary steps created by Live Explosion. The objects will be grouped. The Release button removes the Live Explosion effect. The Apply button applies the current settings to selected objects.Panel Menu
The Panel menu is accessed by clicking the icon in the upper right corner of the panel.
You can reset the panel setting to 'Default Settings' or name the current settings and save as the preset menu.
For how to use the preset menu, please refer to 'Preset Menu.’