FILTERiT 5: Live Reflections

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Live Reflections creates mirror images of selected object(s). Grouped objects will be reproduced as a set. Live Reflections offers four choices of reflection, as well as control over the distance between the original and the copy.

Original object can be edited, and the effect will automatically update.
This effect is compatible with Illustrator’s “Action.”

Example:

From sample file live_reflections_01.ai
  1. Create a new document (set Units as Points) from “Illustrator > File > New…” menu.
  2. Select “Illustrator > Window > FILTERiT5 > Live Reflections” menu. “FILTERiT5: Live Reflections” panel will open.
  3. Type “FILTERiT5” and create text object on the document’s artboard. Set font style to bold and font size as 36 pt.
  4. Select the text object.
  5. From the panel menu (located on the upper right corner), select “Default Settings.”
  6. Click “Apply” button on the panel.
  7. Change text object on the artboard.
  8. Change settings on the panel by referring to the following paragraph.

Setting items:

Horizontal: The selected object or objects will be reflected across a horizontal axis, producing a mirror image, by default, below the original.
Vertical: The selection will be reflected across a vertical axis, producing a mirror image, by default, to the left of the original.
Both H and V: The selection will be reproduced three times. By default, one copy will be reflected across a horizontal axis, one copy will be reflected across a vertical axis, and the third copy will be reflected across each axis. The result is four objects, in a two-by-two pattern, with the original in the upper-right corner.
Radial: When Radial is selected, by default Live Reflections will reflect the original object(s) across the vertical axis to create a pair of objects. It will then create the number of pairs specified in Total (see below) and distribute them around a central point.

Offset H
The horizontal distance between the original and the reflected copy is specified in Offset H. It is available for Vertical, Both H and V, and Radial. Negative numbers will move the reflection to the right. Values can range from -1000 points (or the equivalent in the unit of measure specified in the Preferences) to 1000 points.

Offset V
The vertical distance between the original and the reflected copy is specified in Offset V. It is available for Horizontal, Both H and V, and Radial. Negative numbers will move the reflection upward. Values can range from -1000 points (or the equivalent) to 1000 points.

Total
Total is available only for Radial. You specify how many reflected copies should be created. Remember that for values higher than 1, Live Reflections first reflects the original object(s) across the vertical axis to create a pair of objects, and then applies the Total number. Total can range from 1 to 50.

Live Update
Updating the Artboard while you work can result in slow screen redraw times, especially when Live Reflections is creating a high number of copies using the Radial option. Unchecking Live Update leaves the selection unchanged until you click the Apply button. When checked, Live Update will automatically apply the Live Reflections settings as you make changes.

Expand/Release/Apply
The Expand button creates individual objects from each of the intermediary steps created by Live Reflections. The objects will be grouped. The Release button removes the Live Reflections 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.’