What it does
What can be done with Disk.fx? Well, this:
Heck if we had a radial gradient you could even do a Warner Bros. title screen.
h2]Original
Ok, sort of, but at least I try
The boring basic explanation is, Disk allows you to focus on a part of an object using an oval shape by darkening everything outside the shape.
Disk takes care of transparencies and semi-transparencies and offers a set of parameters to suit your needs.
Two useful .cap-files, not only showing the effect in action, but letting you tweak a bit also to get a first impression of the capabilities, are provided.
One limitation: Unfortunately, the important values of pixelWidth and pixelHeight are always passed incorrect to an effect (at least on my system). So there is no chance to take care of the aspect ratio. In other words, you will only get a perfect circle, if the object the effect is attached to is of a square size. I first thought about letting you pass the aspect ratio manually, but I rather decided to do an update when the bug is corrected.
How to use it
- Size
Defines the size of the shape in percentage of the object's size.
- Horizontal Center
Defines the horizontal position of the shape in percentage of the object's width.
- Vertical Center
Defines the vertical position of the shape in percentage of the object's height.
- Smooth Border
Defines the smoothness of the shape's border (0% = sharp, 100% = gradient to the center).
- Darken
Defines, how much the area outside the shape is darkened (0% = White, 100% = Black).
- Opacity
Defines the opacity of the darkening color (0% = Transparent, 100% = Opaque).
- Replace Content
*Handle with care* A simple switch (0 = Off, anything else = On). Almost always you don't need Replace Content. But in certain situations it can be useful. For example, if you want to use a Tiled Background as a layer effect (TB uses less VRAM than Canvas), you can setup a very small empty image in the TB and then activate Replace Content. It will then draw its own image with a 100% transparent shape and a darkened outside area. In the car.cap Replace Content is used on a Canvas to create a subtle dust effect.
Installation
Download and place Disk.fx in the effects folder.
Download
Disk.fx
Disk.cap
Car2.cap