Element: Poly Spike Ball

Poly Spike Ball generates an asymmetrical fan of spikes with many radial lines. This creates an effect similar to the Random Fan element, but with much wider areas of light and dark.

TIP: Poly Spike is much softer than Random Fan. In contrast, Random Fan produces very sharp lines which can sometimes be too sharp and produce unattractive patterns. Poly Spike tends to render much faster than Random Fan and can produce an acceptable alternative much more quickly.

Position

Sets the location of the Poly Spike Ball element. The position is always along a line that passes through both the center of the image and the light source. Alternately, you can click inside the Preview Window and reposition the element with the cursor crosshair.

A value of 1 sets the element at a light source. A value of 0 sets the element in the center of the composition frame. A value of -1 sets the element on the opposite side of the frame from the light source.

Brightness

Sets the brightness of the spiked ball. High values make the element brighter. Low values make the element less bright and more transparent.

Brightness and Scale work together to scale the spikes and either have them thick and bright (high Brightness) or thin and long (low Brightness). By varying these two controls, you can get many different looks out of this element.

Scale

Sets the size of the spiked ball. High values make the element larger.

Angle

Sets the angle of the rays by rotating the spike ball. Essentially, Angle decides where the points of the spikes sit. High values rotate to the right. Low values rotate to the left.

Count

This increases the number of spikes. High values create more spikes.

At left, Brightness set low, Scale set medium, Count at 3, Anamorphic off.
At right, Brightness set high, Scale set low, Count at 50, Anamorphic on.

Random Seeds

There are two Random Seeds. Seed 1 makes small adjustments to the element. The overall shape won’t change much but the individual spikes will change. Seed 2 will make large changes to the entire shape.

Anamorphic checkbox

Use this to create a wide elliptical element or a circular elliptical element. Turned off by default. When the checkbox is checkmarked, the Poly Spike Ball is elliptical. This simulates a common aspect of using anamorphic lenses in cinematography in which light reflections in the lens appear elliptical. When the checkbox is off, the element is round, since light reflections appear round in spherical cinematography.

Color

Sets the color of the Poly Spike Ball. Default color is white.