BackSpiceMaster -- Basic Steps -- Softness


Softness is a simple but compelling treatment that is creatively useful for many types of SpiceMaster effects, including directional dissolves, title/effect animation, PIPs and more. It is also one of SpiceMaster's advantages over most standard video effects. Applying a spice hard usually doesn't cut it!

Example images   More examples

More about softness techniques are below:
How to Apply Softness
How to Vary Softness During the Effect
Tips

How to Apply Softness

To apply softness, drag the Standard or All Edges slider in the Softness section of SpiceMaster until you have the desired look. Or enter a value (from 0 to 1.0) in the slider's box.


Softness Controls


Use Standard softness to…
• Apply super-soft looks (its highest softness exceeds All Edges' highest).
• Soften only the active (moving) edge of a SpiceMaster effect.
Use All Edges softness to…

• Soften all edges in SpiceMaster effects -- active and inactive (see images below).
• Create the highest-quality slight or moderate softness.

Standard softness All Edges softness
Standard softness All Edges softness

For a wonderfully blended softness, try applying both types of softness.

How to Vary Softness During the Effect

For further creative flexibility, you can smoothly vary softness over time. You can gradually increase, decrease, or pulse softness during the effect , all of which create unique looks. To vary softness over time, first click on the Animate icon next to the Softness slider you want to vary.

In the Keyframes area, the keyframe graph for the above control will appear. Go to a desired frame that you want to set a value for and drag the Softness slider (higher is more).

To add more keyframes, repeat as desired.

Tips

• To access useful presets, click the Section Presets button at the top of the Softness section.

• Fine-grained organic spice designs (such as those in the OrganicFX\Burst or OrganicFX\Texture folders of the Library) typically look best with only a small or moderate amount of softness. High softness can lose the organic motion detail of such effects.

• The Softness sliders also modify SpiceMaster's Texture and Bevel/Ripple effects. Separate softness controls are provided for Border and Shadow/Glow effects.

• Softness can smooth curved or angled edges, such as in rotated or moved spice effects.

Softness Examples

Example Images   View movie at our web site
A SpiceMaster directional dissolve emerges from the upper left corner to softly reveal the sunset clip, providing a subtle movement and curvature in the dissolve to match the arm action.

Example Images   View movie at our web site
A very soft SpiceMaster iris effect with a blue glow tracks the falling skier's movement, while revealing the abstract moving lights clip. Separately, SpiceMaster has also been applied to the title clip, to add a glow around the letters and to softly fade the title as it rolls to the left.

Example Images  View movie at our web site
A softened OrganicFX Burst spice subtly adds "soft rays" to reveal the emerging athlete. The effect's center also is keyframed to move right slightly with the footage.

Example Images  View movie at our web site
A softened OrganicFX spice is used to position, animate and reveal a filter effect within a single clip.

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