Each 'spice' file is a specially-designed grayscale map that guides SpiceMaster. In SpiceMaster Glass the effect will begin where blackest pixels reside (in the spice file's image, not your content), then proceed to where lighter grays reside, and finally end where the whitest pixels exist in the spice image. In SpiceMaster Slice the spice will form the basic geometry of slices. It's simple in concept but incredibly flexible and organic in its creative possibilities compared to the usual hard-edged, limited-adjustment, standard algorithmic effects.
 
Although conceptually similar, spices are quite unlike the typical gradient or
alpha wipe. Spice designs are wonderfully organic and useful instead of cheesy.
Spices collectively have thousands of hours of pixel-by-pixel fine-tuning for
studio-quality, ultra-smooth performance.
How
to Choose a Spice File
1.
Click the large Choose Spice File button located in the Spice section. Spice Library window will then
appear.
2. Click a subfolder in the Library's left pane, as shown below. Thumbnail-size
previews of available effects will then appear in the right pane so
you can visually compare and choose the best effect design for your segment.
Note: To see subfolders, click the "+" next to
a folder in the left pane, if necessary. Subfolders organize huge
quantity of effects into distinct styles.
3. Double-click a thumbnail in the Library's right pane to select the effect
and close the Library. Its file name will appear in the Choose
Spice button and After Effects preview will immediately
update to the effect. Or, single-click a thumbnail to see animated grayscale preview while
keeping the Library open.
Tips
• To quickly choose a spice you have used recently, Ctrl-click the Choose Spice button. Up to nine prior choices will appear in a pop-up list -- most recent first. (Note:
"Prior choices" are those that have been selected and applied in plugin,
not just viewed from the Library.)
• To choose a spice but bypass the Library, Alt-click
the Choose Spice button to get a
standard Open dialog box. Then navigate to and select
the file. This is how you can load a gradient/alpha wipe or black & white matte
you have created (or have from other software) that you may not want to keep in
the Library.
•To quickly choose a spice via a multi-level menu, Shift-click the Choose Spice button.
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