Home > Tutorials > Plugins & Filters > 
EyeCandy 3.1 Smoke Filter
E-mail this tutorial to a friend Email to a Friend

EyeCandy 3.1
Smoke Filter
Created by: Fignations of Imaginment

 
This filter adds a Smoke effect to and around the selection.

If you choose this filter without making a selection, you will get the following error message:

"This filter requires a selection or a layer with editable transparency. In this case, we recommend you create a selection."

The combination of each option creates the entire effect of this filter.
 

Wisp Width

This adjusts the width of the smoke wisps.

1st image: Length = 8
2nd image: Length = 25
 

Wisp Height

This adjusts the height of the smoke wisps above the selection.

1st image: Height = 45
2nd image: Height = 75
 

Breakup Amount

This adjusts how much the smoke wisps are broken up. The higher the amount the more the wisps are broken up. Amounts are from 0 to 100.

1st image: Breakup = 0
2nd image: Breakup = 25
3rd image: Breakup = 75
 

Breakup Roughness

This determines how rough the wisp breakup is. The higher the number, the rougher the breakup. Amounts are from 0 to 100.

With Breakup Amount = 45:

1st image: Roughness = 0
2nd image: Roughness = 45
3rd image: Roughness = 85
 

Inside Masking

This determines how opaque the smoke is over the actual selection. The higher the number the more opaque the smoke wisps are. Amounts are from 0 to 100. The images above all have a setting of 0.

1st image: Masking = 0
2nd image: Masking = 50
3rd image: Masking = 100
 


Edge Softness

This adjusts the softness of the wisp edges. It also affects how the Breakup Amount and Roughness options affect the selection. The greater the edge softness, the wider the coverage of the wisps and the more obvious the breakup and roughness is. Amounts are from 0 to 100. The images above all have a setting of 33 for the edge softness.

For the examples to the left, notice how the wisps spread out horizontally as the softness increases.

1st image: Softness = 0
2nd image: Softness = 50
3rd image: Softness = 100
 


Random Seed

This adjusts the randomness of the smoke. Random Seed is affected by the Breakup Amount/Roughness and Edge Softness. The higher the edge softness, the thinner the flames are. Amounts are from 1 to 100.

1st image: Random Seed = 1
2nd image: Random Seed = 25
3rd image: Random Seed = 100
 

Saved Effects

The pull-down menu that shows "Last Used" by default has a number of predefined effects you can choose. You can add your own settings by clicking on the pencil icon or delete settings by clicking on the eraser icon.
 


Other Shapes

This filter works on any selection, including text.

1st image:   Square area selected, selection inverted, then beveled to create a frame
2nd image:   Create text as a selection, fill the text with a color, and apply the filter to the selection.

While this filter is easy to use, its not always as easy to get the effect you want immediately. Play with the different settings until you get what you want. Some neat marbling effects can be made with this filter as well.