Adobe After Effects - Manual (Page 588)

Position
Note:
To the top
Start Point, End Point
Segments
Amplitude
Detail Level, Detail Amplitude
Branching
Rebranching
Branch Angle
Branch Seg. Length
Branch Segments
Branch Width
Speed
Stability
Fixed Endpoint
Width, Width Variation
Core Width
Outside Color, Inside Color
The position of the text on the layer.
The Alignment setting in the Basic Text dialog box affects the behavior of the Position point. The point always positions the vertical center
of the text relative to the layer. However, if the text is left-aligned, the point positions the left edge; if the text is center-aligned, the point positions
the center; and if the text is right-aligned, the point positions the right edge.
Lightning effect
If you are working on a project that was created in an older version of After Effects and the Lightning effect is applied to one or more layers, you
can continue to use this effect; otherwise, use the Advanced Lightning effect. (See Advanced Lightning effect.)
This effect works with 8-bpc color.
Where the lightning begins and ends.
The number of segments that form the main lightning bolt. Higher values produce more detail but reduce the smoothness of motion.
The size of undulations in the lightning bolt as a percentage of the layer width.
How much detail is added to the lightning bolt and any branches. For Detail Level, typical values are in the range
2–3. For Detail Amplitude, a typical value is 0.3. Higher values for either control are best for still images but tend to obscure animation.
The amount of branching (forking) that appears at the ends of bolt segments. A value of 0 produces no branching; a value of 1.0
produces branching at every segment.
The amount of branching from branches. Higher values produce treelike lightning bolts.
The angle between a branch and the main lightning bolt.
The length of each branch segment as a fraction of the average length of the segments in the lightning bolt.
The maximum number of segments for each branch. To produce long branches, specify higher values for both Branch Seg.
Length and Branch Segments.
The average width of each branch as a fraction of the width of the lightning bolt.
How fast the lightning bolt undulates.
How closely the lightning follows the line defined by the start and end points. Lower values keep the lightning bolt close to the line;
higher values create significant bouncing. Use Stability with Pull Force to simulate a Jacob’s Ladder effect and cause the lightning bolt to snap
back to a position along the start line after it has been pulled in the Pull Force direction. A Stability value that is too low doesn’t allow the lightning
to be stretched into an arc before it snaps back; a value that is too high lets the lightning bolt bounce around.
Determines whether the end point of the lightning bolt remains fixed in place. If this control isn’t selected, the end of the bolt
undulates around the end point.
The width of the main lightning bolt and how much the width of different segments can vary. Width changes are
randomized. A value of 0 produces no width changes; a value of 1 produces the maximum width changes.
The width of the inner glow, as specified by the Inside Color value. Core Width is relative to the total width of the lightning bolt.
The colors used for the outer and inner glows of the lightning bolt. Because the Lightning effect adds these colors
584