Apple Final Cut Express HD - Manual (Page 852)

852 Part IX Effects
Highlight (Render >
Highlight) Generates a simulated
specular highlight band. Â The Center point control determines the
location of the highlight, and the Highlight
Angle control defines its angle. You can adjust
the width and softness of the highlight with
two sliders, and the highlight and background
colors with color controls.
 The Dither and Gaussian checkboxes allow you
to modify the quality of the gradient you create.
Noise (Render > Noise) Generates random pixel
noise, similar to static. Â The random noise can be adjusted to appear in
varying levels across every channel of the clip,
including the alpha, red, green, and blue
channels, using the appropriate slider controls.
 You can animate the noise with the Random
checkbox and create color static with the Color
checkbox.
 A Noise generator, when superimposed over a
video image with a very low opacity level, can
be used to simulate grain, similar to a film
image or clip shot with a video camera whose
gain is turned all the way up.
Particle Noise
(Render > Particle
Noise) One of the more
graphical generators in
Final Cut Express HD.
The Particle Noise
generator, unlike the
Noise generator, creates
random patterns of
different shapes. By
adjusting its controls,
you can create all kinds
of effects. Â You can adjust the Size slider to set how large
the shapes are.
 The Shape pop-up menu allows you to choose
what shape to use (circle, square, diamond, or
random).
 The Soft slider lets you blur the edges around
these shapes, and the Density slider lets you
adjust how many are on the screen, evenly
distributing them across the frame.
 The color controls allow you to specify the color
of the shapes, and a Random Color checkbox
gives you the option to make them all different.
 The Time Lapse slider lets you adjust the
apparent frame rate of the particle animation.
Shapes Generates a circle, oval,
rectangle, or square,
depending on what you
choose. Â You can change the size or dimensions, softness
of the edges, and color of each shape.
Slug Generates a video clip
consisting of a black
image with an empty
pair of audio tracks. Â Slug is used primarily as a placeholder in areas
of your edit where you want to keep a gap
between two clips.
Generator Result Usage information