The Ripple effect is part of the DreamSuite 1 Set. This effect allows you to place surface waves and ripple distortions on your images. Ripples and waves interact with each other where they intersect.

A. Transform Ripple Ellipse
With this tool, you are able to move the Ripple Ellipse by clicking over the center and dragging it. To rotate the direction of the ripple, place the cursor just outside the Ellipse and you will be given rotational control. To make the ripple angle at a perspective, adjust the outer path inward to shape the ripple into an oval. Adjust the inner path to define the compression distance from the center of the ripple making the ripples inside the circle tighter and more compact. Overlap ripple ellipses, and they interact with each other where the waves touch.

B. Create Ripple
Use this tool to create new ripples. Click onscreen, and a new Ripple Ellipse is generated under the cursor. Ripples interact with each other where they intersect.

C. Delete
This tool is used to delete effects, paths and ellipses. Select this tool, and then click over the item you want to delete. When this tool is active, you are shown all effect ellipses and paths from all tools you have used.

Ripple Types
This menu will allow you to select the type of Ripple you want to apply. The types are Circular Ripples, Linear Waves and Random Swells.

Wave Length
This slider controls how close together the waves are spaced. The lower the setting, the closer together the waves become.

Height
This slider controls the perceived height of the wave. Increasing the settings of this slider makes the ripples appear to be higher.

Compression
This slider controls the age of the ripples as they travel from the center of the effect. As waves age, they spread out more. Compression provides you with control over this aspect of the effect.

Wave Shape
Use this menu to control the shape of the ripple as it travels. Choices are Smooth Shape, Peaked Waves, Outward Waves and Inward Waves.

Phase
This slider controls the position of the wave crests relative to the center of the ripple. Larger values move the crests further out from the center.

Movement
This slider controls how much the background image is distorted by the ripple's uneven surface. Depending on how the Ripple is placed, the background image may either visually represent a scene reflected from the surface of the waves or refracted through them. By adjusting the Movement slider, the user can control how clear or distorted this image becomes.

Disorder
This slider displaces each ripple crest randomly, giving the ripples an uneven, real-world appearance.

Shield Transparency
When this is checked, the effect will only apply to the pixels on the layer and will not affect the transparent areas. Checking this option will change how DreamSuite applies the effect around a selection or on artwork on a layer.

Variation
This controls the random generation of settings used to create each effect's distinctive patterns. Changing the Variation value for the effect will provide a unique look each time the setting is changed. In Ripple, the Variation setting is used to generate unique patterns for Disorder and The Random Swell ripple type.

By Joe Cilinceon, © July 28, 2002