Project tab
In this tab, you will find the [Load project...] and [Save project...] buttons for your project files. The file extension for the project file is PXY.
The [Save Pictures...] button allows you to save the current sequence of pictures. Choose the picture file format in the save requester.
The [Save options...] buttons will show the Option window where you can set some file format options.
The Pixel style frame allows you to choose how the pixels will be drawn.
You have 3 different pixel style :
[Smoothed] will mix the pixel color to the background color to produce a smoother animation.
[Single] will replace the background pixel with the source pixel.
[Double] will draw a 2 x 2 pixel square for each pixel from the source picture. This will make the pixels more visible.
The [Auto-Refresh] option allows Pixidilly to refresh automatically after any change.
Uncheck this option if your computer frequency is lower than 1Ghz and use the [Refresh] button in the Timeline area.
The [Play frame] rate allows you to skip some frames during the play process.
If the rendering time become too long, use a value of 1/2 or 1/5, this will reduce the play duration.
So you will have a better idea of the effect timing.
Background Tab
In this tab, you will set the project size by choosing a background. This background can be a picture, in this case, check the [picture] radio button and use [Browse] button to select the file.
You can also set the background manually by entering its size and color. If you want to do this, check the [Color] checkbox.
Some common size presets are available in the drop list.
The size is limited to 1024 x 768.
If you check the [transparent] checkbox, the background will be transparent if you save your pictures in BMP 32 bit or TGA format.
This is only valid for Color background, picture backgrounds will keep their transparency values.
Source Tab
In this tab, you will select the source file. Hit the [browse] button to select the file.
You can also set the source picture position, relative to the background.
To do this, you can enter the top-left corner position in the X and Y edit box, use the [Center] button or click into the picture.
Preset tab
This tabs allows you to choose between 9 predefined effects, and 6 different spread values. Check the effect and the spread value you want.
Hit [Apply preset] and [Play] to see the result. If the effect is not exactly what you want, you can use the [Advanced] button to switch to the advanced mode.
In advanced mode, you have access to each of the parameters separately. You can also switch to Advanced mode via the Menu : Settings/Advanced.
Note : the spread parameter has no effect with the [Aspiration] preset.
Distance Tab
In this tab, you will set the distance each pixel can travel during the animation.
You can set a range, enter the minimum value in the [From] edit box and the Maximum value in the [To] edit box.
The value is in pixel units.
The [Random] option will give a random value in the defined range to each pixel.
The [Center to border] option will interpolate a distance value for each pixel, the highest value goes to the border, the lowest goes to the center.
The [Border to center] option will interpolate a distance value for each pixel, the highest value goes to the center, the lowest goes to the border.
The [Distance to point] option will interpolate a distance value for each pixel, in the defined range, related to the distance of that pixel to the control point.
The [To point] option will set the distance for each pixel, to the distance to the point. The Distance range is ignored in this case.
The [Angle to point] option will interpolate a distance value for each pixel, in the defined range, related to the angle of that pixel to the control point.
You can also choose a direction, the values will be interpolated related to the direction axis.
You can click in the picture to set the control point position, or use the [X] and [Y] edit boxes.
Angle Tab
This tabs works the same as the distance tab but controls the direction where the pixel will go.
The value is in degrees.
An angle of 0 will move the pixel to the right.
An angle of 90 will move the pixel down.
An angle of 180 will move the pixel to the left.
An angle of 270 will move the pixel up.
Life tab
Same as above, but controls the number of frames the pixel will move.
The value is in frames.
Delay Tab
Same as above, but controls the number of frames the pixel will "wait" before it moves.
The value is in frames.
Color Tab
You can define, here, the start and end color for the pixel.
You must choose between [Picture color] which means color from the source picture and [color] which is a custom color.
You can click in the color shape to set the color.
The [Fadeout] value is a percent value and represents the amount of time that the color fade will take, related to the Life value of the pixel.
Example : if the Life of a pixel is 20, the start color is [Picture color], end color is white, fadeout is 20% .
The pixel will move 16 frame in [Picture color], then it will fade to white in 4 frames (20 x 20%).
Opacity Tab
In this tab, you will set the start and end value for the pixel opacity.
The [Fadeout] value is a percent value and represents the amount of time that the start value will fade into the end value, related to the Life value of the pixel.
Speed Tab
In this tab, you will control the speed of the pixel related to the life value.
The values have only a small influence on the final effect.
Trajectory Tab
This tab give you acces to an additionnal trajectory that you can add to the pixel movement.
You have few choices but you can control the trajectory amplitude with the Scale factor edit boxes.