Adobe 12040118 - After Effects Standard, Tutorial

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Size Variance Specifies the range of possible bubble sizes. This control uses the Size value as the average and creates smaller-than-average
and larger-than average bubbles by using the range you specify here. For example, a default bubble Size of 0.5 and default Size Variance of 0.5
generate bubble sizes ranging from 0 to 1 (0.5 –.5 = 0 and 0.5 + 0.5 = 1).
Lifespan Specifies the maximum life of a bubble. This value is not absolute; if it were, the bubbles would all pop after the same lifespan, as if they
were hitting a wall. Rather, this value is a target lifespan; some bubbles pop early, and others may last until the end.
Bubble Growth Speed Specifies how fast a bubble reaches full size. When a bubble is released from the producer point, it generally starts out
rather small. If you set this value too high and you specify a small producer area, the bubbles pop each other, and the effect generates fewer
bubbles than expected.
Strength Influences how likely a bubble is to pop before it reaches its Lifespan limit. Lowering the Strength for a bubble makes it more likely to
pop early in its life, when forces like wind and flow maps act upon it. Lower values are good for soap bubbles. The highest value is recommended
for flocking animations.
Set this value low, and set Pop Velocity high to create chain reactions of popping bubbles.
Physics controls
The Physics controls specify the motion and behavior of the bubbles:
Initial Speed Sets the speed of the bubble as it is emitted by the producer point. The other Physics parameters affect this speed.
Low Initial Speed values in conjunction with the default producer size don’t affect the results much because the bubbles bounce off each other.
For more control over initial speed, increase the values for Producer X Size and Producer Y Size.
Initial Direction Sets the initial direction in which the bubble moves as it emerges from the producer point. Other bubbles and other Physics
controls also affect the direction.
Wind Speed Sets the speed of the wind that pushes the bubbles in the direction specified by Wind Direction.
Wind Direction Sets the direction in which the bubbles blow. Animate this control to create turbulent wind effects. Wind affects bubbles if Wind
Speed is greater than 0.
Turbulence Applies small random forces to the bubbles, making them behave chaotically.
Wobble Amount Randomly changes the shape of bubbles from perfectly round to a more natural elliptical shape.
Repulsion Controls whether bubbles bounce off each other, stick to each other, or pass through each other. At a value of 0, bubbles don’t collide;
they pass through each other. The higher the Repulsion value, the more likely bubbles are to interact with each other when they collide.
Pop Velocity Controls how popping bubbles affect each other. When a bubble pops, it affects other bubbles around it by leaving a hole that other
bubbles can fill, pushing other bubbles away, or popping other bubbles. The higher the value, the more popping bubbles affect one another.
Viscosity Specifies the rate at which bubbles decelerate after being released from the producer point, and controls the speed of the flow of the
bubbles. A high Viscosity value creates resistance as the bubbles get farther away from the producer point, causing them to slow down. If
Viscosity is set high enough, the bubbles stop. The thicker the substance, the higher the Viscosity. For example, if you want to create the effect of
bubbles traveling through oil, set Viscosity fairly high, so that the bubbles meet resistance as they travel. To create the effect of bubbles floating in
air, set Viscosity fairly low.
Stickiness Causes bubbles to clump together and makes them less vulnerable to other Physics controls like Wind Direction. The higher the
Stickiness, the more likely the bubbles are to form clusters and cling. Use Stickiness and Viscosity to create a bubble cluster.
Zoom and Universe Size controls
Zoom Zooms in or out around the center of the bubble universe. To create large bubbles, increase the Zoom value instead of the Size value
because large bubble sizes can be unstable.
Universe Size Sets the boundaries of the bubble universe. When bubbles completely leave the universe, they pop and are gone forever. By
default, the universe is the size of the layer. Values greater than 1 create a universe that stretches beyond the borders of the layer. Use higher
values to make bubbles flow in from outside the frame, or make it possible to zoom out and bring them back into the picture. Using a value lower
than 1 clips the bubbles before they reach the edge of the layer. For example, when you want to confine bubbles to a specific area, such as inside
a mask shape, set Universe Size a little larger than the mask size to remove all the extra bubbles and speed up the rendering process.
Rendering controls
The Rendering controls specify the appearance of the bubbles, including their texture and reflection:
Blend Mode Specifies the relative transparency of bubbles as they intersect. Transparent blends the bubbles smoothly together, allowing you to
see the bubbles through each other. Solid Old On Top makes a younger bubble appear to be underneath an older bubble and eliminates
transparency. Use this setting to simulate bubbles flowing toward you. Solid New On Top makes younger bubbles appear to be on top of older
bubbles and also eliminates transparency. Use this setting to make bubbles appear as if they are flowing downhill.
Bubble Texture Specifies the bubble texture. Use a preset texture, or create your own. To see the texture, make sure that View is set to
Rendered. To create your own texture, select User Defined, and from the Bubble Texture Layer menu, choose the layer you want to use as the
bubble.
Note: The preset bubble textures are prerendered 64x64 images. If you zoom in above 64x64, the bubble appears blurry. To avoid this
blurriness, use a higher-resolution custom bubble.
Bubble Texture Layer Specifies the layer you want to use as the bubble image. To use this control, choose User Defined from the Bubble
Texture menu. If you want the layer to appear only as a bubble, turn off the video switch for the layer in the Timeline panel.
Note: You can use any file type that After Effects supports. If you plan on zooming in or using a large bubble size, make sure that the resolution
of the layer is high enough to avoid blurring. Remember, the item doesn’t have to be a normal bubble. You can make blood cells, starfish, insects,
space aliens, or flying monkeys. If it’s a layer in your composition, it can be a bubble.