Randomize
The Randomize tool is able to randomize all kinds of things (property values, keyframe times, layer times…)
First, open the Randomize panel by clicking on the Randomize button.
L’enfant au toton (Portrait de Auguste Gabriel Godefroy),
Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, 1738
Public domain.
You can choose to randomize:
- The Current values: randomizes the selected properties, adding a keyframe at the current time if the property is animated.
- The Layers: randomizes the layers times, or locatioon in the layer stack.
- The Keyframes: randomizes the selected keyframes values or times.
For all modes, you can select the mode:
- The Natural (gaussian distribution) mode feels more realistic and natural; when used in the position of layers for example, the layers will be distributed around the center of the original position, in a circular area. But with this mode, the values may jump further away than the exact amplitude.
- The Strict mode feels less natural, but the values are strictly bounded by the given amplitude.
You can also choose if the value is added to the current state (offset) or if it completely replaces existing values (absolute).
Current Values
If you split the multi-dimensional values, three axis are shown; you can just ignore the third axis if you’re randomizing a 2D value. In case of colors, the three axis represent the Red, Green and Blue channels, and are ranging from 0.0 to 1.0 (or more in case of 32-bits-per-channel projects).
Layers
- Indices move the layers up and down in the stack.
- Times move the layers in the timeline.
- In points and Out points cut the layer at the specified times, without moving them.
Keyframes
With keyframes, you can either randomize their times (and move them in the timeline) or their values.
If you split the multi-dimensional values, three axis are shown; you can just ignore the third axis if you’re randomizing a 2D value. In case of colors, the three axis represent the Red, Green and Blue channels, and are ranging from 0.0 to 1.0 (or more in case of 32-bits-per-channel projects).