Bokeh Effect

618

Thierry Lorey

354

24134

22 September, 2010

Description

The advanced stroke panel is used to create and edit custom strokes. This feature is in Fireworks from the early versions (Fireworks 1or 2). While Fireworks does not have versatile tool like brushes in Photoshop, you can still achieve unique effects with Fireworks built-in stroke like the Bokeh effect, stars from the outer space or even clouds, etc. All the effects requiring random objects.

Requirement

All Fireworks versions

Article

1. Introduction

The advanced stroke panel is used to create and edit custom strokes. This powerful feature is in Fireworks from the early versions (Fireworks 1 or 2). While Fireworks does not have versatile tool like brushes in Photoshop, you can still achieve unique effects with Fireworks built-in stroke like the Bokeh effect, stars from the outer space or even clouds, etc. All the effects requiring random objects.

2. Advanced stroke option panel

The advanced stroke options panel has 3 tabs: Options, Shape and Sensitivity with which you can: :

1. Randomize the color,
2. Randomize the scattering of the objects,
3. Randomize the size of the objects,
4. Set the blurriness of the objects,
5. Set the transparency of the objects.



Figure 1: Advanced stroke options panel

3. Effects with oil splatter stroke
1. Draw a simple line with the Pen-tool
2. Go to the Stroke Category dropdown menu and select Oil > splatter and you get a randomized splatter
3. To customize this oil splatter stroke, go to the advanced Stroke Options panel by clicking the Edit stroke button in Fireworks CS5 or Stroke Options > Advanced
4. By default, all the objects are transparent. If you want your objects to be not transparent, to be more solid go to Options > spacing. A higher value will remove the transparency of your objects but at the same time you will increase the spacing between the circles. To reduce the spacing while keeping the solid colour go to Sensitivity > Scatter > Random and insert a low value.



Figure 2: Oil splatter stroke

4. Effects with pixel hard

You can use a second option which will give slightly different results by selecting pencil > pixel hard as stroke option.

1. Shape tab

Square. Toggles the stamp between a round and a square shape.

Size. Sets the default size of the stroke. This can be adjusted each time you draw by changing the size in the Stroke panel.

Edge. Determines how wide in pixels the "soft" area of the edge is.

Aspect. Adjusts the shape of the stroke tip from a circle to an oval in the case of a round tip, and from a square to a line in the case of a square tip.

Angle. Sets the angle of the stroke tip. Used in conjunction with Aspect, this is a common way to create a calligraphic-type stroke.

2. Sensitivity tab

Sensitivity > Size > Radom. Randomize the size of the objects

Sensitivity > Hue > Radom. Randomize the colors of the objects

5. Textures

When you add a texture you add it to all the random objects.

6. Saving custom strokes

You can save your custom stroke with the Save as button but it will saved only for the current document and not across the documents. The best way to save custom strokes is by saving them as styles.

7. Conclusion

You can combine stroke options, blend modes, textures and filters to fine tune your effect or create new ones.

Examples of Effects



Figure 3: Random Colors



Figure 4: Squares and Random Colors



Figure 5: Confettis



Figure 6: Clouds



Figure 7: Stars from the outer space

Video

Where to go from here

1. Bokeh Effect
2. Custom Stroke
3. Create Custom Stroke
4. Mikko Vartio

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