getting around the limits of the profile gradient

ok, here's the situation: i have a filter that has an effect that is like a curtain which can be raised from the bottom up. imagine a horizontal bar lying on the bottom of an image and then being able to draw it up with a curtain attached that raises with the bar as it goes, thus partially covering the base image as it raises.

this works fine on square images. it works fine on images where the horizontal dimensions of the base image are longer than the vertical. but, because it's using a profile gradient to do this, it will not work right when the horizontal dimension of the base image is shorter than the vertical. because the profile gradient wants to remain seamless, you get an artifical bottom of the base image starting part way up the base image.

now, i know squarification has been discussed before and i dont really recall the outcome of that discussion, but i'd sure like to see a profile gradient 2, one which doesnt have to be seamless. just throw it in as an extra component. there are a lot of effects where this would be useful.

i also tried to do a work-around with a frames component but no go. you need that profile gradient and the step curve to make some of these cut-off effects work right.

so, one, i'm offering a work-around here and asking if anyone else knows of one. my work-around is to first, outside of filter forge, rotate the base image so the horizontal is now the longer side. you then just rotate the profile gradient to have it make the effect starting on the left (if the base image's bottom is on the left). your 'curtain' will now 'raise' from the bottom of the base image going left to right, but will be correct as if the base image were upright. you then save and rotate the finished image back upright.

now, that's kind of clumsy and i just thought of another possibility. i believe you can rotate the base image within FF. so, you could just make the rotate part of the filter and do the other steps like i said.

better yet would be if FF had a built in rotate feature, either as a component or within the gui.

anyways, if you folks know of a better way to do this, please post.

craig

ok, i was wrong about rotating and working from the side. the same limit happens regardless of going from bottom to top or side to side. so, that work-around i mentioned doesnt work we need a profile gradient that doesnt have to be seamless and one that is.

craig

mike,

thanks. i'll look at the hair filter. and yes, i'd wondered if the frame comp might work. i also want to see how you got those nice, trim ends. i have another use for that result.

craig