Tip: Prototyping offset masks with Photoshop's displace filter

This may not be usefull to anyone here but I like the immidiate feedback I get.

Make a new document named "DisplacementMap" -- Settings: 256x256, RGB, 8 bit

In the Channels pallet rename the red channel "Horizontal" and the green "Vertical. Now delete the blue channel.

Save this image as a PSD file to your desktop.

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Next make a new image named "TestGrid" -- Settings: 256x256, RGB, 8 bit

Fill this document with a 8x8 grid pattern or image of your choice.

Go to the Actions pallet, create a new action named "Displace", and click record.

Now select Filter > Distort > Displace -- Settings: 100, 100, Tile, Wrap Around.

Click OK, and select "DisplacementMap.psd" from your desktop. Lastly click the Stop button on the Actions pallet.

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Your now free to experiment with displacement/offset maps. Try applying some different gradients to the two channels of your "DisplacementMap" image and click save.

Then Select the "Test" image and apply the "Displace" action.

Repeat as desired.

Very nice. Hope you don't mind but I made a filter based on this filter and the method you describe.
http://www.fileden.com/files/109/preset1.jpg
http://www.fileden.com/files/109/preset4.jpg
http://www.fileden.com/files/109/Liqu...Dots.ffxml