Usage Tips

Make a Selection (for Photoshop or Color It!)
We strongly recommend that you create a selection before applying Cutout.  The filter will make it appear that there is a hole in your image in the shape of the selection.  A good experiment is to create large bold text and then run Cutout.  To see the results clearly, we recommend that you hide the marquee by pressing âŒ˜H.  After running Cutout, it should appear that you have cut a hole in your image in the shape of the letters.

Adobe After Effects
Since there is no concept of a selection mask in After Effects, Cutout simply turns the entire selected layer into a hole.  The most dramatic effects are achieved by applying Cutout to non-rectangular layers.  Cutout's parameters can be interpolated over time.  We strongly recommend that you experiment with changing parameters over time.

Previews
There is a preview window in the upper left corner of the dialog.  After you move a slider, the preview is rendered to show how your image will be affected by the filter.  You can view different parts of your image by dragging the cursor in the preview window.  If you wish to interrupt a preview rendering, press âŒ˜-Period.  To force the preview window to redraw, simply click the mouse in it.

Presets
To help you get started, there are presets available in the popup menu below the preview window.  These settings are saved in the file Black Box Prefs, which was installed into your Preferences folder within your System Folder when you installed the demo.  To quickly see a variety of effects, select different settings from the menu.  Note that your last used settings are always saved in the menu as Last Used.

Save your own settings by clicking on the camera icon.  Delete settings by clicking on the trashcan icon.