Surface effects
Expression Design offers nine different Surface live effects: Bas Relief, Chrome, Craquelure, Emboss, Glowing Edges, Mosaic, Plaster, Plastic Wrap, and Ripple. You can apply each of these settings from the Surface submenu in the Live Effects menu. For more information, see Effects. Note that you can also adjust an object's surface with the Bevel effect.
For reference below, here are the original three objects (no
effects applied):
a bitmapped image, a rectangle with a
gradient, and a text object.
Bas Relief
The Bas Relief live effect simulates a three-dimensional appearance of the object projecting slightly from the background. The parameters are Detail, Light position, Smoothness, Foreground color, and Background color.
Chrome
The Chrome filter makes the image appear as if it was created with liquid metal. The two settings are Detail and Smoothness.
The Craquelure live effect simulates fine cracks in paint or enamel on the object. The three settings are Crack spacing, Crack depth, and Crack brightness.
Emboss
The Emboss live filter creates a three-dimensional effect in which the object appears raised or lowered from the surface around it. The two settings are Relief and Light position. You can also create a similar effect with the Bevel effect.
The Glowing Edges live effect creates a high-contrast appearance that highlights the edges inside an image. The three parameters are Edge width, Edge brightness, and Smoothness.
The Mosaic live effect provides the appearance of a patchwork of rough tiles pieced together to form the object. The three settings are Tile size, Grout width, and Lighten grout.
The Plaster live effect makes the selected object appear as though it were created with thick wet plaster. The five settings you can adjust are Image balance, Light position, Smoothness, Foreground color, and Background color.
The Plastic Wrap live effect simulates the appearance of the object being wrapped in thin, clear plastic film. The three settings are Highlight strength, Detail, and Smoothness.
The Ripple live effect makes a selected object appear as though you were viewing it through an agitated fluid, like at the bottom of a river. The two settings are Ripple size and Ripple magnitude.
