Random Close-up

Creates a sequence of randomly selected close-up shots from a single video, creating smooth transitions between each shot.

Compatibility

Random Close-up is compatible with Final Cut Pro, Motion, Premiere Pro, After Effects and DaVinci Resolve.

Parameters

Scale

Defines the range of each randomly-selected sub-region, as a percentage of the frame. For example, if the lower bound is 20% and the upper bound is 80%, the size of the randomly selected sub-region will be no smaller than 20% and no bigger than 80% of the existing frame size.

Each randomly-selected sub-region is scaled up to fill the entire frame.

If you are unhappy with the sequence of randomly-selected regions, assign a new value to the Seed parameter under the Animation section. Each seed produces a unique, but reproducible sequence of random dimensions.

Pause (secs)

Number of seconds the effect will display each randomly-selected sub-region before showing the next. The time it takes to transition to the next frame is determined by the Transitions (secs) parameter below.

When setting this value to 0, the plug-in will constantly transition from one frame to the next. Note that you cannot have both Pause and Transition be 0, as that would mean that there is no time to display any frame, or any transition.

Transition (secs)

Number of seconds the effect will take to transition from one randomly-selected sub-region to the next. When set to 0, no transition effect is used at all, and the effect moves through each frame through clean cuts.

Transition

The following options are available:

  • Dissolve (default) — A simple cross dissolve.
  • Pan — The current frame is scaled and translated to the location and scale of the next randomly selected frame.
  • Push — The current frame is pushed outside the frame, as the next randomly selected frame slides into the frame.
  • Flip — The current frame is flipped to reveal the next frame on its backside.
  • Cube — The current frame is rotated in 3D as if to reveal the next frame on the next face of a simulated cube.
Allows you to pick which effect is used to transition from one random region to the next.

Push Direction

Determines the direction in which the current randomly-selected close-up moves off the screen, when the current Transition effect is set to Push.

Push Gap

Determines the distance between two regions, as one moves off the screen and another moves into the frame. Applicable only when the current Transition effect is set to Push.

Flip Direction

Determines the direction in which the current region is flipped, when the current Transition effect is set to Flip.

Flip Alternate

When enabled, the direction of the Flip animation alternates at each frame.

Cube Direction

Determines the direction in which the current region is rotated in 3D when the current Transition effect is set to Cube.

Cube Alternate

When enabled, the direction of the Cube rotation alternates at each frame.

Transition Curve

Determines the smoothness of the transition effect.

Transition Exposure

Determines the over- or under-exposure applied to the output as the transition reaches its peak.

Transition Scale

Determines the maximum scaling factor applied to each region as the transition animates from one to another. The outgoing region is scaled up or down to the value defined by this parameter. The incoming region is scaled from the value assigned to this parameter down to 100%.

Transition Blur

Determines the maximum blur applied to each region as the transition animates from one to another. The outgoing region is blurred up to the value defined by this parameter. The incoming region goes from blurred to not being blurred as the transition completes.

Animation

Push Direction

Turn this parameter on to animate the Push Direction angle.

Push Direction Animation

Seed

A number that controls random aspects of the effect.

Click the New button to assign a new seed value. When the seed value is changed, the effect uses a different random sequence to produce a different output.

Edit the existing value to manually assign a seed number. This may help you replicate a particular sequence of random events. In Final Cut Pro and Motion, hold down the Option ⌥ key to access the Edit button in the inspector.

Motion Blur

Motion Blur

Enables motion blur at different quality settings. The higher the quality, the more samples are used. Multiple samples are blended together to produce a single frame of output.

  • Off (default) — Output frames are rendered without motion blur. This is the fastest setting.
  • Low
    Combine 4 samples to produce each output frame.
  • Medium
    Combine 8 samples to produce each output frame.
  • High
    Combine 16 samples to produce each output frame. This is the slowest, highest quality setting.
Multiple samples are combined to produce a single output frame with motion blur

Shutter Angle and Offset

The Shutter Angle slider controls the size (aperture) of the shutter used to simulate motion blur. The size of the shutter determines how long light is allowed to pass through the lens. The angle is set to 180° by default. A shutter angle of 360° means that samples are collected for the entire duration of the frame.
Setting a value of zero means that you want the shutter to collect light only once, which is equivalent to turning motion blur off.

The Shutter Offset slider controls the moment in time when the shutter opens and closes, relative to the duration of the frame. The offset is set to 0 by default. An offset of zero means the shutter is perfectly centered over the moment in time when the frame occurs. The shutter is therefore open an equal amount of time before and after the current frame occurs.

The Shutter Angle and Shutter Offset parameters are only available when motion blur is enabled.