Convert
Right-clicking on a value in the Parameters dialog brings up a context menu which has a sub-menu called "Convert". The "Convert" menu allows you to specify that the parameter should be controlled automatically in various ways. Depending on the type of the parameter the Convert menu will contain different options.
To convert the value back to its original type, select "Disconnect" from its context menu.
- BLinePoint values can be converted to ...
- Bool values can only be converted to the Reference type.
- Canvas values can be converted to the Reference type.
- Color values can be converted to Composite, Radial Composite, Reference, Scale, and Subtract types.
- Gradient values can be converted to Gradient Rotate, Reference, Stripes, and Two-Tone types.
- List values can be converted to BLine, Dynamic List, and Reference types.
- String values can be converted to the Reference type.
- Vector values can be converted to Composite, Linear, Radial Composite, Reference, Scale, Seg Calc Tangent, Seg Calc Vertex, and Subtract types.
Contents
BLine
Converting a parameter to "BLine" doesn't seem to change anything. Perhaps that's the default type for lists of verticies, such as are found in outlines and regions?
Composite
Converting a parameter to "Composite" adds four real-valued sub-parameters called "Red", "Green", "Blue", and "Alpha".
Dynamic List
Converting a parameter to "Dynamic List" seems to replace each of the "Vertex NNN" sub-parameters with "Item NNN" parameters which can't be expanded, but can be exported.
Gradient Rotate
writeme
Linear
Converting a real parameter to be 'Linear' adds two real-valued sub-parameters "Rate" and "Offset" for controlling the parameter's value.
The parameter's value will change linearly over time, start with the value specified by "Offset" at time zero, and increasing by the value specified by "Rate" every second.
However, converting a vector parameter to be 'Linear' adds two vector sub-parameters called "Slope" and "Offset". These work just like "Rate" and "Offset" above, but in two dimensions instead of one. (So it looks like each of these subsections can behave differently depending on the type of the value being converted - so I'll probably have to re-arrange this page...)
Radial Composite
Converting a color to "Radial Composite" adds four sub-parameters called "Luma", "Saturation", "Hue", and "Alpha". "Hue" is an angle value and the other three are real values.
Converting a vector to "Radial Composite" adds two sub-parameters: a real called "Radius" and an angle called "Theta". Specifying an angle and a distance from the origin gives us a point, which is used as the value for the vector.
Reference
Converting a parameter to "Reference" adds a single real-valued sub-parameter called "Link".
Scale
Converting a parameter to "Scale" adds two sub-parameters: one called "Link", of the same type as the parameter itself, and a real-valued parameter called "Scalar".
"Scale" can be used on angles, colors, integers, reals, and vectors.
The resulting value is
Link * Scalar
Seg Calc Tangent
Converting a vector parameter to "Seg Calc Tangent" adds two sub-parameters called "Segment" and "Amount". "Segment" is a composite type containing two vertices and two tangents. "Amount" is a real value.
The two verticies and two tangents define a single curved segment. Amount is a number between 0 and 1, defining the distance along that segment. The resulting value for the whole parameter is the tangent to the segment at the given point along the segment.
Seg Calc Vertex
Converting a vector parameter to "Seg Calc Vertex" adds two sub-parameters called "Segment" and "Amount". "Segment" is a composite type containing two vertices and two tangents. "Amount" is a real value.
The two verticies and two tangents define a single curved segment. Amount is a number between 0 and 1, defining the distance along that segment. The resulting value for the whole parameter is the vertex at the given point along the segment.
Sine
Converting a real-valued parameter to "Sine" adds two sub-parameters: a angle value called "Angle" and a real-valued value called "Amplitude".
The resulting value is:
Amplitude * sin(Angle)
Stripes
writeme
Subtract
Converting a parameter to "Subtract" adds three real-valued sub-parameters called "LHS", "RHS", and "Scalar".
The resulting value is
(LHS - RHS) * Scalar
Timed Swap
This conversion is currently disabled.
Two-Tone
Converting a gradient to "Two-Tone" adds two color-valued sub-parameters called "Color1" and "Color2".
The two parameters define two colors which are used to create the gradient. These color parameters can be animated, giving us the ability to have the gradient change color over time. This can be used as a workaround for this bug.
