The Roughen Edges effect roughs up the edges of a clip’s alpha channel by using calculations. It gives rasterized text or graphics a naturally rough look, like that of eroded metal or typewriter text.

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Original image (left), with Edge Type set to Roughen (center), and with Rusty Color (right)

Edge Type

What kind of roughening to use.

Edge Color

The color to apply to the edge for Rusty Color or Roughen Color, or to the fill for Photocopy Color.

Border

How far, in pixels, the effect extends inward from the edge of the alpha channel.

Edge Sharpness

Low values create softer edges. High values create sharper edges.

Fractal Influence

The amount of roughening.

Scale

The scale of the fractal used to calculate the roughness.

Stretch Width or Height

The width or height of the fractal used to calculate the roughness.

Offset (Turbulence)

Determines the portion of the fractal shape used to create the distortion.

Complexity

Determines the level of detail in the roughness.

Note: Increasing complexity results in longer rendering times. Reduce the Scale value rather than increasing Complexity to achieve similar results.

Evolution

Animating this setting results in changes of the roughness over time.

Note: Although the Evolution value is set in units called revolutions, it’s important to realize that these revolutions are progressive. The evolution state continues to progress infinitely at each new value. Use the Cycle Evolution option to return the Evolution setting to its original state at each revolution.

Evolution Options

Provide controls that render the effect for one short cycle and then loop it for the duration of your clip. Use these controls to prerender the roughen elements into loops, and thus speed up rendering time.

Cycle Evolution

Creates a loop that forces the evolution state to return to its starting point.

Cycle

The number of revolutions of the Evolution setting that the fractal cycles through before it repeats. The timing of the Evolution cycles is determined by the amount of time between Evolution keyframes.

Note: The Cycle control affects only the state of the fractal, not geometrics or other controls, so you can get different results with different Size or Offset settings.

Random Seed

Specifies a value from which to generate the fractal noise. Animating this property results in flashing from one set of fractal shapes to another within the same fractal type. For smooth transition of the fractal noise, use the Evolution control.

Note: Create new roughness animations by reusing previously created Evolution cycles and changing only the Random Seed value. Using a new Random Seed value alters the noise pattern without disturbing the evolution animation.