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Lightning layer

Choose Layer > Attach Layer > Attach Lightning to active Layer... to attach a new Lightning layer to the active layer.

The new Lightning layer can be selected from the Layers listbox to make it the active layer.

The lightning layer renders flashes of lightning between layers.

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Parent to child

Flashes are rendered between 2 layers: the parent and the child layer. The parent layer is the layer the lightning layer is attached to. The child layer can be set with the Target Layer property.


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Fractal dimension

When the Fractal Dimension property is set to 0, straight lines are generated.


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Attach to light layer

When the Target Layer property points to a light layer, flashes are generated between the text and the light.


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No target layer

When the Target Layer property is set to 0, the flashes are launched perpendicular to the layer surface.


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Attach to yourself

If the target layer is the same as the parent layer, flashes are generated between different parts of the same layer.


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Size

If the 2nd slider of the Size property is less than 1, the flashes do not reach their target.


Lightning layer properties

Flashes per Second

The number of flashes that are generated per second. Note that you can use values lower than 1. For example a value of 0.1 means that 1 flash is generated every 10 seconds.

Flash Duration

The time a flash is visible in seconds.

Flash Size

The 1st slider controls the thickness of the flash.

The 2nd slider controls the length of the Flash. If the Target Layer property is set to 0 this length is absolute, otherwise it is relative to the distance to the target layer.

The 3th slider controls the detail level of the flash.

1st and 2nd Colour

The colour of every flash is choosen randomly inbetween the 1st and the 2nd colour.

Fractal Dimension

This determines the shape of the flash: a higher value generates a more freakish shape. A straight line has a fractal dimension of 1, a shape that fills 2D space has a value of 2 and a value of 3 completely fills 3D space.

Branching

This determines the amount of branching. A value of 0 never branches.

Target Layer

Flashes are generated between the parent layer (the layer the lightning layer is attached to) and the target layer. Take a look at the Layers listbox to find the index of the target layer.

If the target layer is the same as the parent layer, flashes are generated between different parts of the same layer.

If this property is set to 0, the flashes are launched perpendicular to the layer surface. You can set the length with the 2nd slider of the Flash Size property.