Bottom Section
The Bottom section of the dialog has the following controls:
AG Transform Parameters Dialog - Bottom Section
1. Copies
The number of copies to make for each art object at the specified grouping level. This is the same as the setting in the native Transform effect. When copy randomization is enabled, this value represents the minimum number of copies that may be randomly produced.
2. Maximum Copies
Available when copy randomization is enabled; it specifies the maximum number of copies that may be randomly produced.
3. Copies Randomize
When randomization is enabled, the number of copies is not fixed for each object, but is chosen randomly between the specified minimum and maximum values. The distribution of those values (linearly or in a Gaussian manner) can be specified, as well as the random seed.
AG Transform Copy Randomization Examples
4. Stack
Specifies whether each copy is created upward or downward in the stacking order (the native Transform effect always stacks downward).
AG Transform Stacking Order
5. Apply at Grouping Level
Unless a live effect is applied above all strokes and fills (a “pre” effect), or inside a stroke or a fill and above other live effects, the art object internally passed to it is always a group. And this group may contain other groups, and so on. The Grouping Level controls the level at which the effect is applied, which affects what elements in the hierarchy get different random transformations as well as how the center of rotation and scale point are calculated. The Grouping Level can range from 0 (representing the top-level art) to 29 (the deepest level of group nesting allowed in Illustrator).
In the simplest case (when AG Transform is applied to a single stroked-and-filled path), the live effect mechanism separates the stroke from the fill, and passes a stroke-only path and a fill-only path to the live effect in a group. So while a Grouping Level of 0 would apply the same transformation to the stroke and fill (because it is applied to the top-level group), a Grouping Level of 1 would cause it to consider the stroke and fill as separate objects, and if randomization was on, they would get different random values:
AG Transform Grouping Level on Simple Path
Next, consider the case of applying AG Transform to a group of stroked and filled paths. This top-level group may or may not have its own stroke and/or fill in its appearance. Here, the group passed to the effect has three groups inside it. One is composed of the paths with group level strokes (if there is no group level stroke, these would have no stroke or fill); another is composed of the paths with group level fills (similarly, if there is no group level fill, these would also have no stroke or fill); and the last is composed of the original paths in the group (and here, strokes and fills are not broken apart).
AG Transform Grouping Level on Group of Paths
In general, each nested group in the original art requires two Grouping Levels to “dig into,” due to the fact that a group stroke or fill can be present at each level. Because it can be difficult to anticipate what Grouping Level to use because the live effect mechanism can be complicated, it is recommended to simply increase the Grouping Level until the results are what is desired (modifying the seed or seeds, if necessary, to see what is really changing independently). Setting the Grouping Level above the highest “valid” value will not cause a problem.
AG Transform Grouping Level and Rotation Center
6. Remove Original
Available if the number of copies is greater than zero. When enabled, the original art to which the effect was applied will be suppressed in its final appearance. This is often useful when using random transformations but the original is regular and spoils the random look.
AG Transform Remove Original
7. Use Preview Bounds
Overrides the general preference of the same name. When enabled, the strokes of the artwork are included in its bounding box, which affects the position of the Center of Rotation or Scale Point when they are set to Relative to Bounds:
AG Transform Use Preview Bounds
8. Transform Previous Copy
By default (and as with the native Transform effect), each copy after the first is created by transforming the previous copy. However, when using randomization, it can sometimes be useful to always start with the original art’s position and transform it to create each copy:
AG Transform Transform Previous Copy
9. Transform Objects
This option works the same as that for the native Transform effect. When disabled, only the pattern(s) contained in the art are transformed.
10. Transform Patterns
This option works the same as that for the native Transform effect. When disabled, pattern(s) contained in the art are not transformed along with the art.
AG Transform Objects and Patterns
11. Scale Strokes
When disabled, and the AG Transform contains scaling, strokes within the artwork will retain their original weight.
AG Transform Scale Strokes
12. Filter By Index
When enabled, each art object’s index is used to determine whether it should be transformed, using one of seven different methods. The index is simply an integer sequentially assigned to each object at the specified Grouping Level in the order it is encountered, starting with zero for the first object. Generally, the index increases going downwards in the stacking order; however, other live effects present in the appearance stack may change this order, sometimes randomly (such as PathFinder effects). Additionally, objects may be created which are invisible in the final appearance if they have no fill or stroke. The available By Index methods are as follows:
a. First: Only the first n objects are affected, where n is the specified value.
AG Transform Filter by Index - First Controls
b. Last: Only the last n objects are affected, where n is the specified value.
AG Transform Filter by Index - Last Controls
AG Transform Filter by Index - First, Last
c. First or Last: Only the first and last objects are affected.
d. Odd: Only objects with an odd index (1, 3, 5, 7...) are affected.
e. Even: Only objects with an even index (0, 2, 4, 6...) are affected.
AG Transform Filter by Index - Odd, Even
f. Pattern: Creates a repeating pattern of matching indices based on the three pattern parameters.
AG Transform Filter by Index - Pattern Controls
Initial Skip specifies the number of indices to skip over at the start (art with these indices will not be affected). Then, Match specified the number of indices that will match and therefore be affected. Finally, Skip specifies the number of indices to skip over following the matching indices. When the total of the values in the three parameters is less than the number of eligible art objects, the pattern repeats, using the Match and Skip values in alternation.
AG Transform Filter by Index - Pattern
g. Randomly: Each art object has the specified random chance (from 0% to 100%) of being affected. The parameter has an independent seed value. Just as with move/rotate/scale seed values, clicking the button picks a new seed, thereby changing the look of the artwork. To view or specify the seed number directly,
Option/Alt-clickthe button. This lets you recreate a previously-generated look.
AG Transform Filter by Index - Randomly Controls
AG Transform Filter by Index - Randomly
13. Informational area
Shows a brief description of each control when the cursor is being hovered over it.
14. Preview
As with all live effects, when enabled, changing a parameter will immediately update the artwork while the dialog is still open.
15. Help Button
Opens the help documentation in the Astute Manager. If this does not automatically appear, please ensure your Astute Manager is running first.