Menu
Curves are the base of a generated image. AbstractCurves gives you the ability to create and mix 2 curves for generating more complex images. Each curve is subjected to harmonic law. In fact, you have 2 switchable channels, each of them contains settings for its own curve.
 
Note: You cannot disable 2 channels simultaneously, as at least one curve should exist for image generating.
 
 
CURVE #1
 
There is the on/off checkbox on the left of the channel's name. Using it, you can include/exclude this curve for final image generating.
On the right of the panel's name there are the 'Panel presets' and 'Reset to defaults' buttons. By using them, you can create, upload and delete presets of the current panel, and reset the parameters to default values. For details on these options see Panel Presets.
 
1. HARMONICS
-------------------
Using this section you can form a curve by adjusting its parameters.
Note:  You can hide/show the Harmonics panes, by clicking on a shaded triangle arrow, which is on the left of the pane's name. The arrows point down if the panes are shown, the arrows point to the right if the panes are hidden.
 
 
a) Input frequencies
 
The X and Y frequencies define complexity of the curve on each axis. You can change these parameters by entering values from your keyboard into the appropriate fields of the spin boxes, or using the Up and Down arrows. Also you can adjust the curve frequencies using the sliders. They are activated by pressing the arrows located on the right of the spin buttons of the corresponding spin boxes.
 
The 'Lock aspect ratio' checkbox under the spin boxes gives you the ability to associate the X and Y frequencies between each other. The numerical value of this relation is displayed on the right of the checkbox. When the checkbox is enabled, this value changes its color from grey to orange. If the aspect ratio is locked, you can change any of the frequencies (until one frequency reaches its maximum or minimum) and the second will change with it automatically.
 
 
Also you can lock/unlock the frequencies using the 'Padlock' control. It is located on the right of the spin boxes. By clicking on the 'Padlock' you can enable/disable association between the curves frequencies. The closed padlock icon corresponds to a bound state of the frequencies, and the opened padlock icon indicates that the frequencies are independent.
 
b) Phase shifts
 
By changing the X and Y phases, you can change the position of the curve in space on each axis. This is particularly noticeable in the Real-Time preview window when adjusting. You can change these parameters by entering values from your keyboard into the appropriate fields of the spin boxes, or using the Up and Down arrows. Also you can adjust the curve phase shifts using the sliders. They are activated by pressing the arrows located on the right of the spin buttons of the corresponding spin boxes.
 
 
On the right of the spin boxes there is the Zero phase shifts tool. Click on it if you want to reset the values of the phase shifts to zero.
 
c) Output signal view
 
Under the phase shift controls there is the preview window which displays a curve view, defined by frequency and phase settings. It looks like an oscilloscope screen and lets you see how a curve will look like when changing its parameters.
 
 
2. SURFACE OPTIONS
--------------------------
This pane allows you to create a surface of different width out of thin curve obtained earlier. You can see the result of changes of the pane parameters in the preview window located directly below the current channel.
Note:  You can hide/show the Surface Options panes, by clicking on a shaded triangle arrow, which is on the left of the pane's name. The arrows point down if the panes are shown, the arrows point to the right if the panes are hidden.
 
 
a) Spread
 
This parameter shows the thickness of a generated curve. You can adjust it by entering a value from your keyboard into the field of the spin box, or using the Up and Down arrows. If spread value is zero, a curve will have a minimum thickness. When spread is negative, a curve will expand vertically, while positive spread values correspond to horizontal expansion (if the Bending  is maximum). At the boundary values (-100 and 100), a curve will have a maximum thickness.
 
b) Skew
 
With this parameter you can set the angle of surface. You can adjust it by using the slider or entering a value (from -90 to 90 degrees) from your keyboard into the spin box field, or using the Up and Down arrows.
 
Fine tuning
 
On the right of the Up and Down arrows of the spin boxes there are controls of fine adjustment. They are marked with icons depicting a loupe. Click on the icon to activate this control. The Fine tuning slider will appear. By using it you are able to set spread and skew values with high accuracy.
 
 
CURVE #2
 
Working with this channel is completely the same as with the CURVE #1 channel.