AlphaStar plug-in for Adobe After Effects

2.1. Windows Installation.

The installation of AlphaStar is very easy.

To install plug-in in another non Adobe video editing application, simply refer to the installation section of the user manual of this editor.

2.2. Macintosh Installation.

To install the AlphaStar plug-in for Macintosh, our smart installer will locate the correct installation path for you easily and automatically

2.3. Registration.

After purchasing you will receive a registration number. You should register AlphaStar to activate it. There are two ways how to register plug-in: Online and Offline.

If you are connected to the Internet then the Online registration is simplest way of registration. After launching AlphaStar you will see a registration dialogue. Just select the Online radio button. Insert Your name and given serial number and press the Register button. Plug-in will connect to our Registration server to complete your registration. If registration is successful then you will see a confirmatory message. Just press Close button and registration is completed.

If you have firewall then I recommend you to switch off it temporarily during registration.

If you don't have an Internet connection then you can register plug-in offline. Contact to us for obtain an offline answer for offline registration. The Offline Registration Number is a numerical ID that will be valid for a few days. In registration dialogue just select Offline radio button. Insert Your name, Serial number and Offline answer and press the Register button to complete registration.

Remember. You can only register the number of plug-in instances that you have purchased. Occassionally, a small number of additional registrations may be permitted to enable you to install plug-in on your desktop and notebook.

3.1. Quick Start

Here are some tips to get you started on AlphaStar effects:

1.Launch After Effects.
2.Create/open a composition.
3.Create/import a layer or footage.
4.Select the item Effect/AlphaPlugins/AlphaStar - Flare in Effect menu. One AlphaStar effect will be applied.

5.You can see a complicated flash on your screen. To increasing the drawing speed you can switch off antialiasing by using the "Quality" checkbox in the "Timeline" window. Also you can set the resolution of your composition to rough adjusting the parameters of flash by using the dropdown list "Resolution" in the "Composition" window.

6. In the "Effect controls" window you can see many effects parameters. First in this list there is an informative banner with information about this plug-in. Also on this banner there are a few buttons "Help", "About" and "Link" which allow to read help file, see about window and visit to AlphaPlugins site.

7. The next two parameters are "Position of flare" and "Position of center". First set the position of flare as needed. Secondly, set the position of your virtual lens system so that the flare blinks. You can drag these parameters with the help of the mouse in the "Composition" window directly.

8. The "Size" parameter sets the general size of the entire flash. Each element of the star has a unique size parameter. The size is relevant only for this element.

10. The "Value" establishes general brightness of flash. Each element has a self relative value parameter. The "Value jitter" sets random flickering of star during a moving time. Some elements of flash can have more complicated possibilities for dynamical jittering.

11. The "Angle" parameter sets the general angle of the whole flash.

12. Further on you can see a parameter list "Halo". This list contains parameters with response to the halo of the flash. First parameter in this list is "Halo presets" wizard. You can select any button in this palette and the halo parameters of flash will be changed allowing the flash halo to look as on the preset's picture.

13. Other parameter lists and presets work same and can be used in the same way.

14. Finally there is a parameter "Mix with original". This dropdown list contains several modes how the flare should be mixed with initial the initial video. This list is no large because the After Effects has very a very rich build-in means for mixing layers (Just click right mouse button and select item "Blending mode"). The "After Effects" possibilities do not therefore, need to be duplicated. You can just use "Mix with original" parameter in "Replace" mode and for complicated compositions use After Effects tools for layers mixing.

There are a few common notices about usage of AlphaStar plug-ins. In follow sections we explain each module of AlphaStar in more detailed and give a description for each parameter of these modules.

3.2. Presets Description.

User interface of our plug-in is very convenient and rational. AlphaStar has a special mean "Presets" to increase its usability. Each plug-in module has a set of buttons with small pictures. If you press on a button several parameters will be changed to obtain an effect on the screen the same as on the small button picture. This tool quickly empowers the artist to adjust a group of parameters and reproduce an effect from the presets list. It allows the rapid understanding of the main possibilities of AlphaStar plug-ins set. Also these possibilities are very helpful then you should quickly produce large amount of video effects. You can click only one button and get approximately positions for necessary parameters. After that you can just little tune some parameters if wanted.

To work with parameters presets is very simple. All icons are explicate and clearly demonstrate the effect you will get if you click on this button. Each preset changes only the parameters within a thematically group and doesn't touch other parameters. For example, if you click a button in the "Glow presets" group then the only parameters which will be changed will have a relation to glow of star and other parameters will not be changed.

AlphaStar - Flare is one of five plug-in modules which is included in the AlphaStar bundle. This filter lets you create either single flash, star or shine... It creates high-quality lighting objects with numerous adjustable parameters and additional elements. Beside createing amazing flashes this module has special tools to allow automatic animated flash changes in dynamics.

An single beautiful star or flash can help to attract attention for your video and enrich your composition with fantastic and brightly FX.

4.1. Main Parts.

AlphaStar - Flare is a very powerful tool and has indeed a lot of parameters but yet remains very user friendly. Using our filter is easy and productive. All parameters are grouped in thematic lists and any parameter or parameters lists unused can be either disabled or minimized.

There are several main groups of parameters: "Common parameters", "Halo", "Rays", "Lenses spread", "Chroma hoop", and "Miscellaneous". Many groups of parameters can also have subgroups and thematic parameters are grouped here. And of course there are several presets wizards for more significant groups of parameters. The following are more detailed descriptions on the list of parameters.

4.2. Common Parameters.

At the top of the parameters list of the AlphaStar - Flare plug-in there are several common parameters which response for general appearance of single star.
The first in the list of parameters is an information banner that contains several buttons: "About", "Help" and "Link" on AlphaPlugins site.

The follow there are several common parameters:

"Position of flare" - the centre of a single star or flare.

"Position of centre" - the centre of the virtual lens system and multiple blinks in lenses will reflect in direct of this center.

"Size" - the general size of flare. Other sizes which regulate with subparameters will be scaled relative to this.

"Value" - the intensity of flare or star. Subelements values will be depend on this.

"Value jitter" - this parameter allows to set randomly flicking of the lighting object during playback.

"Angle" - sets general rotation of the star. Angles of subparameters will be rotated relative to this.

Follow there are several groups of parameters:

4.3. Flare. Halo.

"Halo" group contains parameters which response to the volume halo around our star. This parameters group has presets wizard that lets it quickly select a halo from several presented variants. Of course, there are mamy more possible variants of halo than are presented in the preset palette.

"Type of halo" - this parameter lets to select from a list of halo types

"Value of halo" - this parameter sets the intensity of halo. This parameters is also depend on the general value of flash.

"Size of halo" - this parameter sets size of halo. This size is relative to the general size of flash.

"Moire type of halo" - this list contains several possible types of additional moires, noises and patterns which can be added to halo. It helps to emulate some atmospheric distortions which can be present on real halo.

"Moire value" - set intensity of halo moire. It is relative to halo value.

"Moire parameter" - the additional parameter that modulates the appearance of halo moires.
"Colour of halo" - sets the colour of halo.

"Rainbow of halo" - depends how the halo colour will be segregate into iridescent colours.

"Rotate of halo" - set additional angles for several types of halo. This parameter depends on the general angle of star.

4.4. Flare. Rays.

The next parameters group is "RAYS". It is the main and biggest group for this filter. This group contains parameters which respond geometrically and dynamically to the rays of stars. This group has preset wizards that allow for quick selection of approximate types of star's rays.

Because there are too many variants and parameters this list is divided on several subgroups which respond to similar types of rays.

4.4.1. Rays. Crown of Chaos.

"Crown of chaos" - this sublist contains parameters which respond to the generation of luminous growths caused by the chaotic beams which shine around the stars centre.

"Crown use" - switches on/off the chaotic rays usage.

"Density of crown" - sets how many beams will be in the chaotic crown.

"Value of crown" - sets intensity of chaotic rays. It depends on general value.

"Size of crownn" - this parameter defines a size of chaos crown. It is relative to general size.

"Width of crown" - adjusts a width of chaotic rays.

"Colour of crown" - sets a colour of chaotic beams.

"Random seed of crown" - sets initial position of random numbers generator.

"Size dispersion of crown" - sets the size dispersion of chaotic rays.

"Value dispersion of crown" - lets to set a value dispersion of these rays.

4.4.2. Rays. Regular Rays.

"Regular rays" - this group contains parameters which respond to the creation of regular rays on our star.

"Type of regular rays" - lets it select from a list of regular rays.

"Count o regular rays" - lets it set a number of regular rays.

"Value of regular rays" - set an intensity of regular rays. This value depends on general value.

"Size of regular rays" - sets a geometrical size of regular rays. It also depends on general size of the star.

"Width 1 and Width 2 of regular rays" - set width and proportion of regular rays.

"Rotate of regular rays" - sets an additional rotation relative to the general angle of the star.

"Colour of regular rays" - sets a colour of regular rays.

"Rainbow of regular rays" - sets chromatic splitting of colours for regular rays.

"Random seed" - sets initial position of random number generator.

"Size dispersion" - sets a dispersion of sizes for regular rays.

"Value dispersion" - sets a dispersion of intensities for regular rays.

4.4.3. Rays. Chroma Rays.

"Chroma rays" - this list contains parameters for some additional chromatic rays around our star.

"Type of chroma rays" - this list lets you choose a type of chroma rays.

"Count of chroma rays" - sets a number of chroma rays.

"Value of chroma rays" - sets the intensity of chroma rays.

"Size of chroma rays" - respond to the geometrical size of chroma rays.

"Radius of chroma rays" - defines how far chroma rays are distanced from centre of star.

"Width of chroma rays" - sets a width of chroma rays.

"Rotate of chroma rays" - sets an additional angle for chroma rays.

"Colour of chroma rays" - sets the colour of chroma rays.

"Rainbow of chroma rays" - sets the colour decomposition of chroma rays.

4.5. Flare. Lens Spread.

"Lens Spread" - this set of parameters allows the creation of multi blink from a lighting object in your virtual multi lenses optical system. This parameter list has a preset wizard and you can quickly choose a type of lens spread. Just click on an icon with a linked picture.

"Type of lens spread" - lets it choose a type of lens blinks.

"Count of lens spread" - number of blinks in a lens spread set.

"Scale of lens spread" - stretching lens spread blinks along a line between a centre of flash and a centre of optical system.

"Value of lens spread" - lets it adjust an intensity of lens spread.

"Size of lens spread" - sets geometrical sizes of blinks in lens spread system.

"Parameter of lens spread" - regulates a visual appearance of lens spread.

"Random seed of lens spread" - sets an initial position for random numbers generator.

"Dispersion of lens spread" - sets a dispersion for blinks sizes.

"Colour of lens spread" - sets a colour of lens spread system.

"Colour dispersion of lens spread" - sets at dispersion of blinks colours in lens spread.

"Rainbow of lens spread" - the colours fusion in lens spread.

4.6. Flare. Chroma Hoop.

"Chroma hoop" - This list of parameters respond to the creation of chroma rays radiance around our star. Some kind of florescence colored beams on the eye retina can add an attractive detail to your composition. This group of parameters has a presets wizard and you can quickly adjust parameters as it is shown on the button's picture.

"Type of chroma hoop" - in this listbox you can select a type of chroma hoop.

"Value of chroma hoop" - sets an intensity of chroma hoop.

"Density of chroma hoop" - sets a number of rays in a chroma hoop.

"Completeness of chroma hoop" - maturity of a chroma hoop.

"Length of chroma hoop" - sets a geometrical size of beams in a chroma hoop.

"Radius of chroma hoop" - the distance from the centre of a star.

"Whidth of chroma hoop" - sets a width of chroma hoop rays.

"Proportion of chroma hoop" - sets a vertical or horizontal scale of chroma hoop.

"Rotate of chroma hoop" - sets an angle of chroma hoop relatively to a general angle.

"Colour of chroma hoop" - colour of chroma hoop.

"Rainbow of chroma hoop" - sets a colour splitting of chroma hoop rays.

"Random seed of chroma hoop" - sets an initial position of random numbers generator.

"Radius dispersion of chroma hoop" - sets a radius dispersion of beams for a chroma hoop.

"Value dispersion of chroma hoop" - sets a dispersion of intensity for chroma hoop beams.

4.7. Flare. Miscellaneous.

"Miscellaneous" - this list contains several subgroups of parameters which respond to a subsidiary, but very beautiful lighting effects which can appear during complicated optical interaction flash light, optical system and human eye. These effects let add last finishing stroke in your composition and decorate your flash with additional interesting features.

This parameters group also has a preset wizard that shows several possibilities of this group of parameters but of cause not all.

4.7.1. Miscellaneous. Ring.

"Ring" - this subgroup contains parameters which response for drawing of a high-quality light ring around our flash. It emulates an effect that has very bright light which reflects from the surface of lens and side of the objective tube.

"Ring use" - this checkbox switches on/off the light ring usage.

"Value of ring" - sets an intensity to the light ring.

"Offset of ring" - shifts a ring position along the direction between the centre of flash and centre of the optical system.

"Radius of ring" - sets a geometrical size to the light ring.

"Width of ring" - the width of ring.

"Moire of ring" - the additional pattern on the light ring.

"Rainbow of ring" - the chromatic aberration on the light ring.

"Colour of ring" - just colour of ring.

4.7.2. Miscellaneous. Sunshade.

"Sunshade" - this subgroup of parameters respond to an emulation to the effects of a lens objective glow which arises when the sun or other bright light shines directly on the objective lens and part of the objective is shadowed.

"Type of sunshade" - lets you choose a type of sunshade effects.

"Value of sunshade" - sets an intensity of sunshade blink.

"Radius of sunshade" - the geometrical size of sunshade.

"Offset of sunshade" - shifts a position of sunshade.

"Sunshade add mode" - an alternative way of sunshade adding.

4.7.3. Miscellaneous. Aperture Gleam.

"Aperture gleam" - this group of parameters emulate optical effects that appears in deepness of optical system and is caused by some complicated multi refraction of brightly beams.

"Aperture gleam use" - this checkbox allows to use the effect of aperture gleam.

"Value of aperture" - the intensity of aperture gleam.

"Size of aperture" - sets a geometrical size of aperture blink.

"Offset of aperture" - shifts the aperture gleam along a line from a flash centre to an objective centre.

4.7.4. Miscellaneous. Fascia.

"Fascia" - these parameters respond to effects which usual occur when we use a camera in darkness and shoot a very brightly light source. We can see a long flaming aurora across the light source.

"Type of fascia" - you can choose a type of lighting fascia.

"Value of fascia" - sets an intensity of fascia.

"Size of fascia" - sets a geometrical size of fascia rays.

"Width of fascia" - sets a width of fascia rays.

"Colour of fascia" - lets to set a fascia colour.

"Rainbow of fascia" - the colour fusion.

"Rotate of fascia" - additional angle of fascia rotation.

In finish we should say about the last parameter in the list of parameters.

"Mix with original" - lets it choose a mode of lighting with a source video. Indeed "After Effects" has excellent build-in means for layer mixing and you can just use last parameter in "Replace" mode. And for a composition you can use standard "After Effects" blending tools for mixing results of filters a with underlying layers.

AlphaStar - Flare is power and convenient tool for creating high-quality single stars, flashes, shines and etc. There are many adjustable parameters which are grouped in thematic lists. This filter allows to create very attractive lighting FXs and emulate many sophisticated real physical phenomena how high-energy beams intersect with optical system.

AlphaStar - Starsfall is another module of AlphaStar plug-ins bundle. This tool attends to creating a particles system of lighting objects. With its help you can create a very interesting and fantastic quality massive of stars, sparkles, lights and so on. You can define how lighting particles will be born, flay and die. There are many beautiful ways how to set the law on which stars are making on the screen dizzy tricks and creating very unusual effects. Also this module has rich tools for automatically control the dynamic of flying stars which help to do they movement more complicated and realistic. I do not speak even about drawing quality of lighting particles. There are a lot of possible types of lightings and a great variety of adjusted parameters.

5.1. Particles System.

The main destination of this module is a creating of particles systems which consist from myriads of bewitching lights.

"Emitter" is the first group of parameters in "Effect Controls" window of AlphaStar - Starsfall effect. These parameters respond to an emission of lighting particles. Following on we'll describe parameters of this group and the main scenarios of how to use they.

The first element in "Emitter" group is "Emitter presets" wizard which can help you quickly select some type of particles emission. Of course these presets don't cover all possibilities of this module. For example, they don't touch a particles generation by raster contours and vector masks.

"Path" - this list allows to use a vector mask as source of lighting particles generation. If we would like to use a vector mask as particles emitter then we should create a vector mask (with the help of a standard After Effects means, see After Effects manual for detail) and we should place this mask on our composition. (This mask can be even invisible). If we select a vector mask then other types of particles emitters become disabled.

"Standard path" - this list contains several possible types of paths. Follow we shortly describe each and get recommendation of its usage.

Standard path: Point - very simple type of particles source. It is just a dotty emitter of lighting objects. In follow sublist Control points there is one available point it is centre of particles emitter. You can place it where you want. Direction parameter will set a direction so that particles fly with Initial speed.
Standard path: Line - the source of particles in shape of line. 2 points are available in Control point sublist - the start and the end.
Standard path: Polyline - source consists from several lines.
Standard path: Circle - particles will be born on circular curve. You can set centre and a radius of this circle.
Standard path: Bezier - set a curve that should be a source of particles. In sublist Control points there are 4 control points available. You can drag them and change the curve form.
Standard path: Source as raster mask - opaque parts of initial video will be source of lighting particles. You can create very interesting effects, especially if your video will have some transparency and not transparent parts.
Standard path: Whole fields - whole frame is emitter for lighting particles.
Standard path: Contour alpha channel - very helpful and an useful type of emitter. You can generate lighting particles on borders of opaque raster field. Our plug-in will automatically trace contours (include multi contours) and generate particles on these. Our module traces normal and tangent vectors for follow dynamic calculation.

"Control points" - this sublist contains position points which define shapes and places of some standard paths types.

"Orientation" - this list set way how particles fly out from the emitter. Particles can fly perpendicular of the source path or along or in given direction or etc.

"Direction - sets direct direction of particles fly or additional angle for normal vector depending on Orientation type.

"Direction dispersion" - sets a disorder for initial direction of particles.

"Completeness" - very helpful parameter. It lets to make very interesting effects then particles' emitter grow up along the defined path.

"Shift of path" - as you can see this parameter move the emitter along the path. It is also an is extremely helpful parameter and lets it obtain various interesting video effects.

"Intensity" - the important parameter. It defends a density of particles and how many particles will be born in each frame.

"Maximum number of stars" - this parameter limits the maximum number of particles which are possible on screen in one time. If number of particles has reached his maximum then no more new stars will be generated until some old stars have not be died.

"Initial speed" - defines initial speed of particles movement.

"Speed dispersion" - the dispersion of above parameter.

"Grow up" - sets growing of particles during time. The geometrical size of particles can go up during their flight or go down if this parameter is negative.

"Terminate" - this sublist contains parameters which response for a way how particles will die. Particles can simply disappear from screen or gradually die away or explode in end of them life or something like.

"Terminate type" - sets a kind of particles life termination.

"Terminate time" - sets average time of particles life.

"Time life dispersion" - sets a dispersion of time life.

"Time fade" - adjusts how long the particles intensity changes gradually.

"Time of explode" - sets the time then particles will explode in end of they life.

"Terminate colour scheme" - defines how colour of particles splitters will be changed.

"Terminate colour" - sets a colour of particles splitters which lost after particles have died.


"Gravity" - sets the force of gravity that affects on particles.

"Wind" - the force of wind that blows on particles.

"Direction of wind" - the direction in which the wind blows.


"Oscillation" - this list allows to apply an additional dynamic on particles movement. You can set a law how your particles will make some fairy impossible in normal life but very interesting fluctuations and of course it makes your video more attractive and professional.

"Amplitude of oscillation" - sets amplitude of additional movement.

"Frequency of oscillation" - defines how frequently additional movement will be changed.

We have shortly described parameters of emitter's sublist. Following on we'll take several examples on how to get some helpful types of particles emitters.

5.2. How to Adjust the Particles Emitter.

Now we briefly tell how to receive several useful types of particles system and how to apply it in your composition.

Stars jet - very simple type of dotty particles emitter. Set "Path" listbox as "None". Set "Standard path" listbox as "Point". In "Control points" sublist place "Start" parameter as you need. It is center of emitter. Select in "Orientation" listbox the "Direct" item. Set the value of "Direction" control as you want, for example, 45 degree. Increase the "Initial" speed, for example, as 100. In the "Terminate" sublist set terminate type as "Infinity". Set "Gravity" force as 9.8. Render your scene.

Tip! During the emitter's parameter adjusting you can increate the drawing speed if you set the "Type of stars" parameters (in "Geometry" list) as "Dots".

Stars scattering - also very simple emitter type. Set "Path" listbox as "None". Set "Standard path" listbox as "Point". In "Control points" sublist place "Start" parameter as you need. It is centre of emitter. Select in "Orientation" listbox the "Random all directions" item. Set "Gravity" and "Wind" forces as 0. Render your scene.

Lighting wheel - illustrates how to use a standard path. Set "Path" listbox as "None". Set "Standard path" listbox as "Circle". In "Control points" sublist drag point controls and set the center of circle and its radius. Select in "Orientation" listbox the "Random all directions" item. Decrease the "Initial speed" as 10. In "Oscillation" list select the "Round" item. Set "Amplitude of oscillation" as 40. Set "Frequency of oscillation" as 40.

Stars field - can be helpful for backgrounds creation. Set "Path" listbox as "None". Set "Standard path" listbox as "Whole field". Set "Orientation" listbox as "Centripetal" or "Direct". If you want then you can add some additional oscillations on particles movement.

Vector mask - helpful type of particles emitter. Create a vector mask in your composition with the help of standard "After Effects" tools (see "After Effects" manual for more details). It can be just a simple shape or some complicated subscribe. Select this mask in the "Path" listbox in parameters list of this plug-in. Select one item for "Orientation" parameter. For example, as "Perpendicularly opposite". Adjust the movement and intensity of particles.

Raster contour tracing - extremely helpful emitter type. Especially, if you want to place lighting glowworms around typing or opaque silhouettes. Create an opaque subscribe or raster shape on transparent background. Apply AlphaStar - Starsfall effect on this layer. Set "Path" listbox as "None". Set "Standard path" listbox as "Contour alpha channel". Your opaque image will be automatically traced and a multi-vectors mask will be constructed. Set "Orientation" as you need, for example, as "Along". Other parameters are similar as if you worked with vector source.

I hope I've got a vision of how to possibly use emitter's parameter for generate various types of particles systems. Of course there are much more possibilities which you can find yourself without difficulty after you have read my explanations.

5.3. Types of Stars.

Follow parameters response for appearance and colouring of lighting objects in our particles system.
You can see a "Stars presets" wizard that can help you quickly to choose a kind of lightings.

5.3.1. Types of Stars. Geometry.

"Geometry"
This parameters sublist response is for geometrical properties of lighting objects.

"Type" - the type of lighting objects.

"Size" - geometrical sizes of stars.

"Size depend on source" - lets it make stars' sizes depending on intensity of initial video.

"Size amplitude of oscillation" - sets range of an additional size scaling.

"Size frequency of oscillation" - set frequency of an additional size scaling.

"Width" - just a width of stars' rays.

"Rays count" - sets average number of beams for stars.

"Rays count dispersion" - set dispersion for stars' rays count.

"Angle" - sets the average rotate of lightings.

"Angle dispersion" - dispersion of stars rotation.

"Angle oscillation" - you can add an additional law for stars rotation.

"Angle amplitude of oscillation" - the range of additional changing of stars angles.

"Angle frequency of oscillation" - sets frequency of additional angles changes.

"Angle jittering" - set amount of chaotic jumps of angle.

"Additional elements"
This sublist contains parameters which response for some additional features of lighting objects.

"Type of halo" - lets you choose a type of additional halo for particles system's stars.

"Volume of halo" - intensity of additional halo.

"Size of halo" - geometrical size of additional halo.


"Type of blink" - lets you add additional blinks for lighting objects.

"Volume of blink" - intensity of additional blinks.

"Size of blinks" - geometrical sizes of additional blinks.


"Volume dispersion of elements" - sets dispersion of intensities for additional elements.

"Size dispersion of elements" - sets sizes dispersion for additional elements.

"Colour dispersion of elements" - sets colour dispersion for additional elements.

5.3.2. Types of Stars. Colour.

"Colour" - this group of parameters respond to colours of particles system's objects.

"Value" - responses for stars intensity.

"Value dispersion" - sets range of intensity dispersion.

"Colour schema" - lets you choose one colour schema for particles system. All stars can be same colour ("Solid" mode) or a colour of particle can depend on underlying video ("Source" mode).

"Colourity" - colour level of particles if we use previous parameter in "Source" mode.

"Colour dispersion" - sets a range of colour's variety.

"Colour rainbow" - sets chromatic colour decomposition on lighting's rays.

"Color amplitude of oscillation" - sets a range for additional colour changing.

"Colour frequency of oscillation" - sets a speed of additional colour changing.

"Colour of particles"- just the colour of lighting particles.

In the end of parameter list there are two parameters.

"Add mode" - lets to choose a colour mixing mode how to particles react upon each other.

"Mix with original" - lets to choose a mode how to mix our lighting particles with source video. As we already mentioned, "After Effects" has excellent build-in means for layer mixing and you can just use last parameter in "Replace" mode. And for the following compositing you can use standard "After Effects" blending tools for mixing results of filter with underlying layers. Just click right mouse button and select a "Blending mode" in local menu.

AlphaStar - HighLight is one plug-in module from AlphaStar bundle. This plug-in should create dynamical highlights, blinks and stars on raster sources. The places where highlights are placed depends on intensity and colours of initial video. This filter lets to your video to play and glisten during playback. You can easily add a sun blinks on water ripples or shining radiance on diamond edges and much many other things.

The first element in controllers list of this effect is information banner with several buttons. These buttons are "Help", "About" and "Link" to our site.

"Highlights density" - the next parameter in "Effect controls" window. This parameter responses for number of stars on our screen.

6.1. Mask.

Follow there is a list of parameters which response for raster source interpretation. With they help you should define which parts of initial video will be sources for highlights placing. You can do it by several ways. Follow we more detailed describe parameters of this group and tell how to use them.

"Show mask" - this checkbox allows to see which parts of initial video become sources for highlightings. You can use it for easier attenuate parameters of a raster source.

"Mask fade" - defines how mask intensity will be decay, leaving from key colour.

"Mask type" - lets to choose a way how to generate highlights source from initial video. Depending on this list follow parameters can become disabled or enabled.


"Mask colour" - lets to choose a key colour.

"Colour tension" - set tolerance range of key colour. The colour distance is calculated in RGB space.


"Hue tension" - sets a tolerance for key colour tone. It is calculated in HSL space.

"Lighting tension" - sets a tolerance for key colour intensity. It is calculated in HSL space.

"Saturation tension" - sets a tolerance for key color colority. It is calculated in HSL space.


"Hue minimum" - sets a minimum of hue value.

"Hue maximum" - sets a maximum of hue value. Mask for stars generation will contains only pixels which hues lay between these two values.


"Lighting minimum" - sets a minimal value of lighting for mask pixels.

"Lighting maximum" - sets a maximum value of lighting.


"Saturation minimum" - sets a minimum value of mask pixels saturation.

"Saturation maximum" - sets a maximal value of mask pixels saturation.

6.2. Examples of Raster Mask Usage.

Whole picture - simplest type of mask. Set "Highlight density" in a minimal position, for example, as 1. Select the item "Whole" in "Mask type" list. Increate the "Mask fade" parameter if you want highlighting only brightly pixels. You can introduce an additional chaos with using the "Place jitter" in "Jitters" parameters list.

Key colour highlighting - you can generate stars in places of screen with a selected colour. Select in "Mask type" list the "Colour" item. Click the button beside "Mask colour" controller. Select a key colour on your composition. Adjust "Colour tension" for a range of key colour. Set "Highlight density" as you like. Use "Mask fade" for decrease sizes of stars depend on key color closeness.

Tip! Don't forget you can use "Show mask" mode for easier mask adjusting.

Contour highlighting - very helpful mode for adding stars on perimeter of opaque objects. Create opaque objects on transparent background. It can be types, subscribes, silhouettes and etc. Apply AlphaStar-HighLight effect on this layer. Select in the list "Mask type" the item "Contour". It is indeed a very helpful mask mode.

6.3. Types of Highlights.

The follow parameter after "Mask" list is "HighLights presets" wizard. You can quickly select the desired type of star. Of course there are much more possible types of lighting objects.

6.3.1. Types of Highlights. Geometry.

"HighLights geometry" - this parameters group responses for geometrical sizes and proportions of stars.

"Type of highlights" - lets to choose types of highlights from a big list of possible.

"Size of highlights" - sets geometrical size of stars.

"Size depend on source" - lets to make stars' sizes depending on intensity of initial video.

"Width of highlights" - the width of lighting objects.

"Rays of highlights" - the average number of rays in stars.

"Rays count dispersion" - sets a dispersion of rays numbers.

"Angle of highlights" - sets a rotation of highlights.

"Angle dispersion" - the variety of highlights angles.

"Additional elements" - this sublist contains parameters which are responsible for some additional features of lighting objects.

"Type of halo" - lets to choose a type of additional halo for particles system's stars.

"Volume of halo" - intensity of additional halo.

"Size of halo" - geometrical size of additional halo.

"Type of blink" - lets to add additional blinks for lighting objects.

"Volume of blink" - intensity of additional blinks.

"Size of blinks" - geometrical sizes of additional blinks.


"Volume dispersion of elements" - sets dispersion of intensities for additional elements.

"Size dispersion of elements" - sets sizes dispersion for additional elements.

"Colour dispersion of elements" - sets colour dispersion for additional elements.

6.3.2. Types of Highlights. Colour.

"HighLight colour" - this list contains parameters which are responsible for colour of highlights.

"Value of highlights"- responses to highlights intensity.

"Value dispersion" - sets range of intensity dispersion.

"Color schema" - lets it choose one colour schema for highlights. All stars can be same colour ("Solid" mode) or a color of highlights can depend on underlying video ("Source" mode).

"Colour dispersion" - sets a range of colour's variety.

"Colour rainbow" - sets chromatic colour decomposition on lighting's rays.

"Coluority" - colour level of highlights if we use previous parameter in Source mode.

"Colour" - just the colour of highlights.

6.3.3. Types of Highlights. Jitters.

"Jitters" - this group contains parameters which are responsible for various randomly changes of highlights.

"Random seed" - sets initial position of random number generator.

"Place jitter" - this list allows to select a type of additional place movement.

"Place amplitude jitter" - sets amount of additional movement.

"Place frequency jitter" - sets speed of additional place movement.

"Size amplitude jitter" - lets it set amplitude of sizes fluctuation.

"Size frequency jitter" - the speed of sizes fluctuation.

"Angle jitter" - sets a type of angles oscillations.

"Angle amplitude jitter" - amplitude of angles oscillations.

"Angle frequency jitter" - frequency of angles oscillations.

"Value amplitude jitter" - amount of intensity fluctuations.

"Value frequency jitter" - speed of intensity fluctuations.

"Colour amplitude jitter" - value of colours variety.

"Colour frequency jitter" - speed of colour variety changes.

In the end of parameter list there are two parameters.

"Highlights add mode" - lets you choose a colour mixing mode how to highlights will be mixed with each other.

"Mix with original" - lets to choose a mode how to mix our lightings with source video. As we already mentioned, "After Effects" has excellent build-in means for layer mixing and you can just use last parameter in "Replace" mode. And for a follow compositing you can use standard "After Effects" blending tools for mixing results of filter with underlying layers. Just click right mouse button and select a "Blending mode" in local menu.

AlphaStar - Rays is one module from AlphaStar plug-ins bundle. This effect lets you decorate your video with various types of high-quality rays and beams. There are many ways how to place the rays in your composition. This filter has tools for add both single ray and an automatically tool for create many rays on complicated contours, vector and raster masks. Also there is a lot of adjusted parameters which response for visual appearance of beams. It is very helpful tool and it lets to adorn your video with beautiful and high-quality FXes.

The first element in "Effect controls" window of this plug-in is an information banner with several buttons: "About", "Help" and "Link".

The next element is the parameters list is the "Source of rays" group.

7.1. Source of Rays.

This parameter group can help you to place rays and beams on your composition. The first element in this group is "Source presets" wizard. You can quickly select the type of rays' composition from presets list. There are many more variants of how to place rays on your video than is presented in the presets wizard.

"Density" - defines a number of beams.

"Path" - this list allows the use of a vector mask as source of rays generation. If we would like to use a vector mask as the rays source then we should create a vector mask (with the help of standard "After Effects" means, see "After Effects" manual for detail) and we should place this mask on our composition. (This mask can be even invisible). If we select a vector mask then other types of rays sources become disabled.

"Standard path" - this list contains several possible types of paths. Follow we shortly describe each and get recommendation of its usage.

Standard path: Point - very simple type of rays source. It's just dotty emitter of beams. In follow sublist Control points there is one available point it is centre of rays' source. You can place it as you want. Direction parameter will set a direction in that rays will shine.
Standard path: Line - the source of rays in shape of line. Two points are available in Control point sublist - the start and the end of line.
Standard path: Polyline - source consists from several lines.
Standard path: Circle - rays will be shine on circle. You can set centre and radius of this circle.
Standard path: Bezier - set a curve that should be a source of beams. In sublist Control points there are 4 control points available. You can drag them and change the curve form.
Standard path: Source as raster mask - opaque parts of initial video will be source of rays. You can create very interesting effects, especially if your video will have some transparence and not transparence parts.
Standard path: Whole fields - whole frame is source of rays.
Standard path: Contour alpha channel - very helpful and useful type of rays' source. You can generate beams on borders of opaque raster field. Our plug-in will automatically trace contours (include multi contours) and generate rays on these. Even our module traces normal and tangent vectors to follow dynamic calculation.

"Control points" - this sublist contains position points which define shapes and places of some standard paths types.

"Orientation" - this list set a way how rays will be distributed on source path. Rays can shine perpendicular of source path or along or in given direction or etc.

"Centre of centripetal" - set centre of composition in case if we select in "Orientation" list the "Centripetal" item. It lets to create very interesting effect lake a source of light is moving under text, logo or silhouette.

"Angle" - sets direction in which rays will shine or additional angle for normal vector depending on "Orientation" type.

"Angle dispersion" - sets a variety of beams' angles.

"Angle oscillation" - the additional law for angles swings and rotations.

"Angle amplitude of oscillation" - the value of additional angles oscillations.

"Angle frequency of oscillation" - the speed of angles fluctuations.

"Angle jittering" - allows to set randomly jumps of rays angles.

"Completeness of path" - very helpful feature. It lets it grow up rays along specified contour or path.

"Shift of path" - move rays distribution along path. It is available then "Completeness of path" is not equal 100%.


"Motion speed" - sets a speed of rays movement according to a selected source of rays.

"Motion direction" - set a direction of rays movement for some types of rays sources.


"Add motion type" - sets a more complicated law for rays movement.

"Amplitude of oscillation" - sets a range for additional motions.

"Frequency of oscillation" - sets a speed for additional rays' motions.

"Jittering" - sets a randomly jumps of beams' positions.

"Random seed" - sets an initial position of random number generator.

7.2. Several Scenarios for Sources.

The following are several examples of how to use the AlphaStar - Rays tool for adding beams in your composition in different ways.

Rays shine from point - very simple scenario. It exactly matches for to start working with our module. Set "Path" listbox as "None". Select the item "Point" in the "Standard path" listbox. Select the "Start" control in the "Control points" sublist and drag it as you need it. Select the "Orientation" as "Custom". Adjust "Direction" controller as you want. Increase the "Angle dispersion" for receiving a bunch of rays. You can significantly decrease the "Density" parameter in case of point rays' source.

Rays shine from point in all directions - this scenario is like previous except a small difference. Set "Path" listbox as "None". Select the item "Point" in the "Standard path" listbox. Select the "Start" control in the "Control points" sublist and drag it as you need it. Select the "Orientation" as "Random". Adjust "Direction" controller as you want. Increase the "Angle dispersion" for tuning the rays distribution.

Arctic aurora - the good illustration how to use standard paths. Set "Path" listbox as "None". Select the item "Bezier" in the "Standard path" listbox. Move control points for adjusting a shape of curve. Select the "Orientation" as "Custom symmetry". Set the "Direction" about 0. Set "Angle Dispersion" as 0. Increase the "Density" as you need to. I recommend to use "Type2" for rays geometry in the "Type listbox".

Vector mask as rays' source - very helpful in practical usage. Create a vector mask by using standard "After Effects" means. This mask should be placed on current composition even it could be invisible. Select this mask in scrollbox "Path" of this effect. Select the "Orientation", for example, as "Perpendicularly\' or as "Along". Set a not zero value for "Motion speed". Render your composition.

Radiatus shine by raster source - lets to create very interesting effects on contrasted video. Especially if the video has opaque objects on transparent background. Prepare a video with an image on transparency background. Apply AlphaStar - Rays. Select the "Source as raster mask" item in the "Standard path" listbox. Select the "Centripetal" item in the "Orientation" listbox. Set "Angle" dispersion as 0. Animate an increasing of "Density" parameter. Attenuate your compositions by using the parameter "Size depend on source" and "Color schema". Render your composition.

Rays on raster contour - extremely useful mode for adding lighting FXes around typings, subscribes, silhouettes and so on. Prepare a video with an image on transparency background. Apply AlphaStar - Rays. Select the "Contour by alpha channel" item in the "Standard path" listbox. Vector contours will be automatically traced by your raster. Set "Orientation" as you need, for example, "Along" or "Perpendicularly". Try to adjusting "Direction" and "Angle" dispersion parameters. You can add a "Motion speed" for additional rays' movement along the contour.

I described several examples for to apply our rays on your composition. Of course there are many more ways how to use our plug-in module AlphaStar - Rays.

7.3. Rays Appearance.

The next element in "Effect Controls" list is "Rays presets" wizard. You can quickly select a type of beams. Don't forget that there are mach more possible variants of rays than it is presented in presets wizard.

7.3.1. Rays Appearance. Geometry.

This parameters list response for geometrical properties of rays.

"Type" - lets to choose a type of rays.

"Size" - sets sizes of rays.

"Size depend on source" - lets to enrich rays' composition with an additional dependence on source video.

"Size dispersion" - sets a rays sizes variety.

"Size oscillation type" - sets an additional law for size's dynamically changing.

"Size amplitude of oscillation" - sets a range for size oscillation.

"Size frequency of oscillation" - sets a speed if size fluctuations.

"Size jittering" - defines randomly size jumping.

"Width" - just width of beams.

7.3.2. Rays Appearance. Colour.

This list contains parameters which response for beams' colours.

"Value" - sets an average intensity of beams.

"Value dispersion" - sets a variety of rays' intensities.

"Value amplitude of oscillation" - lets to add an additional flicking for rays.

"Value frequency of oscillation" - sets a speed of rays' flicking.

"Fading" - adjusts how a ray intensity changes from begin to end of ray.

"Colour schema" - defines how to assign colours on beams.

"Colourity" - responses for colour saturation in case then the "Colour schema" is "Source".

"Colour dispersion" - sets a variety of rays' colours.

"Colour rainbow" - sets how ray's colour is decompositing.

"Colour amplitude of oscillation" - the range of additional colour's swing.

"Colour frequency of oscillation" - the speed of colour swing.

"Colour of rays"- the colour of beams.

In the end of parameter list there are two parameters.

"Add mode" - lets to choose a color mixing mode how to rays will be mixed with each other.

"Mix with original" - lets to choose a mode how to mix our beams with source video. As we already mentioned, "After Effects" has excellent build-in means for layer mixing and you can just use last parameter in "Replace" mode. And for a follow compositing you can use standard "After Effects" blending tools for mixing results of filter with underlying layers. Just click right mouse button and select the "Blending mode" item in local menu and select, for example, "Add" mode.

This additional module of plug-in bundle AlphaStar should help you to add on subscribes and typings various color blinks. Also this module can draw fine rainbows. This filter can be helpful then you need to add a brightly accent on your text or logo and with the help of AlphaStar - Blink you can easily run a colour blink on your text surface. Of course other variant of its usage also are possible.

As usual, the first element in "Effect Controls" list of this effect is an information banner with few buttons - "Help", "About" and "Link".

The next element in controllers list is the "Blink presets" wizard. It lets quickly select a type of coloured blink or rainbow.

"Position" - lets to specify a position of blink centre.

"Type of blink" - in this list you can choose a type of blink or rainbow.

"Size" - geometrical size of blink.

"Size 2" - additional size for some types of blink. In case of "Arch blink" it response for arch completeness.

"Width" - the width of blink.

"Custom rays count" - sets a number of beams for several types of blinks.

"Dispersion" - sets randomly changes of blink geometrical sizes. Incase of Arch blink it responses for rainbow's fade on ends.

"Angle" - sets a blink rotation.

"Value" - the blink intensity.

"Colour" - the blink colour.

"Rainbow" - response for colour splitting.


"Cut alpha" - defines blink will cut outside object's borders or not.