ANR Tools

ANR Radial Mirrors

A kaleidoscope: mirrors and repeats a wedge of the image around a centre, for abstract backgrounds, music videos and psychedelic transitions.

  • Creative
  • Comp & Depth pack
  • 2 inputs
  • 7 controls
In Nuke: NodesANRCreativeANR Radial Mirrors

Overview

Radial Mirrors takes one wedge of the image, mirrors it, and repeats it around Center (0-1) like a kaleidoscope. Sectors sets how many mirrored wedges go round the circle, Source Angle picks which part of the image fills them, Rotation turns the whole pattern and Zoom scales it.

Any footage becomes a moving, symmetrical pattern. Use it for abstract backgrounds, music videos, title sequences, dream and psychedelic sequences, and transitions.

Inputs

SourceMaskRadial MirrorsOutput
  1. Sourcerequired

    The image the pattern is made from. Moving footage gives a moving pattern.

  2. Maskoptional

    Limits the effect: where its alpha is black, Source passes through unchanged.

Output. The kaleidoscope pattern, premultiplied and covering the project format.

Quick start

  1. Add ANR Radial Mirrors after the footage.
  2. Set Sectors: 6 gives a classic kaleidoscope; higher values make finer, mandala-like patterns.
  3. Place the centre with Center (0-1). It is a fraction of the frame: 0.5, 0.5 is the middle.
  4. Turn Source Angle to choose which part of the image fills the wedges, and set Zoom to scale the pattern.
  5. Animate Source Angle or Rotation to bring it to life.

The panel

The node's panel as Nuke shows it, with the values of a new node. Click any control to see what it does; tabs and sections work as in Nuke.

ANR_Radial_Mirrors1
Center (0-1)x0.5y0.5
Sectors6
Source Angle0
Rotation0
Zoom1
Outside SourceMirror
Mix1

All controls

ANR Radial Mirrors7 controls
Center (0-1)Positioncenter

Relative to the project format: 0,0 bottom left; 1,1 top right. Values outside this range are allowed.

Default: 0.5 0.5

SectorsSlidersectors

Number of repeated mirrored wedges.

How many mirrored wedges go round the circle. 1 gives a single mirror line through Center (0-1).

Default: 6

Source AngleSliderangle

Select the source wedge, in degrees.

Changes which part of the image is reflected while the mirror lines stay still. Animate it for the classic kaleidoscope motion.

Default: 0

RotationSliderrotation

Rotate the repeated pattern, in degrees.

Default: 0

ZoomSliderzoom

Scale the repeated pattern around Center.

Default: 1

Outside SourceMenuborder

How to sample beyond the source bounds. Does not expand the output canvas.

Default: MirrorOptions: Transparent Clamp Mirror

MixSlidermix

Blend with the source. Optional Mask alpha further limits the effect.

Default: 1

Tips

  • Animating Source Angle gives the turning-tube look: the image flows through mirrors that stay still. Animating Rotation spins the whole pattern.
  • Sectors at 1 gives a single mirror line through the centre, for a symmetrical mirror-world image. Rotation turns the line.
  • Key Zoom slowly upward for a pattern that keeps growing out of the centre.
  • Put ANR Noise Warp before it for a pattern that flows and morphs as well as turning.
  • When you zoom out, Outside Source fills the area beyond the image: Mirror, the default, keeps the pattern full; Transparent leaves gaps.

Good to know

  • The result always covers the project format, whatever the size of Source.

Something unclear or missing? Write to [email protected].