What's New in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac?

Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac: A Next-Gen Particle Engine for Stunning Visualizations

Introduction

If you are an Adobe After Effects Mac user and you are looking for a way to create stunning visualizations with particles, you might want to check out Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8. Rowbyte Plexus is a next-gen particle engine that lets you create, manipulate and visualize data in a procedural way. You can use it to create organic, complex and abstract animations with ease.

Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac

Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 is the latest version of the plugin that has been updated with new features and improvements. Some of the benefits of using Rowbyte Plexus for Adobe After Effects Mac are:

• It gives you full control over the particles, their behavior, appearance and interactions.

• It supports 3D objects, lights, cameras, masks, paths, text and sound layers as inputs.

• It has a fast and responsive renderer that supports motion blur, depth of field, ambient occlusion and more.

• It has a modular and flexible interface that allows you to customize your workflow and optimize your performance.

• It has a wide range of presets, tutorials and examples to help you get started and inspired.

Some of the main features of Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 are:

• Object Based UI: A new way to organize multiple Plexus objects within the layer.

• Motion Blur: A new option to add cinematic motion blur to your animations.

• Sound Effector: A new object that lets you sample sound waves and apply them to particles.

• Slicer Object: A new object that lets you slice through meshes and create interesting effects.

• Seamless Beams: A new option to render beams with seamless joints and improved quality.

• Improved OBJ Import: A new way to import OBJ files and file sequences using AE's default file importer.

In this article, we will explore each of these features in more detail and show you how they can enhance your visuals with Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac.

Object Based UI

One of the most noticeable changes in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 is the Object Based UI. This is a new way to organize multiple Plexus objects within the layer, using an Object Panel that replaces the old Effect Controls Panel. The Object Panel gives you a clear overview of all the objects in your layer, their types, names, visibility and solo states. You can also drag and drop objects to reorder them, group them or delete them.

The Object Based UI improves your workflow and performance by allowing you to:

• Create multiple Plexus objects within one layer, instead of having to create multiple layers for each object.

• Easily switch between different objects and edit their properties without having to scroll through long lists of parameters.

• Isolate or hide specific objects or groups of objects for better focus and faster rendering.

• Duplicate or copy/paste objects or groups of objects between layers or compositions.

The Object Based UI also introduces four types of Plexus objects that you can create and manipulate:

• Geometry Objects: These are the basic building blocks of Plexus. They define the shape, position and color of the particles. You can use 3D objects, lights, cameras, masks, paths, text or sound layers as Geometry Objects.

• Effector Objects: These are the modifiers that affect the Geometry Objects in various ways. You can use them to transform, distort, colorize or randomize the particles. You can use Noise Effector, Transform Effector, Color Map Effector or Sound Effector as Effector Objects.

• Render Objects: These are the renderers that define how the particles are drawn on the screen. You can use them to change the size, style, blending mode or shading of the particles. You can use Points Renderer, Lines Renderer, Triangles Renderer or Facets Renderer as Render Objects.

• Groups: These are the containers that let you group multiple objects together and apply global settings to them. You can use them to change the visibility, solo state or blending mode of the group. You can also nest groups within groups for more complex hierarchies.

To create a new object in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8, you simply click on the Add Object button at the bottom of the Object Panel and choose the type of object you want from the menu. You can also right-click on an existing object and choose Duplicate or Copy/Paste from the context menu. To delete an object, you simply select it and press Delete or Backspace on your keyboard.

To edit an object's properties in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8, you simply double-click on it in the Object Panel and a new window will pop up with all the relevant parameters. You can also access the parameters by clicking on the Edit Object button at the bottom of the Object Panel or by pressing Enter on your keyboard. To close the window, you simply click on the Close button or press Esc on your keyboard.

To select and manipulate multiple objects in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8, you can use the standard keyboard shortcuts for selection and navigation. For example, you can use Shift+Click to select multiple objects, Ctrl+Click to toggle selection, Ctrl+A to select all objects, Ctrl+D to deselect all objects, Up/Down arrows to move up or down the object list, and Left/Right arrows to expand or collapse groups. You can also use the mouse wheel to scroll through the object list.

The Object Based UI is a powerful and intuitive feature that makes working with Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 a breeze. You can easily create and edit complex particle systems with multiple objects and groups, and fine-tune their properties and interactions with ease.

Motion Blur

Another new feature in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 is the Motion Blur option. This is a new option that lets you add cinematic motion blur to your animations with Plexus. Motion blur is a visual effect that simulates the blurring of moving objects due to the finite exposure time of the camera. It adds realism and dynamism to your animations and makes them more appealing to the eye.

To enable Motion Blur in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8, you simply check the Enable Motion Blur checkbox in the Render Settings section of the Object Panel. You can also adjust the Shutter Angle and Shutter Phase parameters to control the amount and direction of motion blur. The Shutter Angle determines how long the shutter is open during each frame, and the Shutter Phase determines when the shutter opens relative to the current frame.

You can use either comp settings or custom camera shutter values for motion blur in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8. If you use comp settings, Plexus will use the same shutter angle and phase as your composition settings in AE. If you use custom camera shutter values, Plexus will use its own shutter angle and phase values that you can set independently from your composition settings.

Motion blur affects rendering quality and speed in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8. The higher the shutter angle, the more motion blur you will get, but also the longer it will take to render each frame. The lower the shutter angle, the less motion blur you will get, but also the faster it will render each frame. You can find a balance between quality and speed by adjusting the shutter angle according to your needs and preferences.

Motion blur is a great feature that adds cinematic flair to your animations with Plexus. You can use it to create smooth and realistic movements of particles, lines, triangles or facets, and make them look more natural and organic.

Sound Effector

Another new feature in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 is the Sound Effector object. This is a new object that lets you sample a waveform from a sound layer in AE and apply it to vertex position or scale or color with Plexus. You can use it to create audio-reactive animations with Plexus that sync with your music or sound effects.

To use Sound Effector in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8, you first need to create a sound layer in AE by importing an audio file or using an audio effect. Then, you need to create a Sound Effector object in Plexus by clicking on Add Object > Effector > Sound Effector in the Object Panel. You will see a new window with several parameters for Sound Effector.

The most important parameter for Sound Effector is the Layer parameter, which lets you choose which sound layer in AE you want to sample from. You can also adjust other parameters such as Sample Range, Sample Offset, Sample Frequency, Sample Mode, Echo Time, Echo Decay and Echo Mix to control how Sound Effector samples and echoes the waveform.

Once you have set up Sound Effector, you need to apply it to a Geometry Object that has vertices that you want to affect with sound. To do this, you simply drag and drop Sound Effector onto a Geometry Object in the Object Panel, or right-click on Sound Effector and choose Apply To > Geometry Object from the context menu.

After applying Sound Effector to a Geometry Object, you need to choose which property of vertices you want to affect with sound: Position, Scale or Color. To do this, you simply check one or more of these checkboxes in the Effectors section of [user]( the Geometry Object's properties. You can also adjust the Strength, Offset, Frequency, Phase and Random parameters to control how Sound Effector affects the chosen property.

Sound Effector is a creative and fun feature that lets you create audio-reactive animations with Plexus. You can use it to make your particles, lines, triangles or facets dance, pulse, glow or change color with the rhythm of your sound. You can also combine Sound Effector with other Effectors or Renderers to create more complex and interesting effects.

Slicer Object

Another new feature in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 is the Slicer Object. This is a new object that lets you 'slice' through a mesh and create interesting visualizations with Plexus. Slicing is a technique that involves cutting a 3D object into thin slices along a certain axis or plane, and then rendering the slices as 2D shapes.

To use Slicer Object in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8, you first need to create a mesh that you want to slice. You can use any Geometry Object that has facets, such as an OBJ file, a Facet Object or an Instance Object. Then, you need to create a Slicer Object in Plexus by clicking on Add Object > Geometry > Slicer in the Object Panel. You will see a new window with several parameters for Slicer Object.

The most important parameter for Slicer Object is the Source parameter, which lets you choose which Geometry Object you want to slice. You can also adjust other parameters such as Slice Axis, Slice Count, Slice Offset, Slice Thickness, Slice Color and Slice Alpha to control how Slicer Object slices and renders the mesh.

Once you have set up Slicer Object, you need to apply a Render Object to it to draw the slices on the screen. You can use any Render Object that supports 2D shapes, such as Points Renderer or Lines Renderer. To do this, you simply drag and drop a Render Object onto Slicer Object in the Object Panel, or right-click on Slicer Object and choose Apply To > Render Object from the context menu.

After applying a Render Object to Slicer Object, you can adjust the Render Object's properties to change the appearance of the slices. For example, you can change the size, style, blending mode or shading of the points or lines.

Slicer Object is a unique and versatile feature that lets you create stunning visualizations with Plexus. You can use it to slice through any mesh and reveal its inner structure and geometry. You can also animate the slices with keyframes or expressions to create dynamic and organic movements.

Seamless Beams

Another new feature in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 is the Seamless Beams option. This is a new option that lets you render sweeping volumetric beams with seamless rendering with Plexus. Beams are a type of line renderer that creates thick and smooth lines between vertices. Seamless rendering is a technique that eliminates 'overlapping joints' between beams and improves rendering performance and accuracy.

To enable Seamless Beams in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8, you simply check the Seamless checkbox in the Lines Renderer section of the Render Settings section of the Object Panel. You can also adjust the Thickness parameter to control the width of the beams.

Seamless Beams affect rendering quality and speed in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8. The Seamless option eliminates the 'overlapping joints' between beams that cause artifacts and glitches in the rendering. It also reduces the number of vertices and triangles that are rendered by merging adjacent beams into one continuous beam. This improves rendering performance and accuracy by reducing memory usage and draw calls.

Seamless Beams are a great feature that adds visual impact to your animations with Plexus. You can use them to create sweeping volumetric beams that connect your particles, lines, triangles or facets in smooth and elegant ways.

Improved OBJ Import

Another new feature in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 is the Improved OBJ Import option. This is a new option that lets you import OBJ files and file sequences using AE's default file importer with Plexus. OBJ files are a common format for 3D models that can be used as Geometry Objects in Plexus.

To use Improved OBJ Import in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8, you simply import an OBJ file or a file sequence into your project panel in AE using the File > Import > File menu or the Ctrl+I shortcut. You will see a new window with several options for importing the OBJ file or file sequence. You can choose to import it as footage, composition or composition retain layer sizes. You can also choose to import it as a single frame or a sequence of frames.

Once you have imported the OBJ file or file sequence, you can create an OBJ Object in Plexus by clicking on Add Object > Geometry > OBJ in the Object Panel. You will see a new window with several parameters for OBJ Object. The most important parameter is the Layer parameter, which lets you choose which imported OBJ layer you want to use as the source for the OBJ Object. You can also adjust other parameters such as Scale, Offset, Rotation, Flip Normals and Flip UVs to control how the OBJ Object is displayed and oriented.

The Improved OBJ Import option helps you organize your footage better and collect project files easier in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8. By using AE's default file importer, you can keep your OBJ files and file sequences in your project panel along with your other footage items, instead of having to browse for them every time you create an OBJ Object. You can also use AE's built-in features such as proxies, previews and relinking to manage your OBJ files and file sequences more efficiently.

The Improved OBJ Import option also imports normals and texture coordinates along with vertex positions and facets in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8. Normals are vectors that define the orientation of each facet, and texture coordinates are values that define how a texture is mapped onto each facet. By importing these data, you can use them to enhance your visuals with Plexus by applying shading, lighting, coloring or texturing effects.

The Improved OBJ Import option is a useful and convenient feature that lets you import and use OBJ files and file sequences with Plexus more easily and effectively. You can use it to create complex and realistic 3D models with Plexus that can be animated and manipulated in various ways.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored some of the new features and improvements in Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac. We have seen how Rowbyte Plexus is a next-gen particle engine that lets you create stunning visualizations with particles in a procedural way. We have also seen how Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 offers new features such as Object Based UI, Motion Blur, Sound Effector, Slicer Object, Seamless Beams and Improved OBJ Import that enhance your workflow and performance with Plexus.

Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac is a powerful and versatile plugin that can help you create amazing animations with particles that sync with your data, sound, music or visuals. Whether you are a motion designer, a visual artist, a data analyst or a hobbyist, you can use Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 to create organic, complex and abstract animations with ease.

If you are interested in trying or buying Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac, you can visit the official website of Rowbyte at https://www.rowbyte.com/plexus. There you can find more information about the plugin, download a free trial version, watch tutorials and examples, read user reviews and testimonials, and purchase a license for $249.99 USD.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac:

• Q: What are the system requirements for Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac?

• A: You need Adobe After Effects CC 2015 or later, Mac OS X 10.10 or later, OpenGL 2.0 capable graphics card with at least 256 MB VRAM (512 MB recommended), and an internet connection for activation.

• Q: How do I install Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac?

• A: You need to download the installer from the official website of Rowbyte at https://www.rowbyte.com/download, run it and follow the instructions on screen.

• Q: How do I activate Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac?

• A: You need to enter your license key in the Activation window that appears when you launch Plexus for the first time, or by clicking on the Activate button in the Object Panel. You can also deactivate your license by clicking on the Deactivate button in the Object Panel.

• Q: How do I update Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac?

• A: You can check for updates by clicking on the Check for Updates button in the Object Panel, or by visiting the official website of Rowbyte at https://www.rowbyte.com/plexus. You can download and install the latest version of Plexus from there.

• Q: How do I get support for Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac?

• A: You can get support by visiting the official website of Rowbyte at https://www.rowbyte.com/support. There you can find a user manual, a knowledge base, a forum, a contact form and a bug report form.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and learned something new about Rowbyte Plexus 3.1.8 for Adobe After Effects Mac. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for your time and attention.

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