Eyecandy 4000 glass filter

**alanstancliff** · 02 February 2007, 07:51 AM

I just downloaded the Eyecandy 4000 and have been playing with it in Xpro. While I can use it and get some cool effects, I cannot seem to make the glass object transparent so that what is behind is is visible and distorted or both, as in the samples. I created a circle, put it over an object, and no matter where I set the controls, including opacity and tint, I do not seem to be able to get anywhere. I tried coloring the circle in different colors.

Any ideas?

Regards,

Alan

**Soquili** · 02 February 2007, 02:11 PM

Hi Alan,

The Live Effect does not create transparency when using the Glass effect.

The attached image was created by putting the circle over the quickshape star. Select both but do not group. Select the Live Effects Tool and apply the Glass effect. Adjust the colour, bevel, etc. Accept the changes and return to the Xara Xtreme Pro work area.

Unselect the two shapes and then select only the circle. Apply a Flat Stained Glass Transparency of about 30%. You will notice the glass effect was also applied to the star shape as well as the circle.

NOTE to New users: The attached .xar file will report an error if the purchased version of the Eye Candy 4000 effects are not on your system and available to Xara Xtreme (and/or Xtreme Pro).

**Soquili** · 02 February 2007, 02:33 PM

Created some distortion using the Envelope Tool

**alanstancliff** · 02 February 2007, 07:34 PM

Thanks for the quick reply.

In the PDF manual that came with EC 4000, under the Glass section, page 45, one can find this picture:

The accompanying text said this:

The glassware above was created using the “Multiple
Bevels” profile found on the Bevel Profile tab in Glass.
Bevel Width 0.58, Edge Darkening 3, Refraction 87,
Opacity 0, Tinting 24 and a very light aqua Tint
Color. The filter was applied to an empty circular
selection.

Is it possible to do this using Xpro and EC 4000?

**Soquili** · 02 February 2007, 11:51 PM

Alan I cannot achieve that exact effect.

The instructions from the manual appear to be from the original EC4000 for Photoshop where a circular selection of empty pixel can be done.

The closest I have gotten after a half hour of testing.

**alanstancliff** · 03 February 2007, 08:34 AM

Hi Bill,

I think I have a bit of a handle on it now.

Here's a picture I did:

The violet bunch is produced twice. The glass plate partly covers one copy and partly covers the woven table mat. The glass plate distorts the flowers and mat underneath where it is grooved.

Here is the xar file.

**The Doc** · 04 February 2007, 12:47 PM

Very nice Alan, taking inspiration from your drawing I have at last started to get some decent results from the glass plugin, thanks!

**ren2980** · 10 February 2007, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by alanstancliff

Hi Bill,

I think I have a bit of a handle on it now.

Very nice indeed Alan, Recently I started testing Eyecandy 4000. The attached photo with glass effect is the result.

**Soquili** · 10 February 2007, 11:27 PM

Alan, thanks for posting your file. It is much easier to see how it is done now that I see it

**alanstancliff** · 11 February 2007, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by Soquili

Alan, thanks for posting your file. It is much easier to see how it is done now that I see it

You're welcome. Actually, I'm thrilled that I figured it out because I am not too expert with Xara.

The problem is that Xara does not allow one to make a selection of an area because it is object oriented. I downloaded a trial copy of the glass goody and tried it in Paintshop, and it worked as I thought it would in Xara. So really what I did was a workaround.