Transition Width

The width of the area that actively changes from the original to the new image.

Back Layer

The layer that appears in segments on the backs of the cards. You can use any layer in the composition; its Video switch can even be turned off. If the layer has effects or masks, precompose the layer first.

Rows & Columns

Specifies the interaction of the numbers of rows and columns. Independent makes both the Rows and Columns sliders active. Columns Follows Rows makes only the Rows slider active. If you choose this option, the number of columns is always the same as the number of rows.

Rows

The number of rows, up to 1000.

Columns

The number of columns, up to 1000, unless Columns Follows Rows is selected.

Note: Rows and columns are always evenly distributed across a layer, so unusually shaped rectangular tiles don’t appear along the edges of a layer, unless you’re using an alpha channel.

Card Scale

The size of the cards. A value smaller than 1 scales the cards down, revealing the underlying layer in the gaps. A value greater than 1 scales the cards up, creating a blocky mosaic as they overlap each other.

Flip Axis

The axis around which each card flips.

Flip Direction

The direction in which the cards flip around their axes.

Flip Order

The direction in which the transition occurs. You can also use a gradient to define a custom flip order: Cards flip first where the gradient is black and last where the gradient is white.

Gradient Layer

The gradient layer to use for the Flip Order. You can use any layer in the composition.

Timing Randomness

Randomizes the timing of the transition. If this control is set to 0, the cards flip in order. The higher the value, the more random the order in which the cards flip.

Camera System

Whether to use the effect’s Camera Position properties, the effect’s Corner Pins properties, or the default composition camera and light positions to render 3D images of the cards.

X Rotation, Y Rotation, Z Rotation

Rotate the camera around the corresponding axis. Use these controls to look at the cards from the top, side, back, or any other angle.

X, Y Position

Where the camera is positioned in x,y space.

Z Position

Where the camera is positioned along the z axis. Smaller numbers move the camera closer to the cards, and larger numbers move the camera away from the cards.

Focal Length

The zoom factor. Smaller numbers zoom in.

Transform Order

The order in which the camera rotates around its three axes, and whether the camera rotates before or after it’s positioned using the other Camera Position controls.

Corner Pinning is an alternative camera control system. Use it as an aid for compositing the result of the effect into a scene on a flat surface that is tilted with respect to the frame.

Upper Left Corner, Upper Right Corner, Lower Left Corner, Lower Right Corner

Where to attach each of the corners of the layer.

Auto Focal Length

Controls the perspective of the effect during the animation. If Auto Focal Length is unselected, the focal length you specify is used to find a camera position and orientation that positions the corners of the layer at the corner pins, if possible. If not, the layer is replaced by its outline, drawn between the pins. If Auto Focal Length is selected, the focal length required to match the corner points is used, if possible. If not, it interpolates the correct value from nearby frames.

Focal Length

Overrides the other settings if the results you’ve obtained aren’t what you need. If you set the Focal Length to something that doesn’t correspond to what the focal length would be if the pins were actually in that configuration, the image may look unusual (strangely sheared, for example). But if you know the focal length that you are trying to match, this control is the easiest way to get correct results.

Adding jitter (Position Jitter and Rotation Jitter) makes this transition more realistic. Jitter works on the cards before, during, and after the transition occurs. If you want the jitter to happen only during the transition, start with the Jitter Amount at 0, animate it up to the desired amount during the transition, and then animate it back down to 0 at the completion of the transition.

Position Jitter

Specifies the amount and speed of jitter at the x, y, and z axes. X, Y, and Z Jitter Amount specify the amount of extraneous movement. The X, Y, and Z Jitter Speed values specify the speed of jitter for each Jitter Amount option.

Rotation Jitter

Specifies the amount and speed of rotation jitter around the x, y, and z axes. X, Y, and Z Rotation Jitter Amount specify the amount of rotational jitter along an axis. A value of 90° makes it possible for a card to rotate up to 90° in either direction. The X, Y, and Z Rot Jitter Speed values specify the speed of rotational jitter.