The Polar Coordinates effect distorts a layer by transposing each pixel in the layer’s (x,y) coordinate system to the corresponding position in the polar coordinate system, or the reverse. This effect produces unusual and surprising distortions that can vary greatly depending on the image and the controls you select. The standard coordinate system specifies points by measuring the horizontal distance (x axis) and the vertical distance (y axis) from the origin. Each point is specified as (x,y). The polar coordinate system specifies points by measuring the length of a radius from the origin (r) and its angle from the x axis (). Each point is specified as (r, ).

This effect works with 8-bpc, 16-bpc, and 32-bpc color.

Original (top left), and with variations of Polar Coordinates applied (bottom left and right)

Stu Maschwitz provides an example project that uses the Fractal Noise effect to create the corona of the Sun and then uses the Polar Coordinates effect to wrap the line of noise around into a circle: www.adobe.com/go/learn_ae_stucorona.

Interpolation

Specifies the amount of distortion. At 0%, no distortion occurs.

Type of Conversion

The conversion process to use:

Rect To Polar

Moves pixels by using (x,y) coordinates from each pixel as (r, ) coordinates. For example, an (x,y) coordinate of (2,3) becomes a polar coordinate with a radius of 2 and a degree of 3. Horizontal lines distort into circles, and vertical lines into radial lines.

Polar To Rect

Moves pixels by using the (r, ) coordinates from each pixel as the (x,y) coordinates. For example, polar coordinates of radius 10 and 45° become (x,y) coordinates of (10,45).