Adding a new layer

As a final step, we are going to extend the animation once again, this time at the end, to add a final fade to a new layer. First, we will create a new layer.

Ultra Fractal addlayer Adding a new layer  

Click the Add button on the Layers tab of the Fractal Properties tool window to duplicate the Background layer.

The new layer is a complete duplicate of the background layer, with all its animation keys. Because the new layer is going to be hidden most of the time, a static layer is good enough and it saves valuable calculation time. Therefore, it would be better to remove the animation keys.

Ultra Fractal transparent Adding a new layer
Ultra Fractal learnmore Adding a new layer
Animating layers
  • Make sure the time slider is at frame 200 and open the Timeline tool window.
Ultra Fractal deletekey Adding a new layer   Click on the range bar for the Layer 1 category, and click the Delete Selection button to delete all animation keys for Layer 1. You can close the Timeline tool window now.

Layer 1 is no longer animated now. Because the time slider was at frame 200, all previously animated parameters have been set to the value they had at that frame.

Ultra Fractal browse Adding a new layer  

Click the Browse button on the Outside tab of the Layer Properties tool window to choose a new coloring algorithm. Select Triangle Inequality Average in Standard.ucl and click Open.

  • On the Layers tab of the Fractal Properties tool window, select Hard Light as the merge mode for Layer 1.

Now, the idea is to extend the animation to 250 frames, and let this new layer fade in, beginning at frame 200.

Ultra Fractal timesettings Adding a new layer  

Click the Time Settings button on the animation bar to open the Time Settings dialog. Set Frames to 250, and select Keep at first frame. Click OK.

  • First, set the opacity slider for Layer 1 to 0%, as this is the initial value.

If we would enable Animate mode and change the opacity at frame 250, the opacity would be animated from frame 1 to frame 250. We could then rescale that to the range 200-250 using the Timeline tool window, but there is an easier way.

Ultra Fractal addkey Adding a new layer  

Ensure the time slider is at frame 200. Right-click on the opacity slider and click Insert Key on the menu that pops up. This inserts a new key for the opacity parameter at frame 200, with the current value (0%).

 
Ultra Fractal learnmore Adding a new layer
Editing animations
  • Move the time slider to frame 250 and set Animate mode to on. Change the opacity slider to 100%. Set Animate mode to off again.

Examine the results by dragging the time slider. Note that the opacity animates from 0% at frame 200 to 100% at frame 250, just as we intended.

Next: Rendering the animation

Adding a new layer