Icicles

Icicles renders dripping ice from any selection. You can specify the length, width, pointedness and color of the icicles. You can also manipulate opacity and refraction to reveal images under the ice. As you might imagine, Icicles compliments Snow Drift nicely.

### Basic Tab

Maximum Length

Specifies the maximum length to which icicles can grow.

Width

Specifies the average width of icicles.

Note: Extremely wide icicles which fill the breadth of a selection limit the effectiveness of the Density slider.

Density

Controls the number of icicles rendered in the selection. Higher values insert more icicles, packing them together closely.

Pointedness

Sharpens the tips of icicles.

Icicle Regularity

Randomizes the length, width and spacing of icicles. Higher values increase the uniformity of these three features.

Left to right: Increasing Icicle Regularity.

Ice Height

Controls how far the ice grows upward from the bottom of the selection. Larger values cover more of the selection with a solid sheet of ice.

Left to right: Increasing Ice Height.

Ice on Entire Selection

Selecting this option covers the inside of the selection with a sheet of ice.

Ice Color

Selects the color the ice is tinted. The higher the Opacity slider, the stronger this color appears. For more information on selecting colors, see Color Selection Tools.

Opacity

Low values allow underlying images to shine though. High values obscure underlying images. Extremely high values render solid, dripping goo, like wax.

Refraction

Roughens the surface of the ice and underlying images. Less refraction creates a smoother surface, allowing a clearer view of objects under the ice. High values create a rough surface, mangling images beneath the ice.

Left to right: Ice on entire selection is enabled on both stoplights. Refraction is enhanced in the right frame.

Random Seed:

Controls the random elements of this filter. Click it until you get a result you like.

### Lighting Tab

Direction

Controls the direction from which the light falls on the ice. Click and drag within the lighting control box to change the direction, or enter a value between 0 and 360 degrees.

Inclination

Controls the angle formed by the light and the page. Click and drag within the lighting control box to change the inclination, or enter a value between 0 and 90 degrees.

Highlight Brightness

Controls the intensity of the shiny highlights appearing on the ice surface.

Highlight Size

Controls the size of the shiny highlights on areas facing the light; higher values yield larger highlights.

Highlight Color:

Choose any color for the shiny highlights. For more information on color selection, see Color Selection Tools.

Shadow Strength

Controls the shadow darkness. Higher values render darker shadows.

Shadow Color

Choose any color for the shadows. For more information on color selection, see Color Selection Tools.