Revision Date: 20 July 2024

Render Effects

This sub-menu contains effects that create entirely new renderings. Effects found in the Render sub-menu generally replace all color information in the active layer or selection.

Note

The examples on this page show the effects being applied to an entire image. It is easy to restrict the adjustment to a sub-section of the image simply by making a selection. If a selection is active when the effect is run, it will only be applied to the selected region. Areas outside of the active selection will remain unchanged.

Tip

The controls shown in the effect dialogs operate in much the same way; drag the indicator left, right or in a circular motion (for an angle control). Typing in a numeric value in the text box or using the up/down arrows beside the text box also changes the current value. The keyboard arrow keys can be used to alter the value of a control once it has the focus.
Multiple controls can be used in isolation or combination. If more than one is altered, the cumulative effect will be shown.

Clouds

This renders a randomized "cloud" effect to the layer or selection. The configuration dialog has a tabbed interface with two tabs. The first tab (Clouds) sets the parameters of the effect:

Scale is a measure of the cloud size. Higher values generate larger clouds.

Roughness determines how coarse the clouds will be. Low values have a blurring effect while high values generate considerably finer detail.

Blend Mode determines how the clouds will be blended with the original contents of the layer or selection. See the section on Blend Modes for more information.

Randomize randomizes the cloud function so a new pattern is created with the same set of parameters.

Example - Effects > Render > Clouds

Effects > Render > Clouds (configuration tab) — The configuration tab of the Clouds effect

The second tab (Colors) sets the colorization of the Clouds effect. The Primary and Secondary colors at the time the effect is first run are initially loaded into the UI. The colors can be modified using the color controls on the second tab. Any changes to the loaded colors will persist until Paint.NET is restarted.

Example - Effects > Render > Clouds (Colors Tab)

Tip

To render Clouds in a single color, set either Color 1 or Color 2 Alpha value to zero in the Colors tab. The Clouds effect will be rendered in shades between the other Color and transparent.

Julia Fractal

This effect renders a Julia fractal onto the layer or selection.

Note

The colors of this fractal are not configurable from within the effect dialog.

Factor determines the color saturation. Low settings generate a monochrome fractal while high settings increase the color's vividness.

Zoom is a scaling factor. Use this control to zoom in or out on the fractal, making it larger or smaller.

Angle rotates the fractal about the center of the selection or layer.

Quality defines the amount of detail. Lower settings lend a jagged appearance to the fractal while higher settings give a smoother appearance.

Blend Mode determines how the fractal will be blended with the original contents of the layer or selection. See the section on Blend Modes for more information.

Example -Effects > Render > Julia Fractal

Mandelbrot Fractal

This effect renders the famous Mandelbrot fractal to the layer or selection.

Note

The colors of the fractal are not configurable from within the effect dialog except via the option to Invert the colors.

Factor determines the color saturation. Low settings generate a monochrome fractal while high settings increase the color's vividness.

Zoom is a scaling factor. Use this control to zoom in or out on the fractal, making it larger or smaller.

Angle rotates the fractal about the center of the selection or layer.

Quality defines the amount of detail. Lower settings lend a jagged appearance to the fractal while higher settings give a smoother appearance.

Checking the ☑ Invert Colors checkbox has the same effect as applying Adjustments > Invert Colors. The colors will be swapped for their opposite on the color wheel.

Blend Mode determines how the fractal will be blended with the original contents of the layer or selection. See the section on Blend Modes for more information.

Example - Effects > Render > Mandelbrot Fractal

Turbulence

The Turbulence effect is noise related, and not unlike a colored version of Clouds. The effect first shipped with Paint.NET 4.1.

Note

The colors of Turbulence are preset and are not configurable from within the effect dialog.

Octaves determines the amount of detail. Low settings generate less detail while higher settings increase it.

Period is a scaling factor. Use this control to effectively zoom in or out.

Size scale or roughness.

Noise There are two options, Turbulence and Fractal Sum. Fractal Sum produces brighter and more colorful effects.

Randomize randomizes the effect so a new pattern is created with the same set of parameters.

Blend determines if the effect is blended with the contents of the active layer, or overwrites it.

Example - Effects > Render > Turbulence