Filter 3: HairLines.

The HairLines plugin is designed to create lines that flow like hair or water. Its built around a particle system in which the particles are not the lines themselves, but 'Ripples' that affect the lines. HairLines uses a built-in Grid to set the lines up. Then the Ripples run around and distort them. It's quite fun.

HairLines make the electricity in this plasma ball [play]

Two layers of HairLines move in opposite directions [play]

A flowing smoke effect [play]

It's all in the ripples.

The most important aspect of HairLines is its Ripples. Ripples are the particles generated by the HairLines particle system. Ripples creates the distortions in lines, whether you're looking for an organic, flowing feel or a mechanical, angular look.

Ripples determine the overall look of the lines, even though the lines have their own attributes that can be set. You control their behavior with controls like Frequency, Size and Speed. You can even use built-in Displacement controls.

When Lines have Ends, you can create an effect of the Lines growing [play]

Animate the lines, ripples, and the way ripples affect lines [play]

Lines With Ends can fully show the Ripples running through them [play]

Lines get stressed too.

Of course, the Lines themselves have animatable attributes, such as Width, Opacity and Color.

Another very flexible feature is that you can set the Lines to have Ends. Otherwise, by default, they cover the entire screen.

Simply by giving the Line Ends a Length and Starting Point, you've quickly changed your animation. You can also set a Growth rate to make lines grow like a vine or a sidewalk crack. You can also have angular lines made of straight segments instead of the usual flowing ripples.