Page 567 - ProShow Producer 9 Final Manual

566 18. Modifiers

Note: it’s important to recognize that the real use of variable amounts come
from the fact that values are changing with keyframes or other modifiers. If
the values don’t change over time then they’re constants. For example, if
you simply add 5 to the zoom level of a layer, the effect won’t be very
exciting. However, if the layer is moving, and you modify the zoom level by
the position, the layer will zoom as it moves. When you start using modifiers
to link different settings that change over time, the power of modifiers is
much more obvious.

You can choose between three different types of variables.

• Constant Amount this variable is the same as the constant we
discussed at the beginning of the chapter. It applies the same
value, based on the action type, for the whole slide or a single
keyframe. If you enter 5 for the value and choose Add as your
action type, it will add a flat value of 5 to the modifier. These are
the simplest forms of action, and provide very limited benefit
unless they’re used to offset another action by a constant amount.
They are helpful for understanding how actions work, though,
because they don’t change over time.

• Variable Amount variable amounts let you choose some other
value from any layer on the slide. In short, any of the values that
you can modify can be set as a variable. You could use this type of
variable to base any setting off another setting. Use this to make
Layer 2 move behind Layer 1, by modifying Layer 2’s pan values
by the pan values for Layer 1.