PM'S DISTORTION FLAKE.  # 4477548

TAKE A LOOK AT THE ABOVE FLAKE.  DO YOU SEE WHAT IS "WRONG" WITH IT?  THE SIDES ARE MADE UP FROM VERY TINY AND THIN LINES, BUT THE TOP AND BOTTOM SEGMENTS ARE "MISSING" AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH BIZARRE PATTERNS.  IN ACTUALITY, THE LINES ARE STILL THERE, BUT THE SNOWDAYS PROGRAM CANNOT DISPLAY THEM PROPERLY.  IF YOU USE THE LITTLE "PLUS SIGN" ZOOM FEATURE LOCATED ON THE FLAKE'S DISPLAY WINDOW, YOU WILL SEE THE LINES AS THEY SHOULD APPEAR WHILE THE FLAKE ROTATES AND BECOMES LARGER, HOWEVER, WHEN THE FLAKE IS "SQUARED OFF" LIKE IT IS ABOVE, THE DISTORTION APPEARS.  IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE THIS FLAKE FALLING AT SNOWDAYS OPENED, BECAUSE IT IS ACTUALLY ANIMATED AS THE PROGRAM TRIES TO DISPLAY IT.  PLEASE CLICK ON THE BELOW LINK AND VIEW THE FLAKE FALLING.  AFTERWARDS, MANUALLY TYPE IN THE NUMBER TO SEE ITS ACTUAL ANIMATION.  THEN RETURN HERE TO SEE HOW IT IS DONE ;)
http://www.popularfront.com/snowdays/index.html?id=4477548
 

PM's DISTORTION FLAKE INSTRUCTIONS

I make these flakes using the flash zoom and a combination of Alt+Tab and Alt only. After making some other flakes using this combination, I thought I would try making a flake with the finest cuts I could get just to see what would happen and how far the SP's would let me go. I was surprised to see how making these extra fine cuts was causing the preview flake to look distorted in parts of it and also that the SP's never showed up. These flakes do take a bit of time and patience to make, but no special skill is necessary because the Snowdays program does the magic!

1. Have at least one other window open in addition to Snowdays. Using the flash zoom (right click), zoom in on the bottom of the triangle as far as possible without causing the corners to go outside the creation window. If necessary, the triangle can be dragged after zooming in until it is centered in the window.


2. Position the "hand" cursor just outside of the bottom right corner and then click and hold the left mouse button. (keep holding it until step 6)


3. Hit Alt+Tab twice. Hit Alt twice. (The "hand" should then change to the normal cursor arrow.)

 
4. Moving the arrow left, stop just inside the left side triangle and just above the bottom of the triangle. Hit Alt twice.

 
5. Move the arrow to the right and stop just above the starting point. Hit Alt twice.

 
6. Move the arrow to connect with the starting point. Hit Alt once. Release the left mouse button.

 
7. Continue to make these same series of cuts, gradually moving up the triangle and trying to keep the cuts as fine and evenly spaced as possible.

 
8. The distortion will start to become evident on the preview flake after several cuts are made.

 
Notes:
As more cuts are made and the width of the triangle lessens, it is possible to zoom in further to get the cuts even more precise.
 
These flakes can also be made by zooming in and using the regular Alt+Tab method. If using Alt+Tab, it is much easier to get the cuts placed just right if the 2nd window is transparent.
 
(This next part doesn't really have anything to do with making these DF's, but I thought I would add it, just in case you thought others might be interested in cutting a flake while zoomed in with the flash zoom.)
 
It is possible to cut with the "hand cursor" by zooming in, click and hold the left mouse button, and hit Alt+Tab twice. You can then move the "hand" around to make cuts without dragging the entire flake. (You will need to have a second window opened in addition to Snowdays)
 
 
Good luck and happy flaking~ PM :o)))))

Well, certainly NOT as precise as PM's wonderful flake, but my 1st attempt certainly DOES have a distortion as well!  Essentially ANY flake with very fine lines spaced closely and evenly can have the distortion.  As PM mentioned, you will see the distortion appear on your preview flake as you are making it.  I made the above flake freehand and did NOT use the ALT or TAB buttons at all.  If you have mastered drawing straight lines you can in fact get away with a half decent Distortion Flake!  The above flake was created on a 200% enlarged triangle.  I used the zoom feature that is provided with the new Internet "X"plorer 7 update.  If you would like to see the above flake falling animated, please click on the following link:
http://www.popularfront.com/snowdays/index.html?id=4481871
These flakes are AMAZING for soooo many reasons!  Yes, they take some time and most certainly patience, but are well worth the wait when you see something like this falling with your name on it!  Wow the masses, and wow yourself at the same time!  My many thanX to PM for totally "x"posing this very kewl "trick"!
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