Hexagon Array

Properties
	Offset	The offset of the hexagon pattern relative to the layer position. Default: 0, 0
	Size	The size of the pattern, based on the height of the layer (at a size of 100, approximately one hexagon fills the layer vertically) Range: 0.5 to 200; Default: 10
	Stretch	Scales the hexagon pattern vertically, independent of the overall size, which can be used to stretch or squash the hexagons in the pattern. Range: 0.01 to 10; Default: 1
	Coloring	Controls how hexagons in the pattern are colored. Layer - Each hexagon is filled with the color of the layer using the pixel at the center of the hexagon. Solid - All of the hexagons are filled with Color 1. Stripes - The hexagons are filled with Color 1 and Color 2 in alternating rows. Tricolor - The hexagons are colored using all three colors in a uniform tiling where no two adjacent hexagons have the same color, and colors repeat every three hexagons. Cube - Each hexagon is divided into three rhombi, each shaded with one of the three colors, so that no two adjacent rhombi use the same color. With the appropriate choice of colors, hexagons appear as cubes seen from the corner. If Line Width is zero, this is a rhombille tiling or dice lattice. Triangles - Each hexagon is divided into six triangles, which are shaded with all three colors such that no two adjacent triangles have the same color. Color 1 is used the most, Color 2 second most, and Color 3 the least. For a triangle coloring with only two colors where no two adjacent triangles share a color, set Color 2 and Color 3 to the same color, and make Color 1 different. Pentagonal - Each hexagon is divided into three irregular pentagons, each colored using all three colors such that no two adjacent pentagons share a color. With a Line Width of zero, this is an isohedral type 3 pentagonal tiling. Default: Solid
	Color 1	The first color, used in every coloring mode except Layer. Default:
	Color 2	The second color, used in every coloring mode except Layer and Solid. Default:
	Color 3	The third color, used in Tricolor, Cubes, Triangles and Pentagonal. Default:
	Alpha	Controls the opacity of the hexagonal array pattern. Range: 0% to 100%; Default: 100%
	Blending Mode	Controls how the hexagonal array pattern is blended with the layer. Normal - The pattern is overlaid normally on top of the layer, but only within the layer's original opaque areas. Multiply - The standard Multiply blending mode. Screen - The standard Screen blending mode. Overlay - The standard Overlay blending mode. Overflow - The pattern is overlaid normally on top of the layer, but hexagons that would normally be partially cut off at the edge of the layer are instead rendered fully. Punch Out - Hexagon punch through the layer, making the layer transparent and leaving only the gaps between the hexagons (use this with a Line Width greater than zero). Default: Normal
	Scale Using Layer Alpha	If this is turned on, each hexagon will be scaled based on the alpha value of the layer at the pixel at the center of the hexagon. For example, if the pixel under the hexagon is only 50% opaque, the hexagon will be only 50% of the size defined by Size. Default: off
	Copy Layer Alpha	If this is turned on, each hexagon will become partly transparent based on the alpha value of the layer at the pixel at the center of the hexagon (technically, the alpha value of the pixel is multiplied with the alpha value of Color 1, Color 2 or Color 3 respectively). If this is turned off, hexagons are rendered fully opaque (or with whatever transparency is specified by the alpha of Color 1, Color 2 or Color 3) Default: off
	Line Width	The width of the lines between hexagons in the array, as a ratio of the hexagon size. At 0, there will be no lines between the hexagons. At 1, the lines will be just wide enough to make all of the hexagons disappear. Range: 0 to 1; Default: 0.1
	Feather	Softens the gaps between the hexagons. Range: 0 to 1; Default: 0.05
	Angle	The angle of the pattern relative to the layer. Range: 0º to 3600º; Default: 0º
	Screen Space	If this is turned on, Offset, /Size, Stretch, and Angle become relative to the screen instead of relative to the layer. Default: off

Usage

There are many different ways to use Hexagon Array, each involving different combinations of settings.

Basic

For a standard hexagon pattern overlay, just apply the effect to any layer, set Size, Line Width, and Offset as desired, then choose any Coloring other than Layer and adjust color and blending mode to taste.

Custom Coloring / Hexagon Mosaic

For a custom coloring, fill the layer with the colors you want to use first, then set Coloring to Layer. For example, you can fill the layer with a gradient. Here, a radial gradient was used, Coloring was set to Layer and Line Width was set to 0.

This exact same process can be used with a photo layer to create a hexagonal mosaic.

Scaling Individual Hexagons

To scale individual hexagons, make the layer partially transparent (an easy with is to use the Wipe effect with a lot of feather) and then apply Hexagon Array with Blending Mode set to Overflow and turn on Scale Using Layer Alpha.

This was made with the above technique, but with the additional step of setting Line Width to zero and Coloring to Layer.

Hexagon Lattice

To make a hexagonal lattice, simply start with a solid color layer, apply Hexagon Array and then set Blending Mode to Punch Out.

Here, to emphasize the effect, we also applied a shadow in Border & Shadow.

Known Issues

There is a known issue with this effect where Copy Layer Alpha only works properly when Blending Mode is set to Overflow and Coloring is set to something other than Layer. We plan to address this issue in a future update, so recommend avoiding combinations that don't work correctly as they may change in the future.

Use Cases

Hexagon Wipe Transition: Use the technique described above in Scaling Individual Hexagons but animate the Wipe effect's Start property. Then use the layer as a mask for a photo or video.
Photo Styling: Apply Hexagon Array to a photo or video, set Coloring to Layer and Blending Mode to Screen.