# Whirl and Pinch

## Overview

Example for the Whirl and Pinch filter

Original image

Filter applied

Whirl and Pinch distorts your image in a concentric way.

Whirl (applying a non-zero Whirl angle) distorts the image much like the little whirlpool that appears when you empty your bath.

Pinch, with a nil rotation, can be compared to applying your image to a soft rubber surface and squeezing the edges or corners. If the Pinch amount slider is set to a negative value, it will look as if someone tried to push a round object up toward you from behind the rubber skin. If the Pinch amount is set to a positive value, it looks like someone is dragging or sucking on the surface from behind, and away from you.

The pinch effect can sometimes be used to compensate for image distortion produced by telephoto or fish-eye lenses (barrel distortion).

Illustration

Original

Whirled

Pinched

## Activating the Filter

This filter is found in the main menu under Filters Distorts Whirl and Pinch… .

## Parameter Settings

Whirl and Pinch filter options

Presets, Input Type, Clipping, Blending Options, Preview, Split view
Whirl

  The clockwise or counter clockwise angle (-360 to +360). Controls how many degrees the affected part of the image is rotated.

Pinch

  The pinch amount (-1 to +1) determines how strongly the affected part of the image is pinched.

Radius

  Whirlpool width (0.0-2.0). Determines how much of the image is affected by the distortion. If you set Radius to 2, the entire image will be affected. If you set Radius to 1, half the image will be affected. If Radius is set to 0, nothing will be affected (think of it as the radius in a circle with 0 in the center and 1 halfway out).

Filters Distorts Whirl and Pinch
Whirl and Pinch