---
title: "05 - Symbol Mapper: Symbol Settings Group"
url: "https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/html/05-symbol-mapper-symbol-settings.html"
section_path: "Stylize > Symbol-Mapper > 05 - Symbol Mapper: Symbol Settings Group"
description: "The Symbol Settings group governs which characters Symbol Mapper displays and how they refresh over time."
---

## Symbol Mapper: Symbol Settings Group

The Symbol Settings group governs which characters Symbol Mapper displays and how they refresh over time.

![Image: Universe_SymbolMapper_Symbol Settings1.png](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Universe_SymbolMapper_Symbol%20Settings1.png)

**Random Seed** provides an initial value from which Symbol Mapper derives part of its process for character selection. The **Random Seed** slider spans from 0 to 100, but the manual input range is essentially unlimited.

**Random Evolution Speed** dictates how many times per second the random seed changes. This can serve to help automate changing randomness. A value of 0 means that the characters do not change over time. A value of 1 will change the characters once per second, and a value of 30 (the maximum possible) for 30 fps video means that every frame will have a different set of characters.

The **Symbol Limit** control bounds how many different characters will appear in your Symbol Mapper grid. A value of 1 will generate your entire image with a single character throughout your grid, such as all ampersands (as shown below) or lowercase j’s. The maximum value is 64.

![Image: Universe_SymbolMapper_SymbolLimit1.png](https://help.maxon.net/rg/en-us/Content/Resources/Images/Universe_SymbolMapper_SymbolLimit1.png)

The **Symbol Limit** establishes a percentage of brightness from 0% to 100% then divides by the number of the **Symbol Limit**. So, if you choose 4, it will divide by 4, and every character will have 25% of the comp’s “real estate.” Values from 0 to 25 will be the first character, which will be dark. Values from 25 to 50 will be the second character, which will be less dark, and so on.

When the **All Characters** checkbox is enabled, the functionality is the same as having the box deselected but still having the **Uppercase Letters**, **Lowercase Letters**, **Numbers**, and **Symbols** boxes all checked. Otherwise, you’re free to select or omit character types as you please. The math-inclined may only want Symbol Mapper to show numbers. Those trying to shout their creative concept may want all-caps letters. We don’t judge.