public void activate(final Nifty nifty, final Element element, final EffectProperties parameter) {
startColor = new Color(parameter.getProperty("startColor", "#00000000"));
endColor = new Color(parameter.getProperty("endColor", "#ffffffff"));
width = new SizeValue(parameter.getProperty("width"));
changeColorOnly = new Boolean(parameter.getProperty("changeColorOnly", "false"));
pulsator = new Pulsator(parameter, new TimeProvider());
}