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Parameter
Description
Particle Count Slider (N)
Particle Count - 0 = No Particle - Max = 32 Particles per Text Object
Life Slider (L)
Life Time of a Particle - if Timing is set (> 0) Life Time is
synchronized with it.
The command button below the Life Slider can be set to:
- L = Loop - slow birth, life, slow death
- H = Hold - always displayed
- I = Inward - fast birth, life, slow
death
- O = Outward - slow birth, life, fast
death
Timing Slider (Timing)
Timing of the particles generated. Depending on Spread Modes (Uniform,
Random, Diagonal, Cross, Circle and Spiral) the XY spread, Angle,
Rotation and Size is animated according to the timing value
Spread Sliders (XY)
The X and Y Sliders define the X and Y spread of the particles around
the Text Object center.
Depending on the Spread Mode (Uniform, Diagonal, Cross, Circle and Spiral)
the values can be set to be "animated" between two values. The
"animation" amplitude is displayed as a colored bar on the
slider background. The "Animation" time depends on Timing Slider
setting.
The XY button below the spread sliders links the value of one
spread slider to the other
The L buttons above the spread sliders define the
"animation" direction if Timing is > 0:
- L = Loop - Start XY, End XY, Start XY
- O = Outward - Start XY, End XY
- I = Inward - End XY, Start
XY
Angle Sliders (Angle)
The Angle Sliders define the X (Theta) and Y (Phi) rotation of all
particles around the Text Object center with distance XY from the center.
Depending on the Spread Mode (Diagonal, Cross, Circle and Spiral) the
values can be set and/or "animated" between two values. The
"animation" amplitude is displayed as a colored bar on the
slider background. The "Animation" time depends on Timing Slider
setting.
The Angle button below the spread sliders links the value of one
angle slider to the other
The L buttons above the angle sliders define the
"animation" direction if Timing is > 0:
- L = Loop - Start Angle, End Angle, Start
Angle
- O = Outward - Start Angle, End Angle
- I = Inward - End Angle, Start Angle
Rotation Angle Slider (R)
The rotation angle slider defines the rotation angle of each particle
around its own center. The values can be set and/or
"animated" between two rotation angles. The
"animation" amplitude is displayed as a colored bar on the
slider background. The "Animation" time depends on Timing Slider
setting.
The R button below the rotation slider synchronizes the rotation of
each particle if set to on.
The L button above the rotation slider define the
"animation" direction if Timing is > 0:
- L = Loop - Start Angle, End Angle, Start
Angle
- O = Outward - Start Angle, End Angle
- I = Inward - End Angle, Start Angle
Size Slider (S)
The size slider defines the size of each particle. The values can be set
and/or "animated" between two sizes. The "animation"
amplitude is displayed as a colored bar on the slider background. The
"Animation" time depends on Timing Slider setting.
The S button below the size slider synchronizes the size of each
particle if set to on.
The L button above the rotation slider define the
"animation" direction if Timing is > 0:
- L = Loop - Minimum Size, Increase Size,
Maximum Size, Decrease Size
- O = Outward - Minimum Size, Increase
Size, Minimum Size
- I = Inward - Maximum Size,
Decrease Size, Maximum Size
Spread Modes
Uniform
Uniform Particle Distribution centered around the Text Object center and
spread according to Spread Slider Value (XY)
Note: Angle Setting is not available for uniform spread mode.
Random
Random Particle Distribution centered around the Text Object center and
spread according to Spread Slider Value (XY)
Note: Angle Setting and XY animation is not available for random spread
mode.
Diagonal
Diagonal Particle Distribution centered around the Text Object center,
spread according to Spread Slider Value (XY) and Angle Sliders (Angle)
Cross
Cross Particle Distribution centered around the Text Object center, spread
according to Spread Slider Value (XY) and Angle Sliders (Angle)
Circle
Circular Particle Distribution centered around the Text Object center,
spread according to Spread Slider Value (XY) and Angle Sliders (Angle)
Spiral
Spiral Particle Distribution centered around the Text Object center,
spread according to Spread Slider Value (XY) and Angle Sliders (Angle)
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Introduction
With the Particle functionality you can
create a "particle generator" from each Text Object
(including 3D Shapes and 3D Models - Picture and Video Textures).
Particle settings are saved to the TextMachine 3D preset but they
can also be saved to a Particle Preset File for later usage.
The Particle Preset list allows to load and
apply existing Particle Presets.
Once Particle Presets are loaded/saved to the Particle Preset list, use
the numeric keys (1 to 9) on your keyboard to apply the respective
Particle Preset.
Numeric Key 0 (Zero) resets the Particle Setup
Some default Particle Presets can be found
in the TextMachine 3D installation folder, ParticlePresets subfolder.
The "Particles" window can be
accessed as shown in the screenshots.
How to use Particle Parameters
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To enable
particles on a text object, open the "Particles" Window and
set the particle count of your choice by using the leftmost Slider (N)
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To set the
spread of the particles generated from the text object, set the
position XY sliders (3rd and 4th slider from left) to the desired
pixel value.
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To set the
spread mode (how particles are distributed on screen with origin
at center of the text object) toggle one of following spread
mode buttons: Uniform, Random, Diagonal, Cross, Circle or Spiral.
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To set the
spread angle for the particle distribution on screen, valid for spread
modes Cross, Circle and Spiral, use the "Angle" sliders (5th
and 6th slider from the left)
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To set the
rotation of each particle use the "Rotation" [R] slider (2nd
from the right). Toggle the [R] button beneath the slider, to have
uniform or random rotations.
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To set the
size of the particles use the "Size" [S] slider (1st from
the right).
Toggle the [S] button beneath the slider, to have uniform or random
sizes.
-
To time the
particle generation use the "Timing" slider located at the top
of the "Particles" window. Specify your desired timing in
milliseconds.
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To animate
the parameters such as Spread XY, Angle, Rotation and Size according
to the "Timing" value: position the slider to the desired
start value, release mouse button and click again, hold the mouse
button and drag the slider handle to the desired end value. The
animation amplitude will be displayed by a color bar inside the
slider.
Note: Some spread modes do not allow certain parameter animation.
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To define the
animation direction of the parameters, use the control buttons above
each slider. L= Loop, O =Outward from start- to end value, I = Inward
from end - to start value.
Examples
Start TextMachine 3D and drag/drop the
presets below to the TextMachine 3D design pane.
Uniform
Random
Diagonal
Cross
Circle
Spiral
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