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Particle Generators
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In this tutorial you will learn how to:

 

 

Setup a Particle Generator from a Text Object

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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) 

 

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

  • 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)

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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)

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

 

Use the different Particle Generators Parameters

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Uniform Spread Mode

The Uniform spread mode allows to distribute particles evenly on the screen.
Start TextMachine 3D and drag/drop the presets on the right to the TextMachine 3D design pane.

Random Spread Mode

The Random spread mode allows to distribute particles randomly on the screen.
Start TextMachine 3D and drag/drop the presets on the right to the TextMachine 3D design pane.

Diagonal Spread Mode

The Diagonal spread mode allows to distribute particles diagonally on the screen.
Start TextMachine 3D and drag/drop the presets on the right to the TextMachine 3D design pane.

Cross Spread Mode

The Cross spread mode allows to distribute particles along a cross on the screen.
Start TextMachine 3D and drag/drop the presets on the right to the TextMachine 3D design pane.

Circle Spread Mode

The Circle spread mode allows to distribute particles on a circle or ellipse on the screen.
Start TextMachine 3D and drag/drop the presets on the right to the TextMachine 3D design pane.

Spiral Spread Mode

The Spiral spread mode allows to distribute particles along a spiral on the screen.
Start TextMachine 3D and drag/drop the presets on the right to the TextMachine 3D design pane.

 

 

Save and Load Particle Generator Setup

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Particle Presets

The particle presets used in this tutorial, can be found in the ParticleGeneratorSetups subfolder.

Introduction

Particle parameters are saved by default to the TextMachine 3D Preset, but you can also save the Particle Setup to a separate file for later usage.

In this way you may setup your own TextMachine 3D Particle library.

How to Save/Load and Quickly Access Particle Setups

  • To save a Particle setup click the "Save" button. The setup will be automatically be added to the Particle Presets list.

  • To load a Particle setup from a previously saved file, click the "Load" button

  • To load all Particle setups contained in a folder on your PC, click the "Load All" button

  • To remove a Particle setup from the "Particle Presets" list, select the desired item, then click the "Remove" button

  • To reset the "Particle Presets" list click the dust bin button

  • To apply a setup from the "Particle Presets" list, double click, or right click the desired item or use the number key on your keyboard e.g. as displayed  [1] Circle01 ~ Key 1

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