3D Compositing with Action > Action: The Particle System > Bouncing Particles >
Bouncing Particles Off a Bouncer

A particle bouncer element is added and automatically parented to a light source. The particle bouncer may not be parented by the right light source or axis. The bouncer must be parented by the light or axis added in the last step.

NoteThe shape of the bouncer depends on the particle generator type.

The following figure shows the schematic and the result of bouncing particles off a bouncer.

To bounce particles off a bouncer:

1. Create a particle generator using a light source, 3D object, or surface as a particle generator. See Generating Particles.
2. Add an axis or a light source to the scene.
3. From the Node bin, double-click the Particle Bouncer node.
4. If you are using an axis to set the position of the particle bouncer, select the axis and go to step 5. Otherwise, go to step 7.
5. In the Axis menu, enable Free to sever the parent-to-child relationship between the particle generator and the axis.

   Any transformations and animations from the particle generator are not passed to the axis. This makes it easier to place the particle bouncer in the scene.

6. Parent the particle generator to the particle bouncer's axis or light source.

   You must parent the particle generator to the axis or light source; otherwise, the particles will ignore the particle bouncer.

7. In the Particle Bouncer menu, select Bounce from the Bounce Type box and set the appropriate bounce properties.

NoteIf the particle bouncer is not parented correctly, unparent the particle bouncer and make the axis or light source added in the last step its parent.