Select an nParticle style

Before you create an nParticle object, you can specify which style of nParticle you want to create. nParticle styles are like templates, providing preset attribute settings for the nParticle object’s appearance, size, render type, and collision properties. You can use an nParticle style as the starting point for your simulation, and then adjust specific attributes to suit your needs. The table below lists the preset attribute settings for each nParticle style.

To select an nParticle style

• In the nDynamics menu set, select nParticles > Create nParticles, and then choose Points, Balls, Clouds, Thick Clouds, or Water.

  See Select an nParticle creation method.

Select an nParticle creation method

You can use the following methods to create an nParticle object.

• Use the nParticle Tool
• Create an nParticle emitter
• Emit nParticles from an object
• Fill an object with nParticles

To create nParticles using the nParticle Tool

• In the nDynamics menu set, select nParticles > Create nParticles > nParticle Tool > .

  The Particle Settings window appears.

For information about the Particle Settings window, see Particles > Particle Tool in the Dynamics guide.

Using the nParticle Tool, you can also create nParticle grids (see Create particles) and place nParticles on a surface (see Place particles on a surface in the Dynamics guide).

To create an nParticle emitter

• In the nDynamics menu set, select nParticles > Create nParticles, and then select either Create Emitter> or Emit from Object > .

  The Emitter Options window appears.

For information about the Emitter Options window, see Particles > Create Emitter in the Dynamics guide. See also Create emitters in the Dynamics guide.

To fill an object with nParticles

1. In the scene view, select the polygon mesh you want to fill with nParticles.
2. To convert the mesh to a passive collision object or nCloth object, in the nDynamics menu, select one of the following options.
   • nMesh > Create Passive Collider
   • nMesh > Create nCloth

   For information about creating nCloth, see Create or remove nCloth.

3. In the nDynamics menu set, select nParticles > Create nParticles, and then select an nParticle style. See Select an nParticle style.
4. To fill your passive collision object or nCloth object with nParticles, select nParticles > Create nParticles > Fill Object.

   The Particle Fill Options window appears.

5. In the Particle Fill Options window, set the following:
   • If you want to attach the nParticle object you are creating to an existing Maya Nucleus solver, select the solver from the Solver drop-down list.

     If you want to create a new Maya Nucleus solver for the nParticle object you are creating, select Create New Solver from the Solver drop-down list.

   • Set the number of nParticles you want to use in the fill by adjusting Resolution. See Resolution.
   • Using the Fill Bounds controls, set the particle fill boundaries. See Fill Bounds.
   • Use Particle Density to set the size of nParticles in the fill. See Particle Density.
   • (Optional) Turn on Close Packing to set the packing arrangement of nParticles. See Close Packing.
   • (Optional) Turn on Double Walled if you are filling a double walled geometry with nParticles. See Double Walled.
   • Click Particle Fill.

     The selected geometry is filled with nParticles.

Assign nParticles to a new or existing solver

After you’ve created nParticle objects, you can assign them to a new solver, or a different existing solver within your scene. Because nParticle objects can only interact with other Nucleus objects (nParticles, nCloth, and passive collision objects) when sharing the same Maya Nucleus solver, you may want to move objects from one solver to another or separate objects to their own solver.

To assign your nParticles objects to a new or existing solver

1. In the scene view, select the nParticle object that you want to assign to a new solver.
2. In the nDynamics menu set, select nSolver > Assign Solver.

   A list of solvers appears.

3. From the solver list, select New Solver, or select an existing solver.

   If you select New Solver, Maya creates a new Maya Nucleus Solver, which appears in the Attribute Editor, and assigns the selected object(s) to it.

   If you select an existing solver, Maya assigns the selected object(s) to it.