Effects > Create Curve Flow

Flow Along Curves

Flow Group Name: Name of the Curve Flow node to contain the emitter, emitted particle object and other items added to the scene after you use the Curve Flow effect. To edit the Curve Flow attributes after you use the Curve Flow effect, you can select this name in the Outliner then display the Attribute Editor. If you don’t enter a name, Maya creates a default name.

You can delete all objects created by the Curve Flow effect by deleting the Curve Flow node from the Outliner.

Flow Creation Controls

Attach Emitter to Curve: If on, the emitter created by the Curve Flow effect is point-constrained to the first flow locator on the curve (the locator closest to the first CV of the curve). If off, you can move the emitter to any position. When you rewind and play the animation, the particles flow from the emitter position to the first flow locator. You cannot change this option after creation.
Num Control Segments: Sets the number of places on the flow path where you can tune particle spread and speed. Higher numbers give finer manipulator control of spread and speed. Lower numbers improve playback speed. You cannot change this option after creation.
Num Control Subsegments: Sets the number of segments between segments. Higher numbers cause particles to follow the curve more precisely. Lower numbers improve playback speed. You cannot change this option after creation.

Flow Attribute Controls

Emission Rate: Sets the rate at which particles are emitted per unit of time.
Random Motion Speed: Sets how much the particles meander as they move along the curve. Higher numbers make particles meander more. A value of 0 turns off meandering.
Particle Lifespan: Sets how many seconds each emitted particle exists from the beginning of the curve to the end. Higher values make the particles move slower.
Goal Weight: Each emitted particle has a goal position that it follows as it moves along the path. The goal weight sets how precisely the particles track their goals. A weight of 1 makes the particles follow their goals exactly. Lower values diminish how closely they follow.