Creates the curve flow
effect.
Effects > Create
Curve Flow >
Sets the options when
creating a curve flow effect. Here are the options:
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.