Use a surface as a particle
generator to generate particles based on the area, shape, and colour
of a surface. You can use a surface's matte to restrict where particles
are generated. When the matte is off, the particle stream is generated
from the entire surface. When the matte is on, particles are only
generated where the matte is white or grey.
You can animate the shape
of the surface using its tangent handles. The starting area of the
particle stream matches the surface's shape animation. See
Changing the Shape of a Surface.
To add a particle stream using a surface:
- Select or add a surface that you want
to use as a particle generator.
- Adjust the surface's shape, position,
and other attributes. See
Modifying Surfaces.
- With the surface node selected in the
schematic, do one of the following:
- Drag the particle generator node from
the node bar and place it in the schematic.
- Double-click the particle generator node.
You do not need to be in Schematic view to add a node in this manner.
A particle generator
object is added and automatically connected to the selected surface.
- Set the particle generator's properties.
See
Customizing the Particle Stream.
- If you do not want the surface to appear
in the scene, you can hide the surface in Schematic view. A particle
stream is generated from the hidden surface.
- To make the generated particles change
as the surface's clip changes, enable Indirect in the Particle Generator menu.
