Form
The Shading group adds a special shading effect to the particle scene. This set of controls creates shading from composition lights set by After Effects (AE) or Trapcode Lux. Form supports up to 128 Spotlights, 128 Point Lights, and unlimited Ambient Lights.
Shading requires an After Effects light or Lux Light in the timeline. Once you've created that, Form can add special effects shading. These particles are illuminated based on the light's characteristics. This page will show examples with AE Lights, but similar effects can be created with our Lux plug-in. Learn about Trapcode Lux here: http://www.redgiant.com/products/trapcode-lux/
Shading pop-up: By default, the Shading group is turned off, with the Shading pop-up set to Off. Enable the Shading group by setting the Shading pop-up to On. The Shading group needs to work with composition lights. If there are no lights in your timeline, the particles will seem disappear when you first turn on the Shading group.
Here's a good way to see how the Shading section works: Add two Point or Spot Lights. Rotate one Light toward the particles and one away. Keep at least one light a white color. Trying adjusting the Intensity and watch the outcome.
Shading off (left) and on (right). This comp uses three AE Spot lights, one AE Ambient light, and one Trapcode Lux light.
Light Falloff pop-up: The Light's layer property sets its Light Intensity. Light Falloff makes that Light Intensity fall away so that the particles far away from the light are less affected by Shading. Basically, Falloff controls how Light Intensity varies with distance between the surface and the light. Light Falloff is supported for Spot and Point Lights.
Light Falloff set to Natural (Lux, left) and None (AE, right).
Using Light properties in AE or Lux: All AE Light layer properties are read and used by the Shading group. There are different types of Lights (Point, Spot, Parallel, Ambient), and each kind has different properties. This includes Color, Intensity, Cone Angle, Light Angle, Orientation, and Rotation. These adjustments are all made in the timeline in the Light properties, not in Trapcode Particular's interface. However, Particular benefits from those adjustments by displaying their effects.
Shading controls can also tie directly into the properties set by the Trapcode Lux plug-in. Learn about Lux at www.redgiantsoftware.com/products/all/trapcode-lux/
Timeline layer properties for an Ambient Light (top) and a Point Light (bottom).
Nominal Distance: Defines the distance, measured in pixels, at which the Light has its original Intensity and where the Light Falloff begins. This is active when Light Falloff > Natural (Lux) is selected.
For example, if a Light has Intensity at 100% and Nominal Distance is set to 250, at a distance of 250 pixels the Light Intensity will be 100 percent. There will be a lower Intensity farther away and a higher Intensity closer.
Ambient: Defines how much ambient light particles reflect. Ambient puts the light color in the shadows, where there is no light from the Point Lights or Spot Lights. Ambient light is a background light that is everywhere and radiates in every direction. It is useful for giving some light (color) to particles that are not lit by Spot Lights and Point Lights.
NOTE: Ambient needs to work with an Ambient Light in the timeline. Remember to create at least one Ambient Light in the comp when using this setting. The default value is 20. High values make the light brighter against the shadow. Low values make the light duller.
An AE Ambient Light in comp with Ambient at 30 (left) and 70 (right).
Diffuse: Defines how much the particles reflect in a diffuse manner. This means the particles reflect in every direction, no matter which direction you are viewing the particle from. This does not tie into any particular Light type, but instead affects all Lights in the composition.
The default value is 80. High values make the light brighter. Low values make the light duller. Matte surfaces typically have a large diffuse component.
Specular Amount: Simulates a metallic or glossy look for particles. This is active when you choose a Sprite or Textured Polygon particle type.
Specular defines how much particles reflect in a more directional way. For example, a glossy surface like plastic or metal have a specular component.
High values make particles more glossy. Low values make them less glossy. You may need to lower the Diffuse value to allow the glimmer to come through. Specular Amount is very sensitive to the particle's angle.
Specular Sharpness: Defines how narrow the specular reflection is. This is active when a Sprite or Textured Polygon particle type is chosen.
For example, glass may be very narrow and plastic slightly less narrow. Sharpness also lets you lower the sensitivity of Specular Amount so it's not so sensitive to the particle's angle. High values make it more sensitive. Low values make it less sensitive.
Reflection Map: Mirrors the environment in the particle volume. This is active when a Sprite or Textured Polygon particle type is chosen.
To create the Map, select a disabled layer in the timeline. This is a great effect for a scene that needs particles to reflect the environment. If you can create an environment map from the scene, then particles will blend in well.
The Reflection Map pop-up (left) and its associated timeline layers (right).
The comp without a Map (left), the layer used as Map (center), and the comp with Map applied (right).
Reflection Strength: Defines the Reflection Map strength. This is active when a Sprite or Textured Polygon particle type is chosen.
Since the Reflection Map can be combined with regular shading from comp Lights, Reflection Strength is useful for adjusting the look. At the default value of 100, Strength is turned off. Lower values take down the strength of the Reflection Map and mix in the Shading from the scene.
Shadowlet Settings group: Shadowlet Settings provides a soft, self-shadowing for the particle volume. Learn more in Shadowlet group.