Trapcode Particular

Text/Mask group

This parameter group controls how you emit particles from Text/Mask layers when Text/Mask is the selected Emitter Type.

Layer

Select a layer in the comp that will serve as your text or mask to emit particles.

• Note: Make sure Source is set to Effects & Masks. Since the Source menu isn't available in the Designer (due to plugin integration limitations), if ever you find the Designer is not matching the output in After Effects, this is likely the reason why.

Use Primary Layer : On additional emitters, this toggle determines whether the Text/Mask layer referenced is the same as the Primary System.

Match Text/Mask Size

Toggles whether Particular uses the size of the Text/Mask it's mapped to, rather than the Emitter Size X and Y parameters within the effect. Emitter Size Z can still be used to expand the particle emitter through Z-space, giving it a 3D effect.

Emit From

Defines where, from the layer referenced, the particles emit from:

• Edges : Particles emit from the outer edges of the text/mask layer referenced.
  • The sampling from edges is based on the particle size. Larger particle sizes equal a larger edge sampling.
• Faces : Particles emit from the entire face of the of the text/mask layer referenced.

Layer Sampling

Defines how the layer referenced will affect the particles emitted.

• Particle Birth Time : Each particle, when birthed, samples its source from the text/mask emitter and retains that image throughout its lifespan.
• Current Frame : Each particle sample is sourced from the text/mask layer referenced, and updates itself along with any changes to the text/mask reference.

Layer RGB Usage

Defines how to use the values that are sampled from the layer used as the Text/Mask Emitter.

• Lightness - Size: The particle size is affected by the lightness of the Text/Mask Emitter.
• Lightness - Velocity: The particle velocity is affected by the lightness of the Text/Mask Emitter. If lightness is less than 50%, the particle will emit backwards. If lightness is exactly 50%, velocity will be 0. Above 50%, the particles will emit forwards.
• Lightness - Rotation: The particle rotation is affected by the lightness of the Text/Mask Emitter.
• RGB - Size Vel Rot: The particles get their size, velocity and rotation from the Red, Green and Blue color channels of the Text/Mask Emitter.
• RGB - Particle Color: The particles get their color from the Red, Green and Blue color channels of the Text/Mask Emitter.
• None: No values are used.
• RGB - Size Vel Rot + Col: The particle size, velocity, rotation and color are affected by the Red, Green and Blue color channels of the Text/Mask Emitter.
• RGB - XYZ Velocity: The particles get their velocity from the Red, Green and Blue color channels of the Text/Mask Emitter.
• RGB - XYZ Velocity + Col: The particles get their velocity and color from the Red, Green and Blue color channels of the Text/Mask Emitter.

Options for Emit From Edges

The next section will only activate when Edges is selected from the Emit From parameter above.

Stroke Edges Sequentially: When Edges are selected from the Emit From parameter above, this toggles whether the Path Start and Path End controls below affect all referenced paths/letters at the same time, or in sequence starting with the first path/letter through the last.

Stroke Edges Sequentially enabled

Stroke Edges Sequentially disabled

Path Start, Path End: Adjusts where along the edges of the text/mask the emitter's position begins and ends. Path start automatically from the lower left region.

Path Offset: Moves the emitter position along the text/mask between the start (lower values) and end (higher values) points.

Use First Vertex : Control exactly where along the mask you want the start point to be by assigning that as the first vertex.

Loop dropdown: Defines whether path animations made in the Path Start , Path End , and Path Offset parameters above occur Once or on a Loop .