2009

TIP Use a lower Accel Limit value for smooth motion, and a higher value when
greater accuracy is needed, such as when the particles should hit a small target.
You can animate this setting (use Sync By > Event Duration) to specify different
appropriate values, depending on the required results.
Influence % Determines the mix of the previous speed with the speed of the
operator icon. Default=100.0. Range=0.0 to 100.0.
At the default value of 100, the speed is controlled only by that of the icon.
At 0, the icon speed doesn't affect particle speed at all. At in-between values,
the mix proportion is determined by the Influence % value.
Speed Variation Enables random variation of the particles' speed, so they
don't all move at exactly the same rate as the icon. Turn this on, and then set
the minimum and maximum percentages of variation. Default=off.
Using Speed Variation can help keep the particles from bunching up as they
travel along the animation path. Note, however, that each individual particle's
speed doesn't vary; it travels at a constant speed.
Min %/Max % Set the minimum and maximum percentages, respectively,
of particle speed variation. Default=50.0 (Min %), 100.0 (Max %).
For example, if you set Min % to 50 and Max % to 200, the particles will vary
in speed between half and two times the speed of the icon.
Use Icon Orientation Applies animation of the icon's orientation to the
particles.
By default, Speed By Icon controls particle motion only by animation of the
icon's position. If you turn on Use Icon Orientation, the software also applies
rotation of the icon to the particle motion. In essence, this motion is circular,
and its extent depends on the distance between each particle and the icon.
Default=off.
The best way to understand how this works is by using it. To try out Use Icon
Orientation, see
this procedure on page ?.
Steer Towards Trajectory Particles farther away than the Distance value from
the icon are moved directly toward the icon. Default=off.
Distance Sets the distance between the particles and the operator icon beyond
which Steer Towards Trajectory takes effect. Default=10.0.
Parameters Animation group
If you animate the operator settings, the software can begin applying this
animation to all particles as of the start frame of the animation or the first
frame of the current event, or to each particle based on its age. For instance,
2884 | Chapter 14 Space Warps and Particle Systems