Using Help | Contents | Index Back - Adobe AFTER EFFECTS 5.5 Help Manual

Adobe After Effects Help
Using Help | Contents
If you choose Relative and specify a Time Offset of 0, all particles shows the frame of the
source layer that corresponds to the Playground layer's current time. However, if you
choose Relative and specify a Time Offset of 0.1 (and your composition is set to 30 fps),
each new particle starts displaying the source layer frame that is 0.1 seconds after the
previous particle's frame, or every third frame. Therefore, as the Playground layer plays, the
first particle shows the frame of the source layer that corresponds to the Playground
layer's current time, the second particle shows the frame of the source layer that is 0.1
seconds later than the current time, the third particle shows the frame of the source layer
that is 0.2 seconds later than the current time, and so on.
Note that regardless of the Time Offset you specify, the first particle always displays the
frame of the source layer that corresponds to the Playground layer's current time.
Absolute Displays a frame from the source layer based on the Time Offset you specify,
regardless of the current time. Use this option when you want a particle to show the same
frame of a multiframe source layer for its entire lifespan, instead of cycling through
different frames as the Playground layer advances in time.
For example, if you choose Absolute and specify a Time Offset of 0, every particle shows
the first frame of the source layer for its entire lifespan. If you want to show a frame other
than the first frame, move the source layer earlier in time until the frame you want to show
corresponds to the In point of the Playground layer. If you specify a Time Offset of 0.1, each
new particle will display a frame that is 0.1 seconds after that of the previous particle (or
every third frame of a 30-fps animation).
Relative Random Starts playing the source layer from a frame chosen at random, within
the range between the Playground layer's current time and the Random Time Max you
specify (when you use a random Time Offset type, the Time Offset option changes to the
Random Time Max option). For example, if you choose Relative Random and specify a
Random Time Max of 1, each particle starts playing from a source layer frame chosen at
random from between the current time and 1 second after the current time. If you choose
Relative Random and specify a negative Random Time Max value, the Random Time Max
will be before the current time, so that the range within which new particles start playing
will advance as the current time advances, but will always be between the current time
and one second earlier than the current time.
Absolute Random Takes a frame at random from the source layer, using a time between
0 and the Random Time Max you specify. Use this option when you want each particle to
represent a different single frame of a multiframe source layer. For example, if you choose
Absolute Random and specify a Random Time Max of 1, each particle shows a source layer
frame from a random time between 0 and 1 second into the source layer's duration.
Choosing Layer Map options (PB only)
After you have created default particles, use the Layer Map to replace dots with a particle
source layer.
To replace default particles with a layer:
1 If necessary, import the source footage and add it to the composition.
2 In the Timeline window, click the layer's eye icon ( ) to hide it.
3 In the Effect Controls window under Particle Playground, expand the Layer Map
property.
Using Help | Contents
| Index
| Index
Creating Particle Effects (PB only)
Back
Back
360
360