Particle

Particle

In the particle group are all the settings for the particle's appearance - like size, opacity, color and also how these properties vary over the particle's life.

Life [sec]
Controls how long the particles live. This value is in seconds. Long particle life can lead to slow rendering. This parameter is keyframable. When keyframing this parameter, all particles born at a certain frame gets a certain lifelength.

Life Random [%]
Randomness for life. When nonzero, the particles do not die all at once, instead they get slightly different lifelengths. Useful for creating natural looking trails etc.

Particle Type
There are 8 different particle types:

	Sphere Basic round particle. Control softness with Sphere Feather.			Smokelet A shadowed variant of Cloudlet. Control with Rotation/Smokelet Feather. More about Smokelet.
	Glow Sphere Glowing round particle. Control center sphere softness with Feather. The glow settings are in Options.			Custom Use any layer as particle. Read more about Custom Particles.
	Star Star-shaped particle with glow. Control rotation with Rotation. The glow settings are in Options.			Custom Colorize Same as custom but adds the ability to colorize the particles using lightness. Read more about Custom Particles.
	Cloudlet A randomized shape that looks like a small cloud. Control with Rotation/Cloudlet Feather.			Custom Fill Same as custom but adds the ability to colorize the particles by filling alpha. Read more about Custom Particles.

Sphere/Cloudlet/Smokelet Feather
Controls the softness of the Sphere, Cloudlet and Smokelet particle types. Low values gives the look of sharp circles and high values gives a more organic, smooth look.

Custom
This is a sub-group that can be twirled open to control custom particles. Read more about Custom Particles.

Rotation
Rotates the the particle. Enabled for Star, Cloudlet, Smokelet and the Custom particle types. This parameter is keyframable. When keyframing this parameter, all particles born at a certain frame gets a certain initial rotation.

Rotation Speed
Controls how fast particles rotate. This parameter is keyframable. When keyframing this parameter, all particles born at a certain frame gets a certain rotation speed.

Size
The size of the particles. This parameter is keyframable. When keyframing this parameter, all particles born at a certain frame gets a certain size.

Size Random [%]
Randomness for size. When nonzero, the particles get slightly different sizes.

Size over Life
Controls how the particle size varies over the particle's life. Read more about Size over Life.

Opacity
The opacity of the particles. This parameter is keyframable. When keyframing this parameter, all particles born at a certain frame gets a certain opacity.

Opacity Random [%]
Randomness for opacity. When nonzero, the particles get slightly different opacity.

Opacity over Life
Controls how the particle opacity varies over the particle's life. Read more about Opacity over Life.

Set Color
Select the method for setting the particle's color. There are three options:

	At Birth		Set particle color at birth and keep over lifetime. Use the Color parameter below to set color.
	Over Life		Use Color over Life so particle's color can var over life. Read more on Color over Life.
	Random from Gradient		Select a random color from the colors in Color over Life.

Color
When Set Color is set to At Birth, this controls the particle's color. This parameter is keyframable. When keyframing this parameter, all particles born at a certain frame gets a certain color.

Color Random [%]
Randomness for color. When nonzero, the particles get slightly different colors.

Color over Life
Controls how the particle color varies over the particle's life. Read more about Color over Life.

Transfer Mode
The particle Transfer Mode controls how particles are composited together. There are six options:

	Normal		Normal composite operation.
	Add		Particles are added together. Useful for light effects and fires
	Screen		Particles are screened together. Useful for light effects and fires.
	Lighten		Lightest color wins. Similair to the max operation. Does not "build up" like add and screen.
	Normal/Add over Life		Gives the ability to switch between and smoothly blend normal and add modes over life.
	Normal/Screen over Life		Gives the ability to switch between and smoothly blend normal and screen modes over life.

Transfer Mode over Life
Controls how the particle transfer mode varies over the particle's life. Useful for example when creating flames that turn into smoke. While the particle is in the flame, the transfer mode should be add or screen (flames have addative properties). Later on, as the particles becomes smoke, transfer mode should be normal (smoke has obscuring properties). Read more about Transfer Mode over Life.