Discover the process of creating and customizing particle emitters using a Bee file in the layer stack. Learn to animate objects efficiently by adjusting and setting keyframes for rotation parameters, making this skill crucial for careers in digital design and animation.
Key Insights
- Particle emitters can be created by dragging and dropping a file (like the Bee file) into the layer stack and applying "CC Particle World" to a new solid layer.
- The emitter can be customized in the Effect Controls panel by altering various parameters such as Particle Type, Texture Layer, Birth Size, Death Size, Max Opacity, Birth and Death Color.
- Physical features of the emitter can be customized by adjusting Animation, Velocity, and Gravity in the Physics options.
- Producer settings can be adjusted by changing Position X and Y values, and animation can be initiated by changing Birth Rate.
- Object animation involves going inside the object layer (like the Bee layer) and relocating Anchor Points, setting Rotation values, and establishing keyframes at specific points in the timeline.
- The method allows for repetitive animation using “loopOut()” in the Expression bar, hence saving time and effort while creating complex animations.
Particle Emitter Tools
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CC Particle World
Built-in 3D particle system. Customize physics, color, and life.
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Custom Source Layer
Use any layer as the particle (logo, image, text).
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Emitter Position
Animate emitter to move particle origin through the comp.
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Birth Rate
Control how many particles spawn per second.
Link to file: https://www.Noble Desktop.com/downloads/excel-videos/Tutorial-55-Custom-Particle-Emitters-projectFiles.zip
ASSET CREDIT Beehive Vectors by Vecteezy Bee graphic
Beehive Vectors by Vecteezy Beehive graphic
Flower vector created by pch.vector Garden graphic
Creating the Emitter
- Drag and drop the Bee file into the layer stack.
- Go up to Layer > New > Solid.
- Create a new, pale yellow Solid layer. Name it Bee Swarm.
- Go to Effects and type in CC Particle World. Apply to Bee Swarm layer.
- Turn Visibility off on the Bee layer.
Customizing the Emitter
- In the Effect Controls panel, toggle open the Particle options.
- Set Particle Type to Textured Square.
- Toggle open Texture. In the first dropdown list, set Texture Layer to Bee.
- Change Birth Size to 1.
- Change Death Size to 5.
- Change Max Opacity to 100%.
- Change Birth and Death Color to light yellow.
- Toggle open Physics. This is located right above the Particle options.
- Change Animation to Direction Axis.
- Velocity should be 0.95.
- Gravity should be set to 0.250. Hit the stopwatch next to the word Gravity to set a keyframe.
- Move the Playhead a few frames in, to 0;00;02;23.
- Change Gravity to -0.500
- At the top of the Effect Controls, change Birth Rate to 1,000.
- Toggle open Producer.
- Change Position X to -0.40.
- Change Position Y to -0.09
Animating the Object
- Double click the Bee layer to go inside of it.
- Move the Anchor Points on each wing over to their respective bases. The Anchor Point should cover the intersection between wing and body.
- Place the Playhead at the start of the Timeline.
- With both layers selected, hit R for Rotation.
- On the left wing, set Rotation to -24. Hit the stopwatch to set a keyframe.
- The right wing’s Rotation is 33. Hit the stopwatch to set a keyframe.
- Move the Playhead to 0;00;01;00.
- Change the left wing’s Rotation to 50.
- Change the right wing’s Rotation to 33.
- Move the Playhead to 0;00;02;00.
- Change the left wing back to -24.
- Change the right wing back to 33.
- ALT-click the stopwatch on the left wing Rotation. Type in “loopOut()” in the Expression bar.
- Do the same for the right wing.
- Click on Main Comp in the Project panel to return to the final animation.
