Working with Particles


The next exciting feature in our Tour de Motion is the wonderful world of particles. If you thought adding a behavior was fun, wait until you see the particles in action.

Particles are used in motion graphics to create smoke, fire, snow, falling leaves, and other special effects that require many objects created from one primary object (cell). The particle cell is multiplied through a particle emitter. For example, with a particle emitter you can turn a single raindrop (cell) into many particles to create a torrential rainstorm.

The icon for a particle emitter in Motion looks like a cone erupting with sparkles. The cone represents the emitter, and the sparkles represent the particles.

Remember: This chapter is just an introduction to many of the Motion features. You'll get a chance to work more with particles in Lesson 6.

Let's take a look at some of the particle emitters that come with Motion. Because the particle emitters are part of the Motion content, you'll find them in the Library.

1.

Click the Library tab or press Cmd-2 to open the Library, if it's not already open.

If the Utility window closed, press Cmd-2 again to reopen the Library in the Utility window.

2.

Locate the Particle Emitters icon in the upper pane of the Library.

3.

Click the Nature folder to narrow the selections to the Nature category.

4.

Click the icon for the Big Rain particle emitter in the lower pane to preview the emitter at the top of window.

The Big Rain particle emitter creates a continuous stream of rain in the lower half of the preview area.

Using the Particle Emitter Preview

Okayso you can preview the Big Rain particle emitter in the lower half of the preview window. Wouldn't it be nice if you could see the rain as it covers the entire window? Well, you can.

Not only can you preview a particle emitter, but you can also change its position while it is previewing.

To change the position in the preview window, simply click and drag your pointer over the preview window. Wherever the pointer goes, the particle emitter follows. Let's try it.

1.

Click the Big Rain particle emitter to begin playback in the preview window if the emitter isn't already playing.

2.

Click and drag your pointer toward the lower portion of the preview window.

The rain follows the pointer and begins at the bottom of the window.

3.

Drag your pointer toward the top of the preview window.

The rain follows, now covering the entire preview window.

Now let's try another particle emitter.

4.

Click the Bubble Machine particle emitter located just to the right of the Big Rain particle emitter in the lower pane of the Library.

5.

Click and drag your pointer to different corners of the preview window to move the stream of bubbles.

Let's apply some bubbles to our project.

Adding Particles to the Canvas

Now that you've had a chance to view a few different particle emitters, you're ready to add one to the project. You can add a particle emitter to your project in either of two simple ways:

  • Select an emitter in the Library and click the Apply button.

  • Drag and drop an emitter from the Library to the Canvas.

For this exercise, you'll use the second method.

1.

Press the spacebar to begin playback in the Canvas, if the project is not already playing.

2.

In the Library, select the Bubbles Rising particle emitter; it is located next to the Bubble Machine particle emitter.

3.

Drag the icon for the Bubbles Rising particle emitter from the lower pane of the Library to the center of the Canvas; release the mouse.

The Bubbles Rising particle emitter adds a flurry of bouncing bubbles to the center of your project.

That was easy. You've successfully added particles to your motion graphics project. So what do you think of your project now?

Focusing the Audience's Attention

I like the bubbles floating about the screen. The only problem is that they compete with our flying yellow circle. This may not be a real-world project, but we should still apply real-world aesthetics and professional design techniques.

Throughout this book, I'll throw in some basic motion graphics design rules I've come up with over the years. Keep in mind that rules are meant to be broken and that motion graphics design is very subjective, so there are no absolutes. These "rules" are more like guidelines to help you make your Motion projects visually effective.

Rule #1: Decide where you want the audience to focus its attention, and direct your motion graphics scene accordingly.

This may seem like an obvious concept, but it's often overlooked, especially by those who are new to motion graphics. The various elements of your project are like characters in a scene. There are main charactersfor instance, the product in a television adand supporting characterslike bubblesthat enhance the mood or action in a scene without stealing all the attention. If this were an ad for bubbles, you'd be on the right track, but it's not.

In the project we've been creating, the moving yellow circle is a main character. When you play the project, your eyes are immediately drawn to the circle as it enters the frame. Unfortunately, the bubbles arrive too early and attract your attention and keep it. If this were an ad for the yellow circle, you would have just lost your audience, and your client.

Watch the project again to see how your eyes become distracted from the circle.

So how do you keep the bubbles and your job? Simple. Start the bubbles later, when the circle is on its way off the screen. That way, the circle gets its solo debut, and the bubbles become a pleasant addition to the cast rather than stealing the show.



    Apple Pro Training Series Getting Started with Motion
    Apple Pro Training Series: Getting Started With Motion
    ISBN: 0321305337
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2005
    Pages: 283
    Authors: Mary Plummer

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