animating particles along surface/edges

#1

I am trying to create a particle flow that animates particles from an emitter, to an object, along that objects surface/edges/vertex points, then off the other side of the object and away.
As an example, think of a car in a wind tunnel, but the particles could define the shape by running along the edges, from closest to furthest, or from closest vertex to furthest vertex.

I have got something working by using find target & split amount, and placing target points along the object, but this will become harder as the object is more detailed.

I am guessing scripting might be the answer, but I am an extreme novice with maxscript.
Any suggestions welcome.

#2

i guess u can make it without any scripting, depending on the shape and detail of your mesh.
You can use a Find Target and use the closest surface option. Then use the Lock/Bond to keep the particles on the surface and use a wind to move them across the surface, then at the other end you could have a Deflector that sends them to another event and leave the surface.

Hope it makes any sense.

#3

Thanks Grury,
I gave that a try (except for the deflector, I couldn’t work out which deflector would work) and it sticks most of the particles to the surface, but seems to favor one surface.
I am using a basic cube shape as the object test, and they seem to run along the bottom mostly.
I have uploaded a test file, in 3d max 2008 format: http://www.fileqube.com/file/uEyijk204379

What settings am I overlooking to get the particles to run over all surfaces??

#4

Dont have Max at home, will put together a demo scene for you on Monday.

#5

That would be great, thanks very much.

#6

http://www.grury.me.uk/sticky_demo.rar

just something I put together very quickly. I may work or not depending on what you want to achieve.

#7

Thanks for that Grury, that is closer to what I wanted than what I managed to achieve.
I’ll keep experimenting with it, thanks for your help.

#8

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