Circular motion nParticles

#1

Hey!

Can anybody help me with something that should be the simplest of effects.

  1. nParticles emitting in a stream.
  2. They get sucked up into a circular motion.
  3. Finally released into the wind.

Simple enough? Not to this guy.

Thanks,

Fred

#2

So basically what needs to happen, and preferably in nCloth:

  1. Leaves on tree blow in wind.
  2. In increasing numbers the leaves blow off the branches.
  3. They form a circle around the tree.
  4. Then blow across the screen out of view.

Thanks!

#3

Start with this setup:
http://area.autodesk.com/blogs/duncan/falling_leaves_with_ncloth_and_paint_effects

Then add a volume axis field as a force on the nCloth, using the around axis. If you need a more exact circle perhaps use a torus volume shape on the volume axis field with settings to pull it both towards and along the circular axis of the torus. Keyframe the magnitude to attract and release the particles.

#4

As always thank you for your response Duncan! Much appreciated. I was able to pull off the effect using your techniques.

  1. Pfx leaves clusters converted to poly then nCloth.
  2. Using a circle with a detached point curving in (acting as the vacuum hose tip) with added volume curve.
  3. Dialing in along axis and counter acting the push with a negative away from axis. using a low trap inside with a higher than default trap radius value.
  4. Animating the wind and trap inside to release the nCloth.

It was a bit tricky dialing in the proper values but the result is great.

Any chance anybody has an expression for using goals with an animated file texture? nParticles need to land and settle randomly over the white bits of the texture.

Thanks again!

Fred