How to prepare an animated obj to b shot from an emitter?

#1

I just learned how to shoot particles from an emitter, thanks to RichardMarklew. Now I need to take it one step further. How about, instead of shooting confetti, I’ll shoot those spirally paper bands? I already have one, including an armature so I can make it stretch like a spring as it’s being shot in the air.
My actual question is, should I get the springy spiral animated prior to using it for the emitter? I don’t quite see it very clearly in my head. Can someone give me a hand with this?

Thanks guys,

JDL

#2

Ok I just tried. I started by assigning the spiral to the emitter, and that works ok. Then I animated the bone stretching over time while the spiral is airborn.
But I have 2 problems now.

  1. The spiral band gets wider as its armature gets scaled up on the Z axis. Ideally the band width should remain constant all through the stretching.

  2. Once the spiral is stretched out its shape it’s like a stick, too straight. Reason why I’m suspecting I’ll have to forget about the emitter and animate it manually with the help of a curved path. What do you guys think?
    Then again, I’m such a rookie using particle emitters that there might a be a way to make this work without giving up on the emitter.

JDL

#3

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