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Layer Exploder and Particle Exploder (PB only)


    The Layer Exploder explodes a layer into new particles, and the Particle Exploder explodes a particle into more new particles. In addition to explosion effects, the exploders are also handy for simulating fireworks or for rapidly increasing the number of particles.

    The following guidelines can help you control particles resulting from an explosion:

    • A layer is exploded once for each frame. By default, this creates a continuous shower of particles for the duration of the composition. If you want to start or stop a layer explosion, animate the Radius of New Particles option using keyframes so that its value is zero at times when you don't want particles to be created.
    • If the source of the layer is a nested composition, you can set different Opacity property values or In and Out points for the layers within the nested composition to make the exploding layer transparent at different points in time. The Layer Exploder does not create particles where the source of the layer is transparent.
    • To change the position of the exploding layer, precompose the layer with its new position (use the Move All Attributes into The New Composition option), and then use the precomposed layer as the exploding layer.
    • When you explode particles, the new particles inherit the position, velocity, opacity, scale, and rotation of the original particles.
    • After you explode layers or particles, the movement of particles is influenced by the Gravity, Repel, Wall, and Property Mapper options.
    Applying the Layer Exploder to a layer
    Applying the Layer Exploder to a layer
    Applying the Particle Exploder to particles
    Applying the Particle Exploder to particles

    The Layer Exploder and Particle Exploder use the term "explode" in a purely physical sense-- the breakup of layers and particles and how the resulting particles are pushed away from the original position. If you want to create a fiery explosion with smoke and sparks, composite this effect with other layers containing fire, smoke, and sparks (either as additional particle effects or from actual footage).

    Tip iconSome Property Mapper options can make explosions more realistic (see About Property Mappers (PB only)). For example, change Opacity to make the resulting particles fade out, or change the Red, Green, and Blue color channels to make resulting particles change color as they appear to cool.

    You can adjust the following options for Layer Exploder and Particle Exploder:

    Explode Layer

    (Layer Exploder only) Choose the layer you want to explode. To make the video disappear the moment the particles appear, either turn off the video for the layer or trim the layer's Out point.

    Radius of New Particles

    Type a value for the radius of the particles resulting from the explosion. This value must be smaller than the radius of the original layer or particle.

    Velocity Dispersion

    Type a value, in pixels per second, as the maximum speed of the range within which Particle Playground varies the velocity of the resulting particles. High values create a more dispersed or cloudlike explosion. Low values keep the new particles closer together and can make the exploded particles resemble a halo or shock wave.

To explode a layer:

  1. In the Effect Controls window for the composition, click the right-facing triangle next to Layer Exploder so that it points downward.
  2. Specify options.

To explode particles:

  1. In the Effect Controls window, click the right-facing triangle next to Particle Exploder so that it points downward.
  2. Specify options.
  3. To apply the effect to a subset of particles, specify the Affects properties as necessary (see Using Affects options to specify particles (PB only)).