Overview of Form 2 Interface

This page gives an overview of each section of controls in Form 2. Make sure to read our What's New page to find out about new and improved features.

Overview of Form Interface

Following is an overview of the parameter groups in Form 2.

- Preset Area has pre-made particle animations, called presets, that are an easy way to get started with Form. Read the Using Presets page for info about how presets work.
- Base Form group defines the original particle grid – called a 'Base Form' – that can be affected by layer maps, particle controls, dispersion fields and every other control in Form 2.
- String Settings subgroup in Base Form is enabled when you choose the Box Strings base form, and sets its size and basic appearance.
- OBJ Setings subgroup in Base Form is enabled when you import an OBJ Model, and helps the base form to mold the shape of the OBJ file that it loaded.
- Particle group controls the properties of the particles, such as size, opacity and color. This section also controls how the properties vary over the particles' lifespan.
- Particle Type is an important pop-up in the Particle group which sets the base shape of the particles.
- Streaklet group in the Particle group controls the Streaklet particle type, which is a long exposure, light painting effect.
- Texture group in the Particle group lets you select a layer in your Timeline to be the custom particle, and helps to set the custom particle's behavior.
- Glow group in the Particle group controls the glow around the Glow Sphere and Star particle types.
- Rotation group in the Particle group rotates and orients the particles on any axis.
- Shading group gives the particle scene some special effects shading.
- Shadowlet Setting group in Shading creates a shadow off the main light for soft self-shadowing.
- Options panel contains a name setting for the Shadowlet Light, which is used by the Shadowlet Setting group.
- Quick Maps group is a fast and fun way to change the particle grid with Color, Opacity and Value maps.
- Layer Maps group enables the pixels of another layer to control various aspects of the particles in the grid. The Layer Map groups include Color, Displace and Rotate.
- Audio React group lets you use audio tracks to affect the animation of the particle form.
- Disperse and Twist group adds displacement by blowing apart or twisting your forms in 3D space.
- Fractal Field group is a four-dimensional Perlin noise fractal that generates a noise map in X, Y, and Z directions and over time.
- Spherical Field group is used to push particles toward or away from a spherical volume.
- Kaleidospace group adds 3D symmetry to the particle grid.
- World Transform group lets you move around and rotate the whole particle system independently of the After Effects camera.
- Visibility group gives control over where particles are visible and adds an obscuration effect.
- Rendering group controls how the form looks when it renders.
- Motion Blur group in Rendering gives fast-moving particles a smooth look, like a real camera does.