The 'Over Life' controls

There are four 'Over Life' control boxes in Trapcode Particular. The controls are: Color over Life, Size over Life, Opacity over Life, and Transfer Mode over Life.

These boxes contain separate but identical settings for the main particles and Aux particles. The Particle group holds the main particles' Over Life controls. The Aux System group holds the Aux particles' Over Life controls.

Color Over Life

Color Over Life sets the particle's Color over its lifespan. Active when the Set Color popup is set to Color Over Life.

For this, Particular uses a gradient interface. The color gradient consists of a number color boxes. The gradient is interpolated between the boxes.

At left, the Color Over Life gradient. At right, the Set Color> Over Life option.

Opacity bar, Result bar

These bars give an idea of what the resulting color gradient will look like, once the alpha from Opacity over Life is applied.

Add a color box

To add a color box, click in the area just below the gradient (dotted in the image above). The box will initially get the color the gradient has at that position.

Change, move or delete the color

To change the color of a box, double click it. To move a box, click and drag it sideways. To delete a box, click and drag it downwards.

Select a preset

To select one of the presets, click it.

Random Command

All boxes' colors are randomized.

Flip Command

All color boxes are flipped around the center.

Copy, Paste Command

Copies the gradient to clipboard. Pastes the gradient from clipboard.

Size, Opacity, & Transfer Mode over Life

Trapcode Particular uses a curve-drawing interface for the following parameters.

- Size over Life sets the particle's Size over its lifespan.
- Opacity over Life sets the particle's Opacity over its lifespan.
- Transfer Mode over Life sets the particle's Transfer Mode over its lifespan. >Active when Normal Add or Normal Screen mode is selected.

Draw a curve

To draw a curve, click and paint inside the drawing area.

Select a preset

To select one of the presets, click it.

Random Command

All boxes' colors are randomized.

Flip Command

All color boxes are flipped around the center.

Copy, Paste Command

Copies the gradient to clipboard. Pastes the gradient from clipboard.