Integration with Layout
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This section is designed to help understand how Particle Storm interacts with Layout. This section will clarify the flow of data between Particle Storm and LightWave.
One of the newest features in Particle Storm is the ability to animate particles right in Layout without having to jump back and forth between Particle Storm and LightWave. This increases workflow and productivity.
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| The Old Way |
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Formerly, you would record out a PSM file and load it into Layout using the Particle Storm Displacement Map plug-in (as described in the section titled “Importing Particles”). If you wanted to change something about your particles, like increase the wind strength, you would have to go back into Particle Storm, change the wind parameters and re-record the PSM frames again. Then you would have to re-load the newly recorded PSM file into Layout. |
| The New Way |
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Using the Link feature available in the Displacement Map plug-in, you can essentially link PSCreate with PSPlay (the plug-in that displaces particles). Having Link on, we can assign, for example, a Null object’s x-value to the wind strength in Particle Storm. We set this up in Particle Storm by parenting the strength of Wind to the Null's X Position. Then, when we load in the particles using the Displacement Map plug-in, we can turn Link On, and the linking relationship will be created, allowing us to adjust the wind strength right in Layout by manipulating the X value of the Null. Since a link has been established between the X-Value of our NULL object and the wind speed, we can simply change the value of the NULL-X and this will alter the wind speed. Remember, you are still in Layout! You do not need to go back into Particle Storm and re-simulate as long as the Link is turned on. What’s happening is that Particle Storm is simulating on-the-fly while you are still in Layout. |
| General steps needed to use the Link feature. |
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Step 1) Go into Particle Storm. Set up a simple Fountain Emitter with one of it's parameters (like position) linked to a layout item. For example, use the X-Value of a null object as the X-Position of the fountain.
Step 2) Make SURE simulate is turned ON for the particle group, Lock-Out changes is turned OFF. Record the particles as you would normally by clicking on the Record button and pressing play.  Step 3) Exit out of Particle Storm but leave the Record button selected. Step 4) Import the particles using the Displacement Map plug-in as you would normally. Step 5) In the Displacement Map plug-in, activate the Link feature by clicking on it. Step 6) Back in layout, hit Play. You should see the simulation. Step 7) Now change the NULL’s x value to some other value. Step 8) You should now notice a difference in the way the particles are behaving. Because you changed the x-value of the null, you have changed the x-position of the fountain on-the fly right in Layout without having to re-record the particles. Step 9) Continue to experiment with the NULL object. Add a wind and animate the wind strength by using a layout item. Try parenting the Heading Pitch and Bank of the NULL to the H/P/B of the fountain. Animating the HPB of the null in Layout, you should see the direction the particles changing.  Quick Tip:
Since almost every parameter in Particle Storm can be controlled by a Layout item, it is possible to set up your project such that you very rarely have to actually go into the Particle Storm interface.
 Warning!
For scenes with large amounts of particles, playback speed and interactivity may slow down due to the fact that Particle Storm is simulating the particles for each frame.
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