Pearls

[Mike Clasby]

You could use a particle system with your own layer as a custom particle.

AE’s CC Particle System II can use a custom layer, say a pearl 30×30 with Alpha, precomp that (without the precomposing you get a tiny particle stream), then apply CC Particle System II to that precomp and set Particle>Particle Type>Textured Square.

Or check out Dan, true 3D tut, here:

https://library.creativecow.net/articles/ebberts_dan/particle_gen.php

You can sub in (Alt-Drag) your own particle the mDuplicate away (Ctrl D), psd’s and such, for Dan’s particle. I think I’d start with the comp, Fountain. This is real 3D so you can fly a camera around through the pearls.

If you have Particular, it can use Custom Particles.

As can AE older Particle Playground, Here:

https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/2/917831

https://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/8.0/help.html?content=WS3878526689cb91655866c1103a9d3c597-7ab2.html

If you want, Floating, dreamy pearls try Foam, with Rendering>Bubble Texture>User Defined, and Bubble Texture Layer>Choose your pearl layer (precomposed, and needs to be larger). Also, at the top, View>Rendered. I like Foam, but not always appropriate, wobble and such.

[James Williams]

thanks for the heads up yikesmikes…i’ll give those a try