[Jonathan Cutrell]

Quick note… it is quite possible to use an expression to tie a null to particular.
If the null object is labeled “Emitter”, these are the expressions to use.

For the xy position:
x = thisComp.layer(“Emitter”).transform.position[0];
y = thisComp.layer(“Emitter”).transform.position[1];
[x, y]

For the z position:
z = thisComp.layer(“Emitter”).transform.position[3];
[x]

Works for me every time, unless you are wanting to orient your particles (totally different story though).

[Jonathan Cutrell]

I should probably explain myself a bit better…

I am animating a null object and tying particular to the null. I’m not using a light because it creates problems with using other lights with Particular 2 (the light is accepted not only as the emitter but as a light would normally be accepted). The particle I am using is a custom particle (a few circles precomped). Using it to build a mesh of “strings”, but this could be any shape really.

All of this is fine and well; The particle, however, stays oriented to the camera at all times. Is there a way to tie the orientation along the path to define the orientation of the custom particle layer within the particle precomp? I imagine it would require the layer to be 3d within the precomp.