Surface Follow Operator

The SurfaceFollow operator constrains particle movement and their positions to a selected surface. This operator also offers many extra features to create well defined particle generation based on distances traveled.

Operator Inputs 

ON (Bool) - This input data stream determines whether the operator is considered 'on' or 'off'. You can connect other operators to this input channel such as a Bool Helper to activate/deactivate the whole operator.

Time (Time) - This input data stream is used to define the local time for the operator when the user wants to override the default system time.

Particle (Particle) - This input data stream reads in the currently selected particle group that is to have its particles follow the selected node. The data stream MUST be connected and will be highlighted yellow if it is not.

Floor Node - (Node) This input data stream is used to specify through a node helper for example a 3D mesh as a surface follow object.

UI Control Parameters - those input data streams are the equivalent of the UI controls, keep in mind that there is no visual indication that an operator is connected to any of those inputs! It might be needless to adjust a value if it gets overwritten by a connected operator.

Operator Outputs 

This operator makes particles travel over a defined surface. The operator can activate various useful outputs once a certain sample length is met. Sample length is basically a specific fraction of distance the particle has travelled on the surface. The above described feature can be used for example, to lay equidistant traces of particles along the path of a particle moving over a surface.

Sub Position - is the position (absolute world) of the particle on the surface at the current Sample Length value. This position is obtained by sampling the particle movement at the current sample length.

Sub Velocity - represents the velocity of the particle on the surface at the current Sample Length value. This velocity is obtained by sampling the particle movement at the current sample length.

Sub Normal - will be the surface normal of the particle on the surface at the current Sample Length value. This Surface Normal is obtained by sampling the particle movement at the current sample length.

Sub Alignment - outputs the alignment of the particle on the surface at the current Sample Length value. This Alignment is obtained by sampling the particle movement at the current sample length.

Sub BaryCoordinates - supplies the Barycentric coordinates of the particle on the surface at the current Sample Length value. This Barycentric coordinates is gotten by sampling the particle movement at the current sample length.

Sub Face Number - outputs the face number (ID) of the particle on the surface at the current Sample Length value. This Surface Normal is obtained by sampling the particle movement at the current sample length.

Sub Sample - carries the value of the number of times the Sample Length method was executed to reach this particle position

Sub Travel Length - outputs the total length the particle has traveled so far

Rollout Menu 

Distance - sets an offset to the surface (floor) for all particles controlled by this operator.

Variation - adds a random value on top of the Distance parameter for each single particle controlled by this operator.

Vertical X,Y,Z - sets the vertical (90 degrees perpendicular to path) orientation of the particles that follows the path. Let's say you see a circular path while looking from the top viewport, vertical would mean the direction poking into your eye! Or if you sit at the particle's position it is the UP vector.

Invert - when checked , the orientation of the selected axis becomes inverted.

Travel X,Y,Z - defines the travel direction in relation to the particle. Imagine sitting in a roller coaster, the path-axis would define the driving direction of your particle.

Invert - check this option to invert the path-axis setting.

Speed - defines the speed the particles react on alignment changes. The higher this value the faster the particles will align themselves to the surface they follow.

Sample Length - sets the distance in 3ds Max units at which a "particle sample" is taken and output to the data streams. A value of 0.0 will deactivate the distance sampling feature of this operator.