nxSpin

nxSpin spins or rotates particles.

nxSpin uses a layer-based system, allowing multiple operations to be stacked and blended together.

Object Properties

nxSpin Object tab.

Add Layer

Adds a new operation layer to the stack.

Each layer can be set to a different operation mode and blended with the layers below it.

Layers

The layer stack.

Layers can be enabled or disabled using the toggle on the left of each entry.

Layers are processed from bottom to top.

Layer Settings

When a layer is selected in the Layers tree, its settings are shown below.

Each layer has a General tab and a Falloff tab.

General tab

Layer Mode

Sets the operation for this layer.

The available modes are Spin, Incremental Spin, Rotate, Tangential, Facing, Roll and Range.

Blend

Sets how this layer is blended with the result of the layers below it.

The available blend modes are Normal, Add, Subtract, Multiply, Difference, Screen, Overlay, Min and Max.

Strength

The blend strength of this layer.

Falloff tab

Add Falloff

Adds a falloff to this layer.

The available falloff types are Box, Linear, Sphere and Noise.

Falloff

The falloff stack for this layer.

Multiple falloffs can be added and combined.

Spin operation settings

Spin Time

Set as Per Frame, by default.

The alternatives are Per Second and On Birth.

Per Frame

The values given in Spin Amount are applied to the particle each frame.

Per Second

The values given in Spin Amount are scaled to apply per second, accounting for the current frame rate.

On Birth

The spin values are applied once, when the particle is born.

Orientation

Set as World, by default.

The alternative is Particle.

In World mode, the spin is applied in world space.

In Particle mode, the spin is applied relative to the particle’s own local axes.

Spin Amount

The amount to spin the particle, in degrees, on each axis.

Negative values can be used to spin in the opposite direction.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the Spin Amount on each axis.

Clamp

Clamps the maximum spin speed on each axis, in degrees.

Incremental Spin operation settings

Incremental Spin increases the particle’s spin speed over time, rather than applying a fixed amount per frame.

Spin Time

Set as Per Frame, by default.

The alternative is Per Second.

Orientation

Set as World, by default.

The alternative is Particle.

See the Spin operation settings for a description of these modes.

Spin Amount

The amount added to the particle’s spin speed each frame.

The spin will continue to increase for as long as the particle is within the modifier’s field of effect.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the Spin Amount on each axis.

Clamp

Clamps the maximum spin speed on each axis, in degrees.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the Clamp value on each axis.

Rotate operation settings

Rotate sets a particle to a specific rotation rather than spinning it continuously.

Rotation Mode

Set as Absolute, by default.

The alternative is Relative.

Absolute

The particles are rotated to the value given in the Rotation field.

Relative

The particles are rotated to a value which is their current rotation plus the value from the Rotation field.

Rotation

The target rotation, in degrees on each axis.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the Rotation value on each axis.

Use Time

If enabled, the change in rotation takes place over the time given in the Time field rather than immediately.

Time

The amount of time over which the rotation change takes place.

A value of zero causes the change to take place immediately.

Tangential operation settings

The particle is rotated to point along its direction of movement.

Tangential Axis

Set as Z, by default.

The alternatives are X and Y.

This sets which axis of the particle points along its direction of movement.

Rotation Offset

Adds a rotation offset on any axis to a particle that has been rotated to point along its direction of travel.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the Rotation Offset on each axis.

Axis Spin

If enabled, the particle will spin around the tangential axis.

Spin Amount

The number of degrees to spin the particle around the tangential axis each frame.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the Spin Amount.

Facing operation settings

Facing rotates each particle to point towards a target.

Rotation Mode

Set as Face Camera, by default.

The alternatives are Face Object and Face Screen.

Face Camera

The particle is rotated so its Z axis points at the active camera.

The rotation is updated each frame so the particle always faces the camera as it moves.

Face Object

The particle is rotated so its Z axis points at the object specified in the Object field.

The rotation is updated each frame so the particle always faces the object as it moves.

Face Screen

The particle is rotated so that it always faces the screen directly.

This differs from Face Camera as the particles remain face-on to the screen regardless of camera movement or rotation.

Object

The object to point at.

Roll operation settings

Roll automatically rotates particles based on their direction of movement, simulating a rolling effect.

There are no additional parameters for this operation.

Range operation settings

Range interpolates particle rotation between a start and end value over a defined period of time.

Spin Time

Set as Particle Age, by default.

The alternatives are On Birth and Frame Time.

On Birth

The end rotation value is applied once, when the particle is born.

Particle Age

The rotation is interpolated based on the age of each particle.

Frame Time

The rotation is interpolated based on the current document time.

Orientation

Set as World, by default.

The alternative is Particle.

See the Spin operation settings for a description of these modes.

Spin Start

The starting rotation value, in degrees on each axis.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the Spin Start value on each axis.

Spin End

The ending rotation value, in degrees on each axis.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the Spin End value on each axis.

Start Time

The time at which the interpolation begins.

End Time

The time at which the interpolation ends.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the Start Time and End Time values.

Clamp Mode

Controls what happens when the time falls outside the Start Time to End Time range.

Set as Clamp, by default.

The alternatives are Cycle and Continue.

Clamp

The rotation holds at the start or end value when outside the time range.

Cycle

The rotation repeats the range in a continuous loop.

Continue

The rotation continues to extrapolate beyond the end of the range.

Ease

A spline curve that controls the interpolation between Spin Start and Spin End over the defined time range.

Groups Affected tab

Groups

To specify the group, drag and drop the desired Group object into this field.

This setting is useful if you want to ensure that the spawned particles are, or are not, affected by nxSpin.

Mapping tab

The modifier’s settings can be mapped to particle data.

Use the dedicated manual page, below, for instructions on how this works.

Mapping

Fields tab

You can use the Fields options to control where nxSpin operates.