Moving Air Through A Duct - Particles

[steve-dorsey]

Hello

Using Maya 2008 on a 64-bit machine.

I have some duct work that I need to push particles through. This is a fast turnaround project, and the quality doesn;t have to be amazing, but the nicer the better. I have about 3 days to do this.

Is it possible to (for example) create a poly "pipe", place an emitter at one end of the pipe, and have particles move along the pipe showing "airflow"? Like perhaps 20 particles per second (showing dots, not a cloud) and disappearing when they get to the other end.

Also, the "pipe" would need to be invisible, with the particles being visible so that I can place the pipe inside existing geometry that will be rendered in wireframe using a Toon shader.

http://www.dorseygraphics.com/forumphotos/POC\_trailer.png

The quickest and simplest way to do this is preferred. The look would totally sell the concept if I could pull it off.

Thanks in advance,

----------------S

[gmask]

probably best to use particle flow paths instead of trying to contain the particles with collisions

[steve-dorsey]

QUOTE(gmask @ 07/31/08, 10:14 AM) [snapback]289104[/snapback]
probably best to use particle flow paths instead of trying to contain the particles with collisions

That was a great idea. I used "Create Curve Flow" and changed toe particles to blobbys. I can apply a shader to them and it looks pretty good.

But one thing that is still eluding me - how do I adjust when the particles start and stop? I'd like for them to start on frame #300 and end on frame #500. I don;t see controls for that, and the documentation does not explain.

Any ideas?

Thanks again,

----------------S

[gmask]

select the particle shape and adjust the start frame under the Time Attributes