Trapcode Form

Fluid & Global Fluid Controls

These two sets of parameters control the fluid behavior of particles when Fluid Motion is enabled.

 Fluid

The Fluid model creates a field of buoyant (upward or downward) and vortex (spiral) forces that move the particles within your form in a manner similar to liquid. There are a couple of factors to keep in mind when working with Fluid forces:

• If you're looking to add additional fluid forms, performance will be much faster if you work within one instance of Form. Adding fluids on separate Form instances on separate layers will increase render times dramatically.
• When Fluid Motion is enabled, the base form position cannot be animated.

Fluid Motion

Toggles whether the fluid forces are applied to your particle form.

Fluid Force

Defines what type of force is applied to the fluid particles

• Buoyancy & Swirl Only: Particles receive an upward force akin to buoyancy, as well as a random force applied individually or jointly across all three axis.
• Vortex Ring: Particles receive an upward buoyant force, which is centered in a ring comprised of vortex forces that will propel particles in a determined direction.
• Vortex Tube: Particles receive an upward buoyant force while surrounded by a single vortex force, spinning particles in a cylindrical manner.

From left to right: Buoyancy & Swirl Only, Vortex Ring, Vortex Tube

Apply Force pop up

Determines if the force dictated above is applied Continuously, or only once (At Start) of the effect.

Force Lifetime

Defines the timeframe in which the fluid forces are applied to the particle form. Lower values equal a shorter timeframe and faster motion, higher values create slower forces and slower motion. If Apply Force is set to Continuously, this determines when the forces are regenerated.

Force Relative Position

A set of X, Y, Z coordinates which determine where in relation to the base form the forces defined above are applied to the particles.

Force Region Size

Determines the size of the area in which fluid forces are generated.

Buoyancy

Defines how much upward or downward force is applied to the particles.

Random Swirl X, Y, Z

This controls how turbulent swirling forces are applied along the X, Y, and Z axis of the particles. The higher the number, the stronger the forces and the further the particles travel from their original position.

Swirl Scale

Adjust the complexity of the swirl patterns; low values provide large swirls, while higher values provide smaller swirls.

Random Seed

Adjusts the integer used to create a random effect. Changing this will help give one fluid particle effect a slight variation from any others you may have in your composition.

Vortex Strength

Controls the speed of the vortex is spinning, which increases and decreases the strength of its force on the fluid particles, as well as the direction.

Vortex Core Size

Adjusts the diameter of the vortex forces used to spin the fluid particles.

Vortex Tilt

Tilts the vortex forces along the axis of the buoyancy force.

Vortex Rotate

Rotates the vortex forces around the axis of the buoyancy force.

Note that this will only have a noticeable effect when the vortex tilt has been adjusted.

Visualize Relative Density

Control particle appearance with relation to the combined density of the particles and the fluid forces surrounding them:

Left to right: Visualize Density Off, Opacity, and Ligthness

Global Fluid Controls

These controls affect any and all particle systems within your Form effect that are using the Fluid physics model.

Fluid Time Factor

Controls the timeframe in which the forces are applied to the fluid particles. Lower values means the forces are applied more slowly, while higher values means they're applied faster. Note that this number increases exponentially, so if you're looking for finer controls, consider adjusting this value by the tenths-- a shortcut for this is holding down the Alt key while scrubbing the parameter, or you can manually enter in your values.

Viscosity

Defines how sticky your particles are to one another, creating a semi-fluid or thicker appearance.

Simulation Fidelity

Controls the complexity of the pattern of forces applied to fluid particles; higher values equal a more granular, micro interactions, while lower values create broader, macro interactions.

Low fidelity (left) versus high fidelity (right), notice the force affecting finer areas of the form on the right than they are on the left.