5.5

503Motion User Guide
Adjust a particle system
Modify basic particle attributes in Motion
You can make basic adjustments to a particle system by replacing its source image,
adjusting cell opacity, removing unwanted cells, changing the emitter’s size or position
in the canvas, or removing the entire emitter.
Replace a preset emitter’s cell source image
After you add a preset emitter to your project, you can customize it by replacing its
source image.
1. Locate the file you want to use as the replacement graphic and add it to your
Motion project.
2. Do one of the following:
• In the Layers list, drag the new layer to the emitter cell source you want to replace.
• In the Emitter or Particle Cell Inspector, drag the new layer to the Particle Source
well of the emitter cell you want to replace.
Note: If the cell layer is not visible, click the disclosure triangle next to the emitter.
3. When the pointer becomes a curved arrow, release the mouse button.
The original cell source image is replaced with the new layer.
4. Optional: Hide the source layer you imported by deselecting its activation checkbox in
the Layers list.
The cells based on this layer remain in your particle system, but the static cell source
layer is hidden in the canvas.
Adjust an emitter’s cell opacity
Adjust the opacity of individual cells in a particle system by modifying the cell parameters
in the Particle Cell Inspector or by modifying the cell source layer’s opacity in the
Properties Inspector.
In Motion, do one of the following:
• Select a cell in the Layers list, then adjust the Opacity tag in the gradient editor in
the Particle Cell Inspector (or change Color Mode to Colorize and adjust the Opacity
parameter in the Color controls). For information about adjusting opacity and color, see
Change gradient color and opacity in Motion.
• Select the original, deselected cell source layer—not the cell in the emitter—and change
its opacity in the HUD or Properties Inspector.