# Effector Reference

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Effectors are influencing particles by means of applied forces.
Index

1. TP Accelerator
2. TP Align
3. TP Align with banking
4. TP Assign Shape
5. TP Destructor
6. TP Friction
7. TP Group Change
8. TP Nozzle
9. TP Particle Rotator
10. TP Planar Gravity
11. TP Planar Wind
12. TP Prefered Direction
13. TP Rotation
14. TP Rotator
15. TP Scale over Speed
16. TP Size over Age
17. TP Speed Limit
18. TP Spherical Gravity
19. TP Spherical Wind
20. TP Suction
21. TP Tube
22. TP Tunnel Wind
23. TP Volume Friction

TP Accelerator

TP Accelerator will accelerate particles in their current direction of movement.
On: Activates the Preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group to which the particles to be accelerated belong.
Endspeed: Maximum speed at which the acceleration of the particles will cease.
Acceleration: Acceleration applied to the particles.
Acceleration curve: Strength of acceleration, depending on speed. The left border of the graph relates to a speed of "0", the right one to the set end speed.

TP Align

TP Align will adjust the alignment of particles so their Z-axis will point in the direction of travel.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Laziness: Speed of adjustment. The higher the setting the lower the speed with which particles will adjust their alignment.

TP Align with banking

TP Align with banking will adjust the alignment of particles so their Z-axis will point in the direction of travel. The banking of the particle will be simultaneously adjusted according to its change in direction.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Adjust Banking: When enabled, the banking of the particle will be adjusted.
Factor: This parameter multiplies the banking effect.

TP Assign Shape

TP Assign Shape will assign a new shape to the particles of a given group.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Shape: Object whose shape will be used as a reference.

TP Destructor

TP Destructor will delete particles, depending on settings.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Type:

- Collision: Particles will be deleted upon collision with a polygon object.
- Age: Particles will be deleted according to their age.
- Time: Particles will be deleted according to animation time.
- Distance: Particles will be deleted depending on the distance from the preset object.
- Speed: Particles will be deleted according to their speed.

Collider: Polygon object that will be defined as collider for the deletion particles.
Age: Minimum particle age at which the particle will be deleted.
Time: Earliest animation time from which the particle will be deleted.
Distance: Smallest radius of the preset object within which the particle will be deleted.
Die on Speed:

- Higher as: Particles traveling at a greater speed than the one defined here will be deleted.
- Lower as: Particles traveling at a lesser speed than the one defined here will be deleted.

Speed: Speed that is taken into account to determine if a particle should be deleted.

TP Friction

TP Friction will slow particles of a given group. The friction for translation and rotation can be defined separately.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Friction: Breaking force for translation (movement).
Spin Friction: Breaking force for rotation.

TP Group Change

TP Group Change will assign particles to a new group, depending on settings.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
From Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that contains the particles that are influenced.
To Particle Group: Thinking Particles group to which particles will be assigned if the preset is enabled.
Type:

- Collision: Particle group assignment will be changed upon collision with a polygon object.
- Age: Particle group assignment will be changed according to their age.
- Time: Particle group assignment will be changed according to animation time.
- Distance: Particle group assignment will be changed depending on the distance from the preset object.
- Speed: Particle group assignment will be changed according to their speed

Collider: Polygon object that will be assigned as collider to change group assignment.
Age: Minimum particle age at which he particle group will be changed.
Time: Earliest animation time from which the particle group will be changed
Distance: Smallest radius of the preset object within which the particle group will be changed.
Die on Speed:

- Higher as: Particles with a greater speed than the one defined here will be moved in the new group.
- Lower as: Particles with a lesser speed than the one defined here will be moved in the new group.

Speed: Speed that is taken into account to determine if a particle will be moved in the new group.

TP Nozzle

The Nozzle preset will compress or expand a stream of particles according to the size of the in and out openings of the nozzle. The preset can be used together with TP Tube for simulation of expanding and compressing nozzles within a tube system. During compression or expansion an acceleration can be applied.
On: Activates the Preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Input Radius: Radius of the nozzle's input opening.
Output Radius: Radius of the nozzle's output opening.
Length: Length of the nozzle
Acceleration: Acceleration of particles inside of the nozzle. This is usually a positive acceleration when the nozzle output opening is smaller than the input opening.
Strength: Applied force that directs the particles to the output opening, depending on the radius.

TP Particle Rotator

TP Particle Rotator will create a wake of rotating particles. It is meant to be used to disrupt clouds of particles using other passing particles.
On: Activates the Preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Modified Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be affected by the rotation.
Radius: Radius of the rotator cylinder.
Length: Length of the wake after the passing particle.
Rotation Step: Degree of rotation per second.
Rotation Factor: Multiplicator for easier adjustment.

TP Planar Gravity

TP Planar Gravity exercises a gravitational force on the chosen particle group. The force is applied along the preset's Z-axis.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Strength: Gravitational force.
Decay: Defines the degree to which the effect will weaken, depending on distance from the preset.

TP Planar Wind

TP Planar wind exert a force on the chosen particle group. The force is applied along the Z-axis of the preset until the particle reaches the defined speed.
On: Activates the Preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Strength: Strength of applied force.
Speed: Maximum speed that can be achieved (wind speed).
Decay: Defines the degree to which the effect will weaken, depending on distance to the preset.
Turbulence: Random variation of the force (wind turbulences).

TP Preferred Direction

TP Preferred Direction adjusts the velocity of particles so they are guided in the direction of the preset's Z-axis.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Strength: Strength of applied force.
Use Falloff: Falloff curve that will be used within the defined radius.
Radius: Radius around the preset in which the effect is applied.
Falloff: Falloff curve for the applied force.

TP Rotation

TP Rotation will rotate particles along the defined axis.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Axis: X/Y/Z vector that defines the rotation applied to particles.

TP Rotator

TP Rotator will rotate a particle around the Z-axis of the cylindrical preset.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Mode:

- Set: The particles' position will be rotated.
- Speed: The particles' velocity will be modified to move in a circle.

Radius: Radius of the rotator cylinder.
Length: Length of the rotator cylinder.
Rotation Speed: Speed of rotation around the Z-axis of the rotator cylinder.
Speed Factor: Factor by which particles will be accelerated in speed mode.

TP Scale over Speed

Scale over Speed will scale particles according to their velocity.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Upper Speed Border: Speed at which the maximum scaling effect will be reached.
Lower Scale Border: Particle scale when speed is set to "0".
Upper Scale Border: Maximum scale that will be used when the particle reaches the upper speed border.
Axis: Defines that axis along which the particle will be scaled.

- All
- X axis
- Y axis
- Z axis

Scale over Speed: Function curve that defines the relation of scale to speed.

TP Size over Age

TP Size over Age allows you to change the size of a particle in relation to its age.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Size Gradient: From left to right: The age of the particles is mapped from young to old. White = full size; black = "0".

TP Speed Limit

TP Speed Limit preset reduces the speed of particles in the assigned group to the defined maximum. The influence of this preset can be limited to a sphere with a defined radius.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Speed: Speed defines the maximum allowed speed.
Type: Type of speed limit .

- Radius: Speed is only limited in a defined radius around the preset's position.
- Unlimited: Speed is limited throughout the entire scene.

TP Spherical Gravity

TP Spherical Gravity exerts a gravitational force on the selected particle group. The force is applied in the direction of the preset's position.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Strength: Gravitational force.
Decay: Defines the degree to which the effect will weaken, depending on distance from the preset.

TP Spherical Wind

TP Spherical Wind exerts a force on the selected particle group. The force is applied away from the preset's position until the particle reaches the defined speed.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Strength: Strength of applied force.
Speed: Maximum speed that can be achieved (wind speed).
Decay: Defines the degree to which the effect will weaken, depending on distance from the preset.
Turbulence: Random variation of the force (wind turbulences).

TP Suction

TP Suction attracts the particles of a set particle group. The force is applied towards the preset's position within a defined conus.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Angle: Opening angle of the attractor's conus.
Range: Length of the conus.
Distance Falloff: Defines the degree to which the effect will weaken, depending on distance from the preset.

TP Tube

TP Tube guides particles along the preset's Z-axis within a defined radius. The speed of the particles will not be changed, only the direction of their movement.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Radius: Radius of the tube.
Length: Length of the tube.
Strength: Defines the degree to which the effect will weaken, depending on its distance from the preset's Z-axis. It allows for a smooth change of direction.

TP Tunnel Wind

TP Tunnel Wind accelerates particles along the Z-axis of the preset within a defined radius.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Radius: Radius of the tunnel.
Length: Length of the tunnel.
Strength: Strength of the wind force.
Turbulence: Defines the strength of added turbulence for a more natural wind behavior.
Frequency: Defines the frequency of the wind turbulence.

TP Volume Friction

TP Volume Friction will slow translation and rotation of every particle that comes within the defined volume. The volume is determined by the bounding box of the linked object.
On: Activates the preset. This parameter can be easily animated and switched on or off as needed.
Particle Group: Thinking Particles group that will be used.
Object: Object that is used to determine the bounding box.
Friction: Force to slow movement (translation).
Spin Friction: Force to slow spin (rotation).

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