Edit field attributes

The type of field and its attributes specify the kind of effect it has. You can set the field attributes before you create the field, or you can create a default field and set the attributes after creation.

To set field attributes before creating the field

Select Fields > fieldname > to display the options window for the field.
Set the attributes.

To enter a value that exceeds a default slider range, type the value in the text box.

Click the Create to create the field.

To edit field attributes after creating the field

Select the field you want to edit.


Tip You can select the particle object connected to the field and the Attribute Editor displays a tab for the field.

Do one of the following:

Use the Attribute Editor or Channel Box to set the attributes. The attributes are described in the field descriptions in this chapter.
Use the workspace manipulators to edit commonly used field attributes (see Set field attributes with workspace manipulators).


Tip You can animate field effects by setting the field attribute values with keys or expressions. To turn off the effect of a field at some frame, you can key the value of its Magnitude attribute to 0. Make sure the key Tangents are Stepped if you want the Magnitude to change abruptly to 0 rather than with a gradual interpolation.

Set volume control attributes

In the Attribute Editor and the Create Emitter option window, attributes not applicable to a volume shape are dimmed. However, the Channel Box does not support dimming. We recommend you use the Attribute Editor instead of the Channel Box to edit volume field attributes until you become familiar with the attributes that apply to each volume shape.

To set volume field attributes

Select the field and display the Attribute Editor.


Tip You can select the particle object connected to the field and the Attribute Editor displays a tab for the field.

Enter values for the volume shape attributes.

Tips on using volume fields

The action of a vortex field is still controlled by its Axis attribute, even for a Torus field. If you want a circular motion around the section axis of the torus, use the Volume Axis field (see Work with volume axis fields).
You cannot deform or tweak the field volume. You are restricted to the volume types we provide—you can’t use general volumes.
The field Max Distance attribute still applies with volumes.
There is no API support for volume fields in 3.0 but there is some support for the Volume Axis field.
There are no manipulators for the field attributes.