Interface reference
These descriptions explain the actions and editors around the particle controls. Wording follows the product tooltip catalog.
Graph and gradient editors
Size & Opacity Graphs
Shapes particle size or opacity over life, or across a static emitter's X, Y, or Z extent.
Choose a channel and domain, then edit the curve.
Curve channel
Chooses whether the graph changes particle size or particle opacity.
Select Size or Opacity.
Curve domain
Chooses whether the curve runs over particle life or across one axis of a static emitter.
Choose Life for timed emission, or X, Y, or Z for static emission.
Curve presets
Replaces the active curve with a designed response shape.
Select the preset button, then choose a curve.
Curve reverse
Flips the active curve from left to right.
Choose Reverse from the curve functions menu.
Curve invert
Flips the active curve vertically so high values become low values and low values become high values.
Choose Invert from the curve functions menu.
Curve add point
Adds a control point at this position and changes the curve through it.
Click empty graph to add a point.
Curve move point
Changes the timing and output value at this point on the curve.
Drag to move it. Double-click to remove it.
Curve delete point
Removes an interior control point while keeping the required endpoints.
Double-click an interior point.
Gradient
Defines how particle color changes across the selected gradient axis.
Click the bar to add a stop.
Gradient presets
Replaces the current color stops with a designed gradient from the library.
Select the preset button, then choose a gradient.
Gradient reverse
Flips the gradient so its colors run in the opposite direction.
Choose Reverse from the gradient functions menu.
Gradient distribute
Spaces all color stops evenly while keeping their current order and colors.
Choose Distribute Evenly from the gradient functions menu.
Gradient add stop
Adds a new color transition point using the color already visible at that position.
Select empty space on the gradient bar.
Gradient move stop
Changes where this color enters the gradient.
Drag to move it. Click to recolor, double-click to remove.
Gradient color
Changes the selected stop's color.
Select a stop without dragging it, then choose a color.
Gradient delete stop
Removes an interior color stop while keeping the required end stops.
Double-click an interior stop.
Force dissolve
Raises or lowers the complete Force Curve to release or hold more particles without changing its shape.
Drag from negative values for more hold to positive values for more release.
Force Curve
Shapes force release across the emitter, left to right. Each particle is read at the position it was born, so it keeps its place on the curve as it moves. Low points hold particles, high points release them.
Edit the curve when Force Map Source is Graph.
Height
Sets how far the bevel stands out from the face of each glyph.
Drag to adjust.
Join
Chooses how the bevel turns a corner: kept sharp, rounded off, or decided per corner.
Choose a corner treatment.
Placement
Chooses whether the bevel keeps the original face, sits centerd on the edge, or eats into the face.
Choose a placement.
Quality
Sets how finely the bevel is built. Higher quality gives smoother corners and costs more to generate.
Raise it once the shape is right.
Shape
Bends the bevel profile between a hollow cove and a rounded bulge, with a flat chisel in the middle.
Drag to adjust.
Type
Chooses a ready-made bevel profile. Custom keeps whatever shape the Shape control is set to.
Choose a profile.
Width
Sets how far the bevel reaches in from the edge of each glyph.
Drag to adjust.
Composer viewport
Tooltips
Shows or hides the help that appears when you hover a control. Your choice is remembered.
Turn it off once the panel is familiar.
Bg color
Changes only the Composer preview background color. It does not change the saved preset or After Effects render.
Choose a color for contrast while you work.
Camera reset
Returns the preview camera to its front view.
Select this button or double-click the viewport.
Gizmo toggle
Shows or hides transform handles, emitter bounds, and force guides in the preview. This does not change the rendered particle look.
Select to toggle all guides. Right-click the viewport to choose guide families.
Grid toggle
Shows or hides the preview ground grid. This does not change the rendered particle look.
Select to toggle the grid.
Guide bounds
Shows or hides the outline of the emitter's spawn shape.
Choose from the viewport menu.
Guide forces
Shows or hides visual guides for force positions, directions, and ranges.
Choose from the viewport menu.
Guide handles
Shows or hides the handles used to move and rotate the emitter in the preview.
Choose from the viewport menu.
Loop sim
Restarts the preview automatically so you can tune a repeating burst without manual replay.
Select to turn automatic replay on or off.
Move tool
Lets you drag the emitter temporarily to inspect the look from another source position. The emitter returns when you release it.
Drag in the viewport. Use Position for a permanent move.
Orbit tool
Lets you rotate the preview camera around the particle system.
Drag to orbit. Scroll to zoom. Double-click to reset the view.
Restart sim
Starts the particle simulation again at frame 0 while keeping all current settings.
Select to replay burst emission and particle motion.
Navigator
ADD SYSTEM
Creates a new After Effects solid, applies Entropy, and adds it as a Main system.
Select Add System in an active composition.
Refresh
Scans the active composition again and rebuilds the Entropy system tree.
Select after adding, removing, or changing Entropy layers outside Navigator.
Select system
Selects this Entropy effect in After Effects and makes it the active Navigator row.
Double-click to rename.
Rename
Changes the effect display name without changing the system's identity or parent links.
Double-click the name and enter a new one.
Visibility
Shows or hides this system's rendered particles while its simulation and child relationships continue.
Select the colored pip.
Inherit emitter
Makes this child use its parent's emitter settings. Turning the link off restores the child's own values.
Select the emitter inheritance icon.
Inherit particle
Makes this child use its parent's particle appearance settings. Turning the link off restores the child's own values.
Select the particle inheritance icon.
Inherit forces
Makes this child use its parent's force settings. Turning the link off restores the child's own values.
Select the force inheritance icon.
Force expand
Opens the force list so individual force groups can follow the parent or remain local.
Select the chevron beside linked Forces.
Force group link
Makes this force group follow the parent. A local group starts from its own default values.
Check to follow the parent. Clear to keep a local force group.
Emitter preset
Applies a quick emitter setup to this system without replacing its particle or force settings.
Select or hold the preset icon, then choose a setup.
Add child
Creates a child Entropy system under this row in the active composition.
Select +. A Sub Child cannot add another level.
Duplicate
Duplicates this Entropy system with the same role, parent, and settings.
Shift-click to include its children.
Remove
Removes this Entropy system and all of its descendants from the active composition.
Select × to remove the branch.
LICENSE
Opens the Entropy Licensing window for activation, renewal, and machine management.
Select License.
Renew
Opens license management when the current license or maintenance period is near its end.
Select Renew to continue license access or updates.
BETA FEEDBACK
Opens a private review drawer for feedback about the current Entropy build.
Select to open or close the drawer.
Retry
Tries the beta feedback connection again after it failed to open.
Select Retry.
Composer source controls
Cancel
Closes Composer without applying the current look to the active After Effects layer.
Select Cancel to leave the layer unchanged.
Ok
Applies the current Composer look to the active Entropy layer, then closes Composer.
Select OK to send the settings to After Effects.
Emission Weight
Biases where on the mesh particles are born, along the chosen axis. Drag the curve down where you want fewer particles.
Drag the curve, then pick the axis it runs along.
Emitter Preset
Applies a ready-made emitter setup to this system, replacing its emitter settings.
Choose a setup from the list.
Center
Balances the mesh on the emitter point. Turning it off respects the origin the OBJ was authored with. Emitter Size still controls scale either way.
Turn on when an OBJ sits off-center.
Text
Sets the words the Text emitter builds its shape from. Each glyph becomes a surface particles are born on.
Type the text you want to emit from.
Font
Chooses the typeface used to build the text shape. Different faces change the letterforms particles are born on.
Choose an installed font.
Custom controls
Amplitude
Sets how far a sine or wiggle motion moves away from its base value.
Drag to change the motion range. Units follow the selected target.
Axis
Chooses which axis receives sine motion.
Choose X, Y, Z, or all axes.
Delay (s)
Waits for the selected number of seconds before this motion starts.
Set the start delay in seconds.
Frequency
Sets how quickly random wiggle motion changes.
Drag to increase or decrease the change rate.
Orient to Motion
Turns the emitter so it aims along the direction its modulators are moving it. Rotates on Z only, in the screen plane.
Turn on when particles should face their procedural path.
Phase
Shifts where a sine or circular motion starts within its cycle.
Set the cycle offset in degrees.
Plane
Chooses the two axes that contain the circular path.
Choose XY, XZ, or YZ.
Radius
Sets the size of a circular position path, the angular swing of a circular rotation, or — when Target is Size — how far the emitter breathes.
Drag to set distance for position or degrees for rotation.
Rate (Hz)
Sets how many sine or circular motion cycles complete each second.
Set the speed in hertz.
Seed
Selects a different repeatable random wiggle pattern without changing its strength or speed.
Change the seed to explore another pattern.
Target
Chooses whether this motion changes position, rotation, or size.
Choose one target for this slot.
Type
Chooses whether the slot is off or creates sine, circular, or random wiggle motion.
Choose Off, Sine, Circle, or Wiggle.
Modulator
Creates one independent motion layer that can be turned off or set to Sine, Circle, or Wiggle.
Open a slot to configure it.
Modulators
Adds repeatable procedural motion to the active system's position, rotation, or size.
Open the group, then configure up to four independent slots.
feedback
Cancel queued
Removes this unsent report from the local delivery queue.
Select Cancel beside the queued report.
Close
Closes the feedback drawer without sending the current draft.
Select ×, click the backdrop, or press Escape.
Open
Opens the local feedback workflow. Nothing is sent until you review and confirm it.
Select Beta Feedback.
Refresh queue
Reads the reports waiting on this installation and updates their delivery states.
Select Refresh Local Queue.
Report text
Records what happened or what you want Entropy to do differently.
Describe the result, the steps, and what you expected.
Report type
Classifies the report so the team can separate bugs, requests, and other feedback.
Choose the category that best matches the report.
Retry
Tries again to connect to the private feedback service running on this computer.
Select Retry after a connection error.
Review
Builds the exact outgoing report so you can inspect its text and diagnostics before anything is sent.
Select Review Report after writing the report.
Review back
Returns to the report form without sending the reviewed report.
Select Back to revise the report.
Send
Sends the exact reviewed report to Wild Construct or queues it locally if delivery is not available.
Select only after you have reviewed the outgoing payload.
Tab build
Shows the exact Entropy build and release channel attached to feedback.
Select Build.
Tab privacy
Lists the diagnostics included automatically and the project data that is not collected.
Select Privacy before sending if you want to review the data policy.
Tab reports
Shows reports waiting on this installation and their delivery state.
Select Reports.
Tab send
Shows the form used to describe and review a new report.
Select Feedback.
library
Cancel
Closes the asset library without changing the current selection.
Select Cancel.
Category
Shows or hides the assets in this category.
Select the category heading to expand or collapse it.
Close
Closes the asset library without changing the current selection.
Select × or press Escape.
Import
Adds a compatible file from your computer and selects it for the current control.
Select Import, then choose a supported file.
Item
Selects this asset for the control that opened the library.
Select the tile to use the asset and close the library.
Search
Filters the current OBJ, sprite, gradient, or preset library by item name.
Type any part of an item name.
licensing
Close
Closes the Licensing window without changing the current license state.
Select ×.
Deactivate all
Releases every machine activation attached to this Entropy license.
Select only when you intend to sign in again on each machine.
Deactivate this
Releases this machine's Entropy activation so the seat can be used on another machine.
Select only when you can reactivate later if needed.
Key
Provides the Entropy license key used to validate or manage this machine.
Paste or type the key. Do not share it in screenshots or feedback.
Primary
Performs the action required by the current license state, such as validate, activate, refresh, renew, or manage.
Read the current state message before selecting the button.
Renew
Opens the correct web page to renew maintenance, resume a subscription, or manage the active license.
Select the renewal or management link shown for the current state.
Support
Opens Wild Construct support in the default web browser.
Select Support.
mobile
Params
Shows the controls for the selected system on a narrow screen.
Select to switch from systems to parameters.
Systems
Shows the system tree on a narrow screen.
Select to switch from parameters to systems.
Parameter interactions
Boolean reset
Turns an option on or off without changing other controls.
Select to toggle. Double-click to restore the default state.
Inheritance lock
Shows that this control currently follows the parent system and cannot be edited locally.
Turn off the matching inheritance link in the system row to edit this child value.
Override dot
Marks a child value that differs from its parent. Removing the local exception makes the value follow the parent again.
Select the blue dot to re-inherit from the parent. This does not restore the factory default.
Section reset
Restores every control in this section to its default value.
Select the reset arrow in a section header.
Slider reset
Changes a numeric value within its allowed range.
Drag to adjust. Double-click to reset to default.
Value field
Shows the current numeric value and accepts an exact value when needed.
Double-click the value, type a number, then confirm it.
Preset library
Category toggle
Shows or hides the presets in this category.
Select the category heading to expand or collapse it.
Close
Closes the preset library and returns the full width to the preview.
Select or press Escape.
Duplicate
Creates an editable copy of this preset in your user library.
Select from the preset card menu.
Load
Loads this preset. If the scene has non-default settings, lets you replace the scene or add the preset as new layers.
Select to load. Right-click for file actions.
Replace the selected system and its children, replace the whole scene, or add new layers. Replacing selected keeps other systems and scene settings.
Explains the choices for replacing the selected system, replacing the scene, or adding new layers.
Choose how to load this preset.
Replace selected
Replaces the selected system and its children with this preset. Keeps other systems and the current scene settings.
Select Replace selected.
Replace scene
Replaces the current scene with this preset, including the preset's scene settings.
Select Replace scene.
Add as new layer
Adds every system in this preset as new layers and keeps the current scene, lighting, and camera settings.
Select Add as new layer.
Cancel
Closes the dialog without loading the preset or changing the scene.
Select Cancel or press Escape.
Reveal
Opens the folder that contains this user preset file.
Select from the preset card menu.
Search
Filters preset cards by name as you type.
Type any part of a preset name.
Trash
Removes this user preset from the library by moving its file to the operating-system Trash or Recycle Bin.
Select from the preset card menu.
Save preset
Cancel
Closes the dialog without storing a preset.
Select Cancel.
Category
Chooses the library group where this preset will appear.
Choose an existing category or the current offered category.
Close
Closes the dialog without storing a preset.
Select × or press Escape.
Confirm
Stores the current look and preview thumbnail in the selected library category.
Select Save after entering the preset details.
Name
Sets the name shown for this preset in the library.
Type a clear, unique preset name.
Composer actions
Import ae
Replaces the current Composer state with settings from the active Entropy layer in After Effects.
Select to import the active layer. Current Composer changes are replaced.
Preset browser
Opens the preset library so you can load a saved particle look.
Select to open or close the library.
Preset tab
Opens the preset library without covering the live preview.
Select or press P to open the drawer.
Reset all
Restores every system and control to the original Entropy defaults.
Select to reset the complete composition setup.
Save preset
Stores the current multi-system look as a reusable preset with a thumbnail.
Select to name and categorize the preset.
Source libraries
Custom sprite
Opens the sprite library so this custom slot can use a built-in or imported image.
Select Choose, then pick or import an image.
Source OBJ
Opens the OBJ library so the selected mesh surface can emit particles.
Select Browse, then choose or import a mesh.
Particle obj
Opens the OBJ library so geometry particles can use a built-in or imported mesh.
Select Browse OBJ, then choose or import a mesh.
System rows
Add child
Creates a child system that emits relative to this system.
Select + on a Main or Child row. Sub Children cannot add another level.
Add main
Creates a new independent particle system in the current Entropy setup.
Select to add a Main system.
Duplicate
Creates a copy of this system with the same role, parent, and settings.
Select to copy only this system. Hold Shift to include descendants.
Inherit emitter
Makes this child use its parent's emitter settings. Turning inheritance off restores the child's own saved emitter values.
Select the emitter inheritance icon to toggle the link.
Inherit forces
Makes this child use its parent's force settings. Turning inheritance off restores the child's own saved force values.
Select the force inheritance icon to toggle the link.
Inherit particle
Makes this child use its parent's particle appearance settings. Turning inheritance off restores the child's own saved particle values.
Select the particle inheritance icon to toggle the link.
Remove
Removes this system from the current Entropy setup. The last remaining system cannot be removed.
Select × to remove the system.
Rename
Changes the display name used to identify this system and its relationships.
Double-click the system name, then type a new name.
Select
Makes this system active so the parameter panel edits it and the preview highlights it.
Select the system row.
Visibility
Shows or hides this system's rendered particles while its simulation and child relationships continue.
Select the colored pip to change visibility.
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