Shape Burst

Shape Burst fires a burst of particles from a single point that curls outward in spirals and lands exactly on the surface of a shape, holds it for a moment, then drifts apart and fades before the next burst fires. Every burst reads as an explosion that assembles itself into a form.

How it works

The particles are charged and fly through a magnetic field with air drag, which bends their paths into spirals that slow as they go. Each particle is launched at exactly the speed and angle that brings it to rest on its own point of the shape, whichever way it spirals. Positive and negative particles curl in opposite directions and land in two colours, building the same shape from both sides.

Settings

• Shape tab: the shape the burst lands on, from cones and spheres to a torus, a box or a polyhedron.
• Interval and Hold Time: the time between bursts and how long the shape holds.
• Form Speed: how quickly the burst settles into the shape.
• Field Strength: how far the paths curl on the way out.
• Heat Color, Color and Counter Color: the launch glow and the two landed colours.

The cursor can detonate new bursts as it moves, curl passing particles with a magnet, or pull the landed shape toward it with gravity so it stretches and snaps back.

Use it for

Reveals, logo moments, launches and transitions. See also Magnetic Bottle and the other particles.