TUTORIALS FOR VFX & MOTION GRAPHICS
Free After Effects Tutorials & More Hosted By: Andrew Kramer
Aug 26, 2009 | 26mins.
• Build a complex particle system using CC Particle World
• Synchronize the particle blast to shatter a title
 
 
TUTORIAL NOTES:
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662 Responses to "Particle Explosion"
vishnu
01/29/2012
Awesome!!
its better to share more tutorials that include cinema4d
Nico
01/16/2012
you my friend, are awesome. Thanx :D
Dillon
01/09/2012
Getting alot of trouble finding certain things on my AE CS5 :(
REP
01/04/2012
Yup, no options button, but that is a CC thing (as it is a complete re-write per web chat info), not Adobe.

However, almost all of the "options" functions (in CS5.5) are in the Effects Controls tab. For example the "Opacity" functions are now under "Opacity Map" and you can select "Custom" in the drop down menu to manipulate the settings. "Depth" functions are under "Extras," "Floor" under "Physics" with "Floor Is" now called "Floor Action", etc.

True, Force Motion Blur appears to be gone but you can get a similar effect by simply turning on Motion Blur at the layer level and enabling it on the composition. It may be that this function simply over-road the fact that motion blur might not be enabled on the layer but this is speculation.

Also, "Lens Blur" is now called "Camera Lens Blur" and has the same functions, and perhaps more, albeit under different names such as Roundness for Iris.

I was able to recreate the project with minimal differences.
Dan
12/28/2011
Love your tutorials, Andrew!

Secondly, for those of us on CS5 we're pretty much screwed out of this one... There's no "Options" button for the CC Particle World on CS5, and I've wasted the past hour and a half trying to find a way around it. Google results all suggest to turn motion blur on via the layer's "Switches" settings... but that doesn't actually doesn't do anything in this instance.

Anybody have any luck with this??

Basically, thanks to Andrew and a big fat screw you to Adobe! If it ain't broke...
van
12/20/2011
How do you apply the "old" click when you click on the velocity as i cannot understand it.

Thanks
Kat
01/22/2012
about the "old" click, i had the same problem. I think that it is a comannd - "add an expression". Go to the animation, and manual add an expression.
Kat
01/22/2012
about the "old" click, i had the same problem. I think that it is a comannd - "add an expression". Go to the animation, and manual add an expression.
chrid
12/19/2011
hola amigo q buenos videos y buenos tutoriales sigue asi porfa ayudame deseo bajarme un plug-in para adobe after effect bueno si se puede gracias
AnonymousxD
12/09/2011
How did you get the simulation: CC Pixel Polly?
I don't have it =.=
Warr
11/29/2011

Hey, my layer seems to disappear with i put the particle effect on it, but i love the tutorial, I will try this again, maybe i missed something, I'm use CS5 for it, this was awsome. thanks
penti
11/29/2011
How I can SHOW the expression at 9:37?
Wich comnad i could use?
Gale
11/29/2011
The Particle World Script doesnt seem to be working for me i turned on the 3D layer and pasted the codes from the notepad file. Im using CS5.5. Nothing hapens when i move the ccNull
william
11/16/2011
you forgot to mention one thing.........That half way through.....at 11:27 seconds in........you forgot to mention that the project was originally 32bpc then you say switch it to an 8bit.....how bad is this going to mess things up...and Editing this in CS5.5 is way different. like on the lens blur.....cs5.5 dont have the specific one....and they have a camera lens blur but the setup looks way different...any suggestions TY
Bolonice
11/08/2011
hello Andrew,
where can i get the sound effect for this video tut's.
maybe you can give me :D
ryan
10/31/2011
whether the after effect CS3 support for all your tutorials?
JeweLz
10/18/2011
Hello Andrew,

I have a question. I'm using After Effects CS5.5 and I have a problem with the Particle World options. Actually, I don't see the options button anywhere.
So I can't apply that Motion Blur and that kind of ruins the tutorial...

Is there a way to fix that?

Regars.
fer
12/08/2011
also in the effects and presets just type force and force motion blur should appear just add it to the layer and it should give you the same effect or something very similar (the effect will appear in the control layer intead of particle) hope it helps :)
JeweLz
10/18/2011
Actually, I figured it out.
For all who have the same problem, here is the decision.
At the Effect Controls tab you have a little button with options. Click it, then click Show Animation Presets and you are ready. :)

Hope I helped someone.

Andrew, thank you for the useful tutorials. Keep up the good work.
nani
10/14/2011
very good in in options but particles and motin blur and cc particular
mark
10/12/2011
its great
Funk Knight
10/11/2011
Awesome! Thanks for this! Extremely useful!!!
Yolanda
10/04/2011
That is an awesome video ever
but i am using CS5.5 version of after effects n i found the CC pixel polly were missing...

can anyone help?
Lelouch
10/04/2011
ahhhah the intro of all ur videos begin with "Hey what's up, andrew kramer here" and there's that song in background, very funny


Btw amazing tutorials
Thank for share :D

Joel
09/29/2011
where can I download the adobe After effects please!
TF
09/28/2011
Great tutorial as always!!

I have a slight issue with the slider keyframes, the 3 keyframes have the values of 0, 150, 0 & I have got 4 sets of these on the timeline, however when I add another set it doesn't activate the particle world parameters that are linked to the slider.

I assume there is no limit to how many times the slider can be keyframed!!
TF
09/30/2011
What a numpty, I figured it out!! I was using a texture for the Particle World and the texture was in a pre-comp with a duration of 30secs, so as soon I was keyframing the slider after 30 seconds in the Master Comp, it wouldn't see any texture anymore.
Preacher
09/28/2011
you can go to animation and press add expression while you clicked on velocitiy then you're able to link it in CS%
nic
09/24/2011
good
Poreznik
09/20/2011
Hello,
i have AAF CS5.5 and i cant find ParticleWorld effect options to turn up the motion blur
marihanna
09/14/2011
These tutorials are amazing. Wathced many of them and only thing i now hear in my head is "Edit, duplicate.. Edit, duplicate.. Edit, duplicate..."..
Antoine
09/02/2011
What mean Slider Control in french please 'cause I'm french !
RafaelBrasil
09/01/2011
adrew voce e o melhor!!!!!!
lopezi
08/22/2011
can I find the sound effects of the composition?
Candace B.
08/17/2011
i had fun working with this tutorial. totally blowed by boss away. :)Hope ur feeling better! VIDEOCOPILOT AMAZING
n.darken
08/17/2011
this time, you can say for your family, i'm endrew cramer's fan
twinkle
08/16/2011
hi, i don't have the CC pixel polly effect.. from where can I get it?
Carl
08/12/2011
nice tutorial ~ TQ~ good website, pro man~
Eto
08/05/2011
Thanks a lot. First time using After Effects.
Found this very helpful and my progress has been great.
Cheerio ol' chap.
hasan
08/05/2011
hi ok
max
08/01/2011
sorry but at 7'20 i don't see any expression ! i could'nt link the velocity with the slider ..... help me please !!
Kayla
08/21/2011
I am having the same problem. Also, I can't edit the velocity expression. I assume it's cuz I'm using CS5?
aj
08/16/2011
The same to me.
daniel
07/15/2011
awsome i lern sone new stuf
Amal
07/11/2011
I really enjoyed that, excellent tutorial...
Vijay
07/04/2011
Hi Andrew, I LOVE YOU SORRY I LOVE YOUR TUTORIALS !!!!!

KEEP IT UP....
Minh
07/04/2011
Sorry but i don't see any expression at 7'20.Coulde you help me?
chiqui
07/01/2011
un saludo de mi parte esta bueno el proyecto..
por favor como puedo bajarlo para editarlo
muchas gracias chau..
chiqui
07/01/2011
esta buenisimo el proyecto ok.
RICHDAD
06/30/2011
ITS REALLY GOOD FOR A LEANER LIKE ME OF AFTER EFFECTS TO WATCH THESE VIDEOS COZ THEY REALLY UPLIFT MY STANDARD OF HANDLING GRAPHICS.
qaws159
06/25/2011
i have a problem at 7:00 i dont have the Option setting Plzzzz HELP
tinman2022
11/30/2011
For those of you who still have this problem and are using CS5 or CS5.5, the motion blur is now a button next to the layer itself(next to the button to turn on 3D and Adjustment layer) It looks like three circles overlapping and traveling diagonally. Turn this on, then click its parent at the top of the time-line to turn on motion blur for all tracks labeled with motion blur. Hope I helped!
hamza
09/03/2011
same here brother , i dont have an option key and if idrop the cc force motion blur on the particles it turns to full black also CS 5

some help please
Josh
09/02/2011
a similar effect can be achieved if you search in the effects and presets box "cc force motion blur" then just drag the effect onto the composition and you should be able to go from there.
same
08/24/2011
there is no "options" button
Calem
08/20/2011
SAME! Where's our options? I use AE CS5.
dylan
08/04/2011
same here plz help
fred
07/02/2011
yes me too!!
salman asadi
06/24/2011
hallo
caleblolzzz
06/23/2011
Probably the funniest intro I've ever heard!
Adam
06/23/2011
WHere the video should be is just a blank white square. I've watched videos on this site before and they have always worked. I watched one last night, but I cant watch any. Please help
Gloria
06/21/2011
Hi! I'm having truble at 07:20.. I didn't see that spiral thing near the velocity.. and I haven't the "expression:velocity" too D8 please help me!
aj
08/16/2011
me too
nayaf
06/19/2011
there problem in link download
vercetty1000
06/19/2011
what keys do you press at 5:45??
TMan awesome
07/01/2011
control+shift+forward arrow
Terrell
06/17/2011
I CAN'T FIND LENS BLUR EFFECT. I CAN ONLY USE CAMERA LENS BLUR BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK THE SAME. CAN ANYONE HELP ME? I'M USING CS5.5
Brandon
10/14/2011
You should get the same result in AE CS5.5 if you use the following effect:

Effect > Blur & Sharpen > Camera Lens Blur
Kobitoz
06/15/2011
When i will past the code u show in the text x=thiscomp.layer("ccNull").transform.position[0]-thisComp.width/2;x/thiscomp.width my adobe show an error! what i do?
Cody
01/24/2012
thanks for the posts! that was a quick fix!
Datenshi
06/20/2011
You have to make sure that you also have the capital letters 'C'

x=thisComp.layer("ccNull").transform.position[0]-thisComp.width/2;
x/thisComp.width
Lize
06/19/2011
I had the same problem at first. I copied the exact code into Word and copied it straight from there into AE...Error. So I typed it into notepad (Windows) and I noticed that the " " (quote signs) register differently in a word processing program. I would suggest copying it into something like Notepad. Also, maybe the thing that your C in "x=thisComp" is lower case?
Ryan
06/13/2011
Does anyone know how I could make particles implode to the origin and then explode? I just can't figure out how to reverse the explosion. I'm trying to avoid reversing an explosion in the edit as I think that it won't match and make for an awkward cut
mima
06/18/2011
reverse the time line
Connor
06/10/2011
Where do you get the Glow.png
aj
08/16/2011
http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/particle_explosion/
on project files
aymen
06/10/2011
i didnt find the effect (( cc pixel polly ))

some one help plz ?
Emily S.
06/02/2011
I had the same problem finding the glow.png. When you go through the list of tutorials and click on particle explosion there are two buttons. One of them says watch and the other says project files. Click project files and download it. Inside there is the glow.png. :)
Carina
06/02/2011
I am experiencing the same problem Ruby has. Cannot find the "option" for cc particle world thus have problem finding motionblur. I'm using CS5

Thanks
rudra
06/13/2011
well to find pixel polly go to effect-simulation-ccpixel polly
Daniela Castillejos
06/01/2011
Andrew... ¡love you so much! Fantastic tutorials. ¡THKS!
Daniel C. Pepito
06/01/2011
Hi... God is the creator of heaven & earth... everything is God's control.

Thank you so much the Author of Adobe & Company especially the presenter Andrew Kramer. Amazing Grace, The Video Copilot company... I've learned more & more very terrific & fantastic creator. Thank you, for the awesome particles.

God bless Adobe & Copilot
Love & Pray
daniel
Rudy
05/31/2011
I can't see cc particle world's options panel so am experiencing difficulty to give it a motionblur. where is it? using CS5.
Oliver Davis
05/27/2011
Question: How do you know all this?
Alex
05/19/2011
Awesome tutorial Andrew ! but where can i get the sound effect ?
Mika Daebak
05/17/2011
awesome tutorial...but where can i get the glow.png?
Manuel
05/13/2011
ok i downloaded the project files of cc particle world but where do u install i do i make it show in after effects
Mark S
05/11/2011
Great tuturial, cheers. I am a CGI Artist using AE mainly for comping render passes, but I do more and more motion graphics now. Picked up so many useful tips from this. Thanks again.
Defrag
05/07/2011
Thanks Andrew! You saved my white a**
navan
05/06/2011
how to download this tutorial? help me..
dinesh
05/07/2011
under particle explosion "download tutorial" Double Click On It
dinesh
05/04/2011
pls help me andrew krammer

the code i used for x,y and z axis

i.e

x=thiscomp.layer("ccNull").transform.position[0]-thiscomp.width/2;
x/thiscomp.width


y=thiscomp.layer("ccNull").transform.position[0]-thiscomp.height/2;
y/thiscomp.width


z=thiscomp.layer("ccNull").transform.position[2];
z/thiscomp.width



wen i used it..

Its showing d following error :

After Effects warning: Class 'global' has no property or method named 'thiscomp'
Expression disabled.

Error occured at line 1.
Comp: 'Comp 1'
Layer: 3 ('particle')
Property: 'Position X'

elhaq
08/26/2011
I'm having the same problem. I think you have to make sure you make the ccNull layer a "3D layer". The error is with the z-axis. If it's not a 3D layer it has no z-axis. Also make sure your "thisComp" has a capital "C"
Darren Allan
06/20/2011
Each Comp needs a cappital C otherwise it wont work. so change comp to Comp
OPTICO Films
05/05/2011
"thisComp" ;) that´s the problem!
dan
05/04/2011
make sure its called "ccNull"
Manuel Añorga
04/26/2011
My english is bad but i undertand the tutorial. my first really....

Nice job mi friend!
Matthew Kibi
04/26/2011
Im studying film and tv production and Visual effects is one my disciplines and Im trying to understand Ae so with this I will get somwhere,any information will be appreciated
Yago
04/21/2011
What about the sound? Can you put the link where you downloaded???
THNKS!!!!
dinesh
05/07/2011
Can u give me the sound link
Jacob Smith
04/12/2011
Sooooo on CS5 the option button to control motion blur on the particle world effect is not in the same place as it is on your program which is an older version. Can you help me out?
scott josephs
05/06/2011
had the same problem... It\'s actually in the comp dialog box to the right of the layer. Same spot you turn on 3d for a layer. It looks like three circles overlapping. Click the box to turn the motion blur on for that layer.
scott josephs
05/06/2011
had the same problem... It's actually in the comp dialog box to the right of the layer. Same spot you turn on 3d for a layer. It looks like three circles overlapping. Click the box to turn the motion blur on for that layer.
Tobza
04/27/2011
I don't think they out it in... ( by they i mean adobe) I have the same problem :(
Tobza
04/27/2011
I don't think they out it in... ( by they i mean adobe) I have the same problem :(
Brandon
04/11/2011
hi, i'm having a bit of an issue, probably because i'm using a new version of after effects, at the part where you put particle world onto the particle layer, on the video the black on that layer disapeared, while on mine, it didn't and i cannot see the stuff under it like the words, is there a fix?
Charlie
04/11/2011
Yes i have Cs5 also and i am having the same problem also after adding the FX particle world i had a reset and about button but no option button how can i do the blur effect then?
Anonymous
04/07/2011
I loved when you say your joke on the beginning of the video
David Beckwith
04/07/2011
I'm a full-time Ruby on Rails programmer at an unnamed startup in Silicon Valley and have recently discovered Adobe After Effects. From last Friday through Monday, I was on a chronic After Effects binge watching as many tutorials on this site as possible to finish my first 10 second AE composition. ( http://www.youtube.com/thirdreplicator#p/u/0/YSvPISfGSoA -- i know it still needs some work, but hey it's my first one.... cut me some slack.) Anyway, I went to sleep at 8 a.m. on Monday. Turned off my phone (before I went to sleep), woke up at 4 pm, put music to my video starting at midnight with Adobe Sound Booth (first time using it), then finished everything at around 3 a.m.. Needless to say, my dev manager, product manager, CEO, and office manager were on my case Tuesday at 1pm when I finally showed up. I told my boss it was "After Effects time," and it seemed to have a calming effect on him...(well, minus the eye-roll). Thanks for the tip, Andrew. You are the man.
IloveVC
04/06/2011
for some of the file for the project is like missing font so it's kinda hard to use it as a template.
dennis
04/05/2011
awesome explosion
Bob
04/06/2011
For anyone having problems with the Z script for the particle world bit, make sure you have set the ccNull to a 3D layer so it has a Z axis for the script to reference.

Also for the motion blur pre-comp the particles (and then make sure you have the ccNull and Control layer in it and then add cc Force Motion Blur to the composed layer. Now you have motion blur :)
dickvantike
04/05/2011
yo mii video going to be so doped <lovly>
Andrew Fangirl
03/31/2011
I dont know, lets write something clever =) we all love you Andrew.
noob at AE ^^
03/20/2011
I dont have the options on particle world please help!
s. alegria
03/13/2011
Thank you so much Andrew!! picked up a lttle bit on the aesthetics of an explosion too.

AE Newbie
03/11/2011
Nevermind! Now i feel like an idiot! hahaha
I had to Alt click on velocity's STOPWATCH, not the velocity word. Sorry.
AE Newbie
03/11/2011
I'm using CS5, And I'm trying to link the particle velocity to the control with the pick whip, but its not showing up, I hit Alt & clicked on velocity, but the pick whip isn't showing up, Please Help!
Anonym
03/10/2011
For the CS5 users looking for motion blur under the particle world options, precompose the particle layer and apply cc force motion blur to get a similar effect.
Conner
03/05/2011
how do you get CC Partical world
Ranjith
05/07/2011
its easy dude.. type CC particles in Effects and presets and drag it over the selected layer
josh
03/07/2011
just google cc or cycore effects. it is a free download
here is website http://www.cycorefx.com/
Conner
03/04/2011
heyy i was watching this and doing it together and i dont have these 'CC' effecrs and presets.. how do i get them.
Mervin
03/03/2011
awesome!! :D because of you, I'm learning this pretty quickly :) thanks
D'Orian Stone
02/24/2011
Thank you, Andrew! I am a noob at AE, but with your tutorials i feel like a pro, ok, not exactly, but i've learned so many things just by following 2 of your tutorial, no 78 and this one. More coming :D
Pieter
02/20/2011
Can you please give the info for the X,Y and Z expressions so I can copy it.

Btw Awesome tutorial;)
TribalT
03/02/2011
x=thisComp.layer("ccNull").transform.position[0]-thisComp.width/2;
x/thisComp.width
y=thisComp.layer("ccNull").transform.position[1]-thisComp.height/2;
y/thisComp.width
z=thisComp.layer("ccNull").transform.position[2];
z/thisComp.width
Daddy_C
02/18/2011
This is one of the most complex tutorials I feel. Well done master kramer. You are a true gent, and a legend in the making, kinda up there with bruce lee, yoda, john wayne! ha! Love all your work Andrew and the team there. Can I join!
Daddy_c
02/17/2011
This is one of my favourites! I love this place!!! Im in here most days! I just dont know what I would do without you guys!
codexism
02/15/2011
wow! u got skills ma friend. am from ethiopia and enjoying evey single work of urs!

thanks for sharing!
marvinbek
02/14/2011
I have a problem. My text starts shattering already by the first frame, but still staying in the same position the whole time, so no blowing up, but still shattering.

I'm at 17:16

So here's what i got now:
http://rapidshare.com/files/447955019/Comp_1.mov
bjar
02/10/2011
send my any project free
Marcel Samyn
02/05/2011
I just watched this video for the second time (it was about a year ago...) and... WOW this is interesting!

Thanks Andrew! :D
Josh
02/03/2011
This is an amazing tutorial. But I'm having some serious gradient banding issues when rendering the file. Anyone know how to remove gradient banding lines.

cheers
koavk
02/01/2011
Where is the CC Particle World/Force motion blur on AE CS5
Arlook
03/06/2011
Try use CC Radial Blur in Particles Layer. Type: Straight Zoom, Amount: 15, Quality: 75+ ....
Arlook
03/06/2011
Try use CC Radial Blur in Particles Layer. Type: Straight
Steve_O
01/29/2011
Andrew cracks me up. Bad a** tutorial tho I like it when there fast and to the point. No stories of shopping carts
Robert Streiferd
01/27/2011
This was the first tut I watched. Awesome!
Park4ng3l
01/27/2011
Awesome!
Even I (english is not my mother language) can follow your tutorial <3^^
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