This is a project based on a question over in the Toolfarm After Effects forum. The question was how to make keyed footage emit particles, specifically letter particles.  I can’t think of a better use for Particular than this.

Particular can use any layer as an emitter, as long as its 3D switch is turned on. In this case, footage keyed with Keylight is in its own comp and serving as the particle emitter.

Particular can also use any layer as a particle.  Also, that particle layer can be split up, so that Particular emits multiple particle types.  In this project, there is a comp with the letter particles in it.  There is an expression forcing the letters to increment once per frame as well as randomly capitalize.  This way, the typeface is easily adjustable, as there is only one type layer.  There’s actually two layers of particles, to get a little more scattered and layered look.

Download the Project Here