We all know that there is the scatter tool...But how about using PFlow and enjoying the luxury of fast interaction (exchanging shapes, materials, etc.)? This tutorial deals with Particle Flow in 3D Studio MAX in connection with a little MAX Scripting.

You will need 3D Studio Max ( Version 5.1 upwards) and a MaxScript.


First of all create a Particle System in ParticleView (Graph Editor > Particle >View, or Shortcut "6”).


From the "Depot" in the lower third of the window just drag a Standard Flow in the window.

(Just in case your Depot isn't showing click "Display” and check "Depot”)




Definitely not the funkiest Flow but very efficient!

So what does it do in brief?

A BirthScript plants one particle per vertex at a polygonal object. Then we tell particle flow how it should look like by defining the shape, the scale and the shader. In most cases you may want that the planted objects look into a certain direction so I added a kinda look at constrain workaround.