Using Helpers

In addition to using the timeline and keys, iClone provides you with another method to move the emitter, which is called the “Particle Helper”.

A particle helper is actually a prop or a merged prop, exported from aother 3D application to iClone. Helpers contain several motion clips of which the prop itself rotates or moves along fixed or pre-defined orbits or trails. It saves a lot of time for you from setting keys in the timeline for animating the emitters.

In the Scene mode, press down the Props button.
Select the Particle Helper in the template gallery.
Double click any one template to apply a particle helper. The helpers provided are already linked with particles. Play back the project to see the default motion of the helpers applied.
This is how it looks in the 3D view port.
You may create your own particle effect and then linked it to the helper.
- Click and button.
- Switch to .
- With your particle effect selected in the Emitter drop down list, select the helper name applied in the Link to drop down list.
- Click the Link Node button to invoke the Link to Sub-Node dialog box.
- There may be single or multiple nodes named in the following pattern: “Helper_n“,(n = 1, 2, 3…). Select any one of them as the linked target.
  - Single helper node: It is a prop contains several motion clips.
  - Multiple helper nodes: It is a merged prop consisting of multiple props that each may have several motion clips.
Click the Timeline button under the 3D view port window. With the helper selected, right click on its motion track. Pick any one of the motion clip as a key to move the helper. Please refer to adjust the motions of the live props for more information.
Adjust the emitter and particle parameters.
Play back the project.