Create POP particle system
create_pop_particle_systemCreate a complete POP particle simulation chain with a render rig and live controls for emission rate, lifetime, feedback gain, and force texture.
Instructions
Build a complete POP particle simulation (particle_pop → feedback_pop → lookup_texture_pop → field_pop → null_pop) inside a new baseCOMP, wire a render rig (poptoSOP → geometryCOMP → renderTOP → nullTOP), and expose EmissionRate, Lifetime, FeedbackGain, and ForceTexture live controls. When force_texture_path is omitted, a noiseTOP is created inside the container as the default force source so the chain always cooks. Supports three output modes: 'particles' (particle render), 'field' (field_pop visualization), and 'composite' (compositeTOP add of both). POP chain creation is delegated to build_pop_chain (Layer 2); this tool adds only the render rig and control exposure. This is the only particle tool built on TouchDesigner's native POP operators (force-texture driven, with field/composite output modes); pick a sibling instead for non-POP paths: create_gpu_particle_field for a GPU noise/curl/gravity drift field, create_particle_flock for GPU boids/flocking, image_to_particles to reconstruct an image/video as points, create_particle_system for a simple CPU emitter. NOTE: POPs are Experimental — the result carries an unverified marker; live-validate.
Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| name | No | Container basename created under parent_path. | pop_particle_system |
| output | No | Which TOP the output nullTOP mirrors. 'particles' = render of particle_pop chain; 'field' = rendered field_pop visualization; 'composite' = compositeTOP (add) of both. | particles |
| lifetime | No | Particle lifetime in seconds; mapped to particle_pop life/lifeexpect. Exposed as Lifetime knob. | |
| resolution | No | Render TOP resolution [width, height]. | |
| parent_path | No | Parent COMP path (default '/project1'). | /project1 |
| emission_rate | No | Particle birth rate per second; mapped to particle_pop birthrate and exposed as EmissionRate knob. | |
| feedback_gain | No | Feedback strength on feedback_pop (mapped to inputmul). Exposed as FeedbackGain knob. | |
| force_texture_path | No | Existing TOP path to drive the force field via lookup_texture_pop.par.top. If omitted, a noiseTOP is created inside the container as the default force source. |