pAvoid Node

The pAvoid node is used to create a region or area within the image that affected particles attempt to avoid entering and crossing. It has two primary controls. The first determines the distance from the region a particle should be before it begins to move away from the region. The second determines how strongly the particle moves away from the region. A pAvoid node creates a “desire” in a particle to move away from a specific region. If the velocity of the particle is stronger than the combined distance and strength of the pAvoid region, the particle’s desire to avoid the region does not overcome its momentum and the particle crosses that region regardless.

pAvoid Node Inputs

The pAvoid node has a single orange input by default. Like most particle nodes, this orange input accepts only other particle nodes. A green bitmap or mesh input appears on the node when you set the Region menu in the Region tab to either Bitmap or Mesh.

• Input: The orange input takes the output of other particle nodes.
• Region: The green or magenta region input takes a 2D image or a 3D mesh depending on whether you set the Region menu to Bitmap or Mesh. The color of the input is determined by whichever is selected first in the menu. The 3D mesh or a selectable channel from the bitmap defines the area particles avoid.

pAvoid Node Setup

The pAvoid node is placed in between the pEmitter and pRender. A Shape 3D node is used to create the region the particles will avoid.

pAvoid Node Controls

Randomize
The Random Seed slider and Randomize button are presented whenever a Fusion node relies on a random result. Two nodes with the same seed values will produce the same random results. Click the Randomize button to randomly select a new seed value, or adjust the slider to manually select a new seed value.

Distance
Determines the distance from the region a particle should be before it begins to move away from the region.

Strength
Determines how strongly the particle moves away from the region. Negative values make the particles move toward the region instead.

pAvoid Node Conditions, Style, Region, and Settings Tabs

The Conditions, Style, Region, and Settings tabs are common to all Particle nodes, so their descriptions can be found HERE.

About the Author

Justin Robinson is a Certified DaVinci Resolve, Fusion & Fairlight instructor who is known for simplifying concepts and techniques for anyone looking to learn any aspect of the video post-production workflow. Justin is the founder of JayAreTV, a training and premade asset website offering affordable and accessible video post-production education. You can follow Justin on Twitter at @JayAreTV YouTube at JayAreTV or Facebook at MrJayAreTV