This operator offers a great new way to automate special effects pipelines. Artists, not necessarily trained on thinkingParticles, are able to modify or add objects to a thinkingParticles simulation without even knowing how the FX setup works. 3D scene objects added to one or multiple layers are automatically tracked by this operator and become part of the simulation without any further interaction by the user.

ON - (Bool) This input data stream determines whether the operator is considered 'on' or 'off'. You can connect other operators to this input channel such as a Bool Helper to activate/deactivate the whole operator.

Time - (Time) This input data stream is used to define the local time for the operator when the user wants to override the default system time.

Tracking - (Integer) allows to select the tracking method of this operator. Possible options are:

• 0 - None, objects will be taken at their initial and original position and rotation.
• 1 - Initial, takes the full object transformation into account including possible velocities
• 2 -  ObjectToParticle,  the animation of the object will be tracked over time and the particles will follow the object's position.

Instance Shape - (Bool) enables or disables shape instancing for thinkingParticles

Node - this input 

Born Particle - (Particle) This output data stream sends particle data for newly created particles to other operators. Every particle birth will activate all rules connected to this particle data stream. As a result , this can be used to directly assign a value to the particle. Note this output only occurs when the particle is born.

Born Node - (Node) This output data stream sends the current node ID used to create particles. This can be useful for other Operators that have a Node input data stream for keying off of the same object.

Group - As is the normal procedure inside of thinkingParticles, you need to tell the system where to store the particles when you create or modify them. Choose any particle group from the drop down list to store the newly created object particles.

Input Text Field - Use * to show a list of all available layers. One layer may be selected form this list or multiple by using the wildcard character *. All objects form the scene created or removed form this layer will be mirrored as thinkingParticles objects (particles). Be careful with the layer setup!

Use the * wildcard to list all objects on that layer and to make them part of a thinkingParticles simulation. You may also use a name plus the wildcard character to specifically select individual objects from the above layer.

None - when this option is chosen, no tracking will happen - the initial position and rotation will be taken.

Initial - takes the original/initial object transformation into account when creating/instancing the object into thinkingParticles.

Object to Particle - When this option is active, the animation of the object will be tracked over time and the particles will follow the object position.

Instance Shape - thinkingParticles only affects the transformation matrix of the original object. In most situations this is what you want. However, you need to set this option when you want to use fragmentation effects or other more advanced effects that deform or change the mesh definition of the object that is turned into a particle.

Hide - This button provides the quick ability to hide the selected object in the 3ds Max view ports. Generally speaking, when you create an object for use as a particle inside of thinkingParticles, it is done solely for that purpose. Therefore, it's a good idea to hide that original object before you render.