Particle Typography

Particle Typography gives apparently loose movement an exact schedule. A hidden text mask supplies destinations along the letters' outlines or interiors. Each particle receives a repeatable delay, curl, and mass variation, and its position is calculated directly from the timeline.

The loop divides into formation, a calm hold, and release. Extending the hold gives the word more reading time without slowing its subtle breathing motion. During release, particles return to their launch positions, closing the loop. Because the motion can be evaluated at any time, scrubbing and export can use the same paths as playback.

The letter shapes begin with the selected font, weight, spacing, and case. The app measures the text and reduces its size and spacing together when it exceeds the available width. It then samples the mask into edge and interior candidates, recording outward directions around the boundary. Edge Spill uses those directions to loosen the outline while retaining the underlying letter shape.

Trails are calculated from earlier positions on each particle's path. They can therefore be drawn even when the playhead jumps directly to a frame; there is no need to accumulate a trail by playing the preceding frames first. Particle size can respond to motion as well. As a particle settles, its shorter trail and changing size help distinguish arrival from the faster movement around it.