Adobe After Effects - Manual (Page 571)

Time Offset
Affects
Starts playing the layer from a frame chosen at random, within the range between the current time of the effect layer and the Random Time Max
you specify. For example, if you choose Relative Random and specify a Random Time Max of 1, each particle starts playing from a layer frame
chosen at random from between the current time and 1 second after the current time. If, for another example, you specify a negative Random
Time Max value of - 1, the Random Time Max is before the current time, so that the range within which new particles start playing advances as the
current time advances. However, the range is always between the current time and one second earlier than the current time.
Absolute Random
Takes a frame at random from the layer, by using a time in the range from 0 to the Random Time Max you specify. Choose Absolute Random
when you want each particle to represent a different single frame of a multiframe layer. For example, if you choose Absolute Random and specify
a Random Time Max of 1, each particle shows a layer frame from a random time between 0 seconds and 1 second into the duration of the layer.
Specifies the frame from which to start playing sequential frames from the layer.
Specifies which particles the Layer Map controls affect.
Replace default Cannon particles with text
You can use text characters as particles. For example, you can type a message that the Cannon shoots across the frame. You can also change
the attributes of any three sets of characters. For example, you can make some of the characters larger or brighter than others.
1. In the Effect Controls panel, click Options.
2. Click Edit Cannon Text.
3. Type text in the box, and then set the following options:
For Font/Style, choose the font and style for Cannon characters.
For Order, click to specify the sequence in which characters exit the Cannon. The sequence is relative to the character order typed in the
box. For example, if the Cannon Direction is set to 90° (making it point to the right), English text must exit the Cannon last letter first to
be in readable order. Therefore, select Right to Left.
For Loop Text, select to continuously generate the characters you typed. Deselect to generate only one instance of the characters.
4. Click OK to close the Edit Cannon Text dialog box, and then click OK to close the Particle Playground dialog box.
5. Click the right-facing triangle next to Cannon so that it points downward.
6. Click the Font Size value, type a value of 10 or greater, and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Mac OS).
If you want to stop replacing default particles with text, delete all text from the box in the Edit Cannon Text dialog box.
Replace default Grid particles with text
1. In the Effect Controls panel, click Options, and then click Edit Grid Text.
2. Set the following options:
For Font/Style, choose the font and style for Grid characters.
For Alignment, click Left, Center, or Right to position text in the box at the Position specified in the Grid control, or click Use Grid to
position each letter in the text on consecutive grid intersections.
For Loop Text, select to repeat the characters you typed until all the grid intersections contain one character. Grid intersections are
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