---
title: "Use your artwork as particles"
description: "Turn one animated layer into a stream of copies that each play its motion from birth."
canonical: "https://terminal.lottiefiles.com/docs/how-to/use-artwork-as-particles/"
last_updated: 2026-10-29
---

# Use your artwork as particles

Turn one animated layer into a stream of copies that each play its motion from birth.

Start with a shape or animated layer in a file copy of your document. The screenshot uses
the petal from the **Your own particle** lesson.

1. Click the artwork on the stage. One layer is selected.
2. Press `:` to open the command palette.
3. Type `Make particles` and press `⏎`. An emitter replaces the selected layer in the scene.
4. Find **Particle** in the rail (the Properties panel in After Effects or Figma). It names
   your artwork; each copy keeps its animation.
5. Scroll over the rail to **Scale**. Two values give the minimum and maximum copy size.
6. Click the left **Scale** value, type `50` and press `⏎`. Copies can be half the
   original size.
7. Click the right **Scale** value, type `70` and press `⏎`. Copies now range from
   50% to 70% of the artwork.
8. Press `0`, then `space`. New copies start the artwork's animation as they are born.
9. Press `space` to pause. Younger copies show an earlier pose than older ones.

![Coral petals of different ages in flight, each playing the artwork's opening movement.](https://terminal.lottiefiles.com/docs/assets/shots/more-artwork-particles.png)

`u` undoes each size change; undo the creation to restore the original layer.
Next: [Particles](https://terminal.lottiefiles.com/docs/particles.md#the-rail) for lifetime, fading and emission rate.
Watch: [Your own particle](https://terminal.lottiefiles.com/own-particle/).