Hi all,
I have a hair type particle system using an instance object.
Now I want the instance objects to hower above the emitting object in a given distance.
Sonds very simple but I can’t find a proper option for this.
Can someone tell me how to do this?
Hopefully this Image Explains what I want to do:
In the render settings select “path”, this gives you an option “start” that is a factor of the emission length. increase to offset.
Once done if you set render options to object they will have that offset and changing the original emission length will vary it.
You’re awesome !
Exactly what I was looking for, Tanks !
Oh Wait! When I enable Interpolated children, everything snaps back to the surface. What can I do to prevent this?
I think you have to use “simple” children and the radius setting.
From the manual
Simple
Children are emitted from the parent position.
Interpolated
Children are emitted between the Parent particles on the faces of a mesh. They interpolate between adjacent parents. This is especially useful for fur, because you can achieve an even distribution. Some of the children can become virtual parents, which are influencing other particles nearby.
Interpolated are on “faces of a mesh” ie do not take into account that “start factor” just the initial emission position on the faces.
Alternately you could probably do something similar in Geometry nodes.
You’re right thank you.
Simple children are affected by the start factor and with the radius I can bring them very close to the position of the parent particles.
However I noticed that while the parent particles all keep the exact same distance to the object, the simple children are more chaotic.
They’re missing that even distribution effect from the interpolated ones.
This is probably as good as it gets with the particle system.
So its time to try with geo nodes.
Thanks for helping me out 
