Sorry, I still cannot post or respond to posts in the Q&A.

The reference image I am working with is found here:

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/consulting/solutions/smart-manufacturing-solutions.html

...the sphere of shapes where they are mapped evenly.

So while I agree that a spline makes this easy, the look I need a a flat swarm of particles that approach tangentially to one side of the sphere, evenly wrap around and flow spherically for X number of seconds. Surface Attract was working for this, but I cannot figure out how to align the particles along their path when using this modifier.

Hi, I'm trying to post a question in Q&A but only Site Issues is the only available option when I try to post the question.

I am trying to create a particle animation where 3D objects flow in in a stream and swarm around a sphere shape. They orbit around the sphere for 5-7 seconds then disperse.

My current approach is to use a basic emitter pointing at a sphere and using Surface Attract to have the particles swarm around the sphere.

It's pretty much what I am looking for. However, I cannot get the particles to align along their motion when affected by the Surface Attract. When I turn up "Align to Surface Rate" the particles spin rapidly when they meet the surface they are being attracted to.

Is there something additional I can apply to orient particles along their motion when using modifiers? Or a better approach to this multistep animation?

1. Flock together toward a sphere
2. Orbit around the sphere for X seconds
3. Flow off screen towards a point in space