Michael Park from CreativeCow shows how to use Trapcode Particular in After Effects to turn text into a sand effect. Check out the tutorial here.

In this video tutorial, Michael Park demonstrates how to use Trapcode Particular to turn text into sand. During the process, he will show both how to make the text blow away like find dust into the wind, or drop onto a floor layer like heavier sand. This tutorial was made in order to answer a question posted on the Trapcode forum requesting assistance in creating this effect using Particular.