Ae freezes with Mask/path

Question

I have Ae CS6 and am running 11.0.2.11
Mac OSX 10.6.8
I am having an issue when I attempt to take a mask shape and use it as a path for a null object to follow.
The problem is when I try to take the mask path and apply the position of the of the null object to follow the system freezes it hangs with the shape color and I have to force quit Ae.
The shape I am taking is coming from illusrator to create the path and it makes the mask fine but when I try to copy it to the null object it freezes.
I do have an older version of illustrator CS4 for the shape but I do not believe that would be an issue.
Has anyone elso had this issue with this?

Answer 1

I'd clean up the path. It's probably causing the problems. It would be easy enough just to put a black solid above this layer, set the blend mode to screen, (or a white layer set to multiply) then draw a new simple path for your particles to follow. The blend mode lets you see the underlying layer without problems.
Once the path is drawn set a single key frame for the path, copy the path, then create a new light. Open up the light's position property and paste. Use the light as the emitter in Particular. Setting the first vertex at your starting point and leaving the path open will make the path more predictable.
I grabbed your screenshot and in less than two minutes had this:
Just noticed that you just wanted a null. There was a post concerning particular that I was reading earlier. Just replace the light with a null.. EZ as pie.