(t) {
      return new Point(
              160 * Math.pow(Math.sin(t), 3),
              130 * Math.cos(t) - 50 * Math.cos(2 * t) - 20 * Math.cos(3 * t) - 10 * Math.cos(4 * t) + 25
      );

    }

// creating the particle image using a dummy canvas

    var image = (function() {
      var canvas = document.createElement('canvas'),
              context = canvas.getContext('2d');
      canvas.width = settings.particles.size;
      canvas.height = settings.particles.size;
// helper function t