 #define MILLIS_PER_FRAME (1000 / FPS)
 
 Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(PIXEL_COUNT, PIXEL_PIN, PIXEL_TYPE);
-ParticleEmitter emitter = ParticleEmitter(PIXEL_COUNT, MAX_COLOR);
+ParticleEmitter emitter = ParticleEmitter(PIXEL_COUNT, MAX_COLOR / 2.0);
 char action[64];
 char parameters[64];
 

   emitter.threed = true;
   emitter.flicker = false;
   emitter.numParticles = NUM_PARTICLES;
   emitter.maxVelocity = 1.0 / FPS;  // TODO: use an intuitive unit
}

void loop() 

        // Update this particle's position
        Particle prt = emitter.updateParticle(i);

        float zScale = (emitter.threed ? (1.0 - prt.coord.z) : 1.0);
        double tailLength = (1.0 + abs(prt.velocity.x * 15) * zScale);
        int16_t startSlot = emitter.numPixels * prt.coord.x;
        int16_t currentSlot = startSlot;
        int16_t oldSlot = currentSlot;
