Image Emitter
Emit particles from an image.
Image Emitter
Method #
This node emits particles from an image or video, using the RGBA channels to control the image emission. Motion vectors can also be used to make particles track the motion of a video once emitted, through the connection of an Optical Flow node. The image or video may be set directly using the Image attribute, or taken from a node connected via the Video Node attribute.
The location of emitted particles depends on the way the image is supplied to the emitter. If an image is supplied via the Image attribute or linked from a Video node it will be emitted from a unit plane in the XY axis, combined with the transform from the emitter itself. If an Image Plane node is linked to the emitter’s Video Node input the transform from the Image Plane is used, so the particles will emit at the same location in 3D space as the pixels in the Image Plane, assuming the emitter’s own transform doesn’t offset it.
Requires an image to be supplied via the Image property or the Video Node input to function.
The transformation values of this node will be inherited by its children. Furthermore, Affectors, Shading, and Rendering nodes will only be effective to the particles emit by this emitter.
Parameters
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
Parameter Details
Position X Move along the local x-axis.
Position Y Move along the local y-axis.
Position Z Move along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading Rotate around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch Rotate around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank Rotate around the local z-axis.
Scale X Scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y Scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z Scale along the local z-axis.
Toggle which transform channels should be inherited from the parent node. By default, all transforms will be inherited.
Parameter Details
Position X Toggle inheritance of the X Position from the parent.
Position Y Toggle inheritance of the Y Position from the parent.
Position Z Toggle inheritance of the Z Position from the parent.
Rotation Heading Toggle inheritance of the Rotation Heading from the parent.
Rotation Pitch Toggle inheritance of the Rotation Pitch from the parent.
Rotation Bank Toggle inheritance of the Rotation Bank from the parent.
Scale X Toggle inheritance of the X Scale from the parent.
Scale Y Toggle inheritance of the Y Scale from the parent.
Scale Z Toggle inheritance of the Z Scale from the parent.
World Position Only Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties.
Inherit Time Toggle inheritance of time from the parent.
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details
Image Override the input image with an image selected from the drop down menu.
Flip Image Flip the image input vertically.
Luminance Offset Scale Bias the particles in depth by the luminance of the source pixel.
Use Thickness Toggle whether to emit the particles on a 2d plane, or in three dimensions.
Thickness Change the thickness of the three dimensional area the particles can spawn in. Only functions if ‘Use Thickness’ is on.
Pixel Cull/Thickness Mode Change how the depth of the particle generation is calculated.
- Alpha Channel : lower alpha values will have greater depth.
- Luminescence : darker parts of the image will have greater depth.
- Luminance * Alpha Channel : luminance values are multiplied by alpha values and lower values after which are given greater depth.
Alpha Threshold Limit where the particles will spawn based on their source alpha.
Image Colour Adaption How much the particle colours adapt to the image colours.
Particle Use Image Alpha Toggle whether particles use the image alpha.
Limit Emissions Per Pixel Toggle whether the number of particles that can be emitted per pixel can be limited..
Max Emissions Per Pixel The maximum number of particles that can emit per pixels. Only functions if “Limit Emissions Per Pixel” is true.
Emission Area Min Control the minimum area that the particles will be emitted.
Emission Area Max Control the maximum area that the particles will be emitted.
These properties control how the particles are emit from the node, and thier core life properties.
Parameter Details
Emitter Active Change whether the emitter is on or off.
Randomness How much randomness is added in the particles movement.
Life Control how low long each particle exists for.
Life Randomness Control the randomness for the life of each particle.
Emission Rate What percentage of the particles are emitted from the emitter per second.
Max Particle Count Set a maximum particle count for the emitter.
Respawn Enabled Toggle whether a particle can respawn.
Tints the particles colours from the emitter. To enable, add an colour ramp input to this node.
Parameter Details
Colour Selection Mode Choose how the input colour affects the particles.
- Input Colour : The first colour input is the only colour output.
- Selected Single Colour : Uses the colour selection parameter to decide which colour to use.
- Emission Time : Colour is selected based on time at which the particle is emitted.
- Random Colour : the colour is selected randomly at the particles creation.
Colour Selection Parameters A number used to select the colour output.
These properties control how other video data is handled for the particle emission.
Parameter Details
Depth Video Modifies the z position of the particles, based on the input video.
Motion Vector Video Select a motion vector video to apply to the object.
Motion Vector Effect Scales effect of motion vectors on the motion of the particles.
Motion Vector Scale X Scale particle movement along the x axis.
Motion Vector Scale Y Scale particle movement along the y axis.
Motion Vector Max Maximum movement allowed for the particle.
Motion Vector Bias Control whether there is a bias towards either axis from the motion vector video.
Avi FPS Change the frames per second the video is played at.
Motion Vector FPS Control the frames per second of the input motion video.
Time Offset Offset the time the effect is running.
These properties control the material the particles use for emission.
Parameter Details
Colour RGB colour of particles.
Diffuse Control how much the light is scattered from the surface of the object.
Emissiveness Control how much light is emitted by the particle.
Life Colour Affecter Weight Controls how much the result of any Life Colour Shading nodes are blended with the particle’s colour.
Particle Scale Scale the size of the particle.
Dof Amount How much depth of field effects the particles material.
Density The density, for use in some simulations.
Temperature The density, for use in some simulations.
Cooling Rate The cooling rate, for thermal dynamics simulations.
Density Decay Control the rate of decay in the density.
Fade In Time What percentage through the particles life span the particle fades in.
Fade Out Time What percentage through the particles life span the particle fades out.
Inputs
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position X | Move along the local x-axis. |
| Position Y | Move along the local y-axis. |
| Position Z | Move along the local z-axis. |
| Rotation Heading | Rotate around the local y-axis. |
| Rotation Pitch | Rotate around the local x-axis. |
| Rotation Bank | Rotate around the local z-axis. |
| Scale X | Scale along the local x-axis. |
| Scale Y | Scale along the local y-axis. |
| Scale Z | Scale along the local z-axis. |
Toggle which transform channels should be inherited from the parent node. By default, all transforms will be inherited.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position X | Toggle inheritance of the X Position from the parent. |
| Position Y | Toggle inheritance of the Y Position from the parent. |
| Position Z | Toggle inheritance of the Z Position from the parent. |
| Rotation Heading | Toggle inheritance of the Rotation Heading from the parent. |
| Rotation Pitch | Toggle inheritance of the Rotation Pitch from the parent. |
| Rotation Bank | Toggle inheritance of the Rotation Bank from the parent. |
| Scale X | Toggle inheritance of the X Scale from the parent. |
| Scale Y | Toggle inheritance of the Y Scale from the parent. |
| Scale Z | Toggle inheritance of the Z Scale from the parent. |
| World Position Only | Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties. |
| Inherit Time | Toggle inheritance of time from the parent. |
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Image | Override the input image with an image selected from the drop down menu. |
| Flip Image | Flip the image input vertically. |
| Luminance Offset Scale | Bias the particles in depth by the luminance of the source pixel. |
| Use Thickness | Toggle whether to emit the particles on a 2d plane, or in three dimensions. |
| Thickness | Change the thickness of the three dimensional area the particles can spawn in. Only functions if ‘Use Thickness’ is on. |
| Pixel Cull/Thickness Mode | Change how the depth of the particle generation is calculated.
|
| Alpha Threshold | Limit where the particles will spawn based on their source alpha. |
| Image Colour Adaption | How much the particle colours adapt to the image colours. |
| Particle Use Image Alpha | Toggle whether particles use the image alpha. |
| Limit Emissions Per Pixel | Toggle whether the number of particles that can be emitted per pixel can be limited.. |
| Max Emissions Per Pixel | The maximum number of particles that can emit per pixels. Only functions if “Limit Emissions Per Pixel” is true. |
| Emission Area Min | Control the minimum area that the particles will be emitted. |
| Emission Area Max | Control the maximum area that the particles will be emitted. |
These properties control how the particles are emit from the node, and thier core life properties.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Emitter Active | Change whether the emitter is on or off. |
| Randomness | How much randomness is added in the particles movement. |
| Life | Control how low long each particle exists for. |
| Life Randomness | Control the randomness for the life of each particle. |
| Emission Rate | What percentage of the particles are emitted from the emitter per second. |
| Max Particle Count | Set a maximum particle count for the emitter. |
| Respawn Enabled | Toggle whether a particle can respawn. |
Tints the particles colours from the emitter. To enable, add an colour ramp input to this node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Colour Selection Mode | Choose how the input colour affects the particles.
|
| Colour Selection Parameters | A number used to select the colour output. |
These properties control how other video data is handled for the particle emission.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Depth Video | Modifies the z position of the particles, based on the input video. |
| Motion Vector Video | Select a motion vector video to apply to the object. |
| Motion Vector Effect | Scales effect of motion vectors on the motion of the particles. |
| Motion Vector Scale X | Scale particle movement along the x axis. |
| Motion Vector Scale Y | Scale particle movement along the y axis. |
| Motion Vector Max | Maximum movement allowed for the particle. |
| Motion Vector Bias | Control whether there is a bias towards either axis from the motion vector video. |
| Avi FPS | Change the frames per second the video is played at. |
| Motion Vector FPS | Control the frames per second of the input motion video. |
| Time Offset | Offset the time the effect is running. |
These properties control the material the particles use for emission.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Colour | RGB colour of particles. |
| Diffuse | Control how much the light is scattered from the surface of the object. |
| Emissiveness | Control how much light is emitted by the particle. |
| Life Colour Affecter Weight | Controls how much the result of any Life Colour Shading nodes are blended with the particle’s colour. |
| Particle Scale | Scale the size of the particle. |
| Dof Amount | How much depth of field effects the particles material. |
| Density | The density, for use in some simulations. |
| Temperature | The density, for use in some simulations. |
| Cooling Rate | The cooling rate, for thermal dynamics simulations. |
| Density Decay | Control the rate of decay in the density. |
| Fade In Time | What percentage through the particles life span the particle fades in. |
| Fade Out Time | What percentage through the particles life span the particle fades out. |
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Video Node | image or video to be used as a source to emit particles from. | Video Loader |
| Motion Video Node | Video used to calculate motion for the particles. | Optical Flow |
| Colour Control Nodes | Control the colours of the particles on emission. | Colour Ramp |
| Transform Modifiers | Apply the transforms of another node to this node. | Null |
| Target Node | Modifiy the rotations of the node to always direct the z axis towards the input. | Null |
| Local Transform Override | Apply the transforms of another node to this node, relative to its parent. | Null |
