Trail Emitter
Emits particles from other particles.
Trail Emitter
Method #
This node emits particles from the positions of other currently active particles from other emitters. This is used to create trails of particles.
This node is typically connected as a child of another emitter node. When connected in this way it emits particles at the locations of those emitted from the parent emitter. Alternatively this node can be connected to a Particle Root node and emitters can be connected to the Source Particle Nodes input.
If no emitters are connected this node is ineffective.
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 core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details Max Particles Per Source Particle The maximum number of new particles emit per source particle every update.
Use Parent Particle Count Use the particle count of the source emitter to scale the number of particles emitted by this trail emitter.
Initial Velocity Amount Control the velocity particles spawn with in the direction of the source particle.
Initial Velocity Tangent Amount Control the velocity particles spawn with in the direction tangential to the source particle.
Parent Transform Weight How much the transform of the parent affects the transform of the particles.
Parent Transform Weight Life Coeffs How much the particles are affected by the parent nodes transforms at different stages of the particles life cycle. Values 2 and 3 are control points, and are used to control the curve between values
Parent Transform Randomness How much randomness to apply to the parents transform values.
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.
Life Control how low long each particle exists for.
Randomness How much randomness is added in the particles movement.
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.
Emitter Sort Key Controls the processing order of the emitter.
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 core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Max Particles Per Source Particle | The maximum number of new particles emit per source particle every update. |
| Use Parent Particle Count | Use the particle count of the source emitter to scale the number of particles emitted by this trail emitter. |
| Initial Velocity Amount | Control the velocity particles spawn with in the direction of the source particle. |
| Initial Velocity Tangent Amount | Control the velocity particles spawn with in the direction tangential to the source particle. |
| Parent Transform Weight | How much the transform of the parent affects the transform of the particles. |
| Parent Transform Weight Life Coeffs | How much the particles are affected by the parent nodes transforms at different stages of the particles life cycle. Values 2 and 3 are control points, and are used to control the curve between values |
| Parent Transform Randomness | How much randomness to apply to the parents transform values. |
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. |
| Life | Control how low long each particle exists for. |
| Randomness | How much randomness is added in the particles movement. |
| 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. |
| Emitter Sort Key | Controls the processing order of the emitter. |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Source Particle Nodes | The emitter(s) from which particles are used as sources for the trail emitter. | Particle Emitters |
| Mask Node | Mask out areas that particles cannot spawn. | Image Plane |
| 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 |
