Particle Event
Updated: 18 Feb 2025
Modify particles using a dynamic per particle event.
Particle Event
Method #
Particle Events are used to affect change in a particle system when something happens to an individual particle; for example, when a collision occurs between the particle and a collision surface, new particles may be emitted at that point; or when a particle reaches a certain age, it may change size and colour. Events are specified as a cause, set via the Cause Type parameter, and effect, set by the Event Type parameter. Particles are monitored for occurrence of the cause; when it occurs, the event is executed.
The Particle Use Amount parameter may be used to restrict the set of the particles so that not every particle for whom the cause occurs will trigger the event. For events which emit new particles or change particle materials there must be a Particle Emitter connected to the Target Emitter input.
The child of this node is the emitter which will be used to emit new particles from.
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
The objects position along the local x-axis.
Position Y
The objects position along the local y-axis.
Position Z
The objects position along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading
The objects rotation around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch
The objects rotation around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank
The objects rotation around the local z-axis.
Scale X
The objects scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y
The objects scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z
The objects scale along the local z-axis.
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
Parameter Details Position
Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent.
Rotation
Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent.
Scale
Toggle inheritance of the 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 Cause Type
What kind of event triggers the node.
- Collision : A collision occured between the particle and a collision surface such as an Collision Affector.
- Particle Life : The particle reached a certain remaining life time.
- Particle Time : The particle reached a certain time since birth.
- Event Node Time : The event node reached a certain point on the timeline.
- Layer Time : The layer reached a certain point on the timeline.
- Velocity : The particle’s velocity reached a certain magnitude.
- Trigger Value : The “Trigger Value” property is set to 1.
Event Type
What kind of event is triggered.
- None : No event is triggered
- Change Emitter Material : The particle’s emitter is changed, causing it to take on a new material - which can be used to change size or colour
- Emit New Particles : New particles are emitted at the particle’s location
- Emit New Particles And Kill : New particles are emitted at the particle’s location and the particle itself is killed.
Particle Use Amount
Percentage of particles that can be used by the node.
Time Value
The time value used for cause types Particle Time, Event Node Time and Layer Time.
Particle Life Amount
The life value used for cause type Particle Life.
Num New Particles
How many new particles are generated with cause types Emit New Particles and Emit New Particles And Kill.
Trigger Value
Value needed to trigger the particle event.
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 | The objects position along the local x-axis. |
| Position Y | The objects position along the local y-axis. |
| Position Z | The objects position along the local z-axis. |
| Rotation Heading | The objects rotation around the local y-axis. |
| Rotation Pitch | The objects rotation around the local x-axis. |
| Rotation Bank | The objects rotation around the local z-axis. |
| Scale X | The objects scale along the local x-axis. |
| Scale Y | The objects scale along the local y-axis. |
| Scale Z | The objects scale along the local z-axis. |
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent. |
| Rotation | Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent. |
| Scale | Toggle inheritance of the 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 |
|---|---|
| Cause Type |
What kind of event triggers the node.
|
| Event Type |
What kind of event is triggered.
|
| Particle Use Amount | Percentage of particles that can be used by the node. |
| Time Value | The time value used for cause types Particle Time, Event Node Time and Layer Time. |
| Particle Life Amount | The life value used for cause type Particle Life. |
| Num New Particles | How many new particles are generated with cause types Emit New Particles and Emit New Particles And Kill. |
| Trigger Value | Value needed to trigger the particle event. |
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Target Emitter | The new emitter to use, for cause types Change Emitter Material, Emit New Particles and Emit New Particles And Kill. | Primitive Emitter |
| Affected Emitters | Choose which particle emitters can be affected by the affector. | Primitive Emitter |
| 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 |