Particles
Updated: 22 Mar 2024
Generate shapes from particles for a procedural.
Particles
Method #
This node generates a distance field using the positions of particles from a particle system.
Nodes connected to this node will generally follow the parent child hierarchy. Other Procedural Generator nodes can be configured to combine with this shape using their CSG modes, and displacement nodes will only apply to this shape.
Parameters
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details Particle Size Size of the generated particle shapes.
Blob Softness The softness of the blending between the blobs. only functions with “blobs” selected in field mode.
Size Randomness An amount of randomness applied to the size of each particle shape.
Error Distance Expands the allowable values for generating the Distance Field. Higher values often get rid of jagged edges and odd rendering behaviours, but with decreased performance.
Use Particle Colours If this is enabled then the colour of each primitive will be taken from it’s particle. This only has an effect for procedural renderers that support colour generation.
Field Mode Change how the emitted particles generate in the procedural system.
- Spheres : Each particle is generated as a simple sphere.
- Blobs : Each particle is generated as a blob which smoothly blends and combines with other blobs in the scene.
CSG Mode These options change how a this procedural node combines with the existing of the procedural system.
- Replace : Replaces the previous procedural system with a new procedural shape.
- Union : Simply combines both the new procedural shape and the existing procedural system.
- Intersection : Interesects the new shape with the shape before.
- Subtract : Subtracts the new procedural shape from the existing procedural system.
- Blend : Blends between both the new procedural shape and the existing procedural system, driven by the CSG Blend Weight.
- Union Blend : A combination of union and blend which tries to preserve both objects more, with the blending being driven by the CSG Blend Weight.
- Smooth Union : The new procedural is added to the old, and smoothing (driven by the CSG Blend Weight) is applied to the outcome.
- Smooth Subtract : The new procedural shape is subtracted from the existing procedural system, and smoothing (driven by the CSG Blend Weight) is applied to the outcome.
- Offset : Blends one procedural ontop of the other another withing the area of the original procedural system.
- Custom Code : Allows you to enter your own expression code.
CSG Blend Weight How much the new procedural blends with the old procedurals, depending on the CSG Blend Weight.
Affect Colour Toggles whether colour is used or not.
Always Enabled (No Time Bars) Always enabled regardless of node timeline.
Material Colour Modify the colour for the procedural material.
Custom CSG Code Allows for custom code to be used.
Inputs
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Particle Size | Size of the generated particle shapes. |
| Blob Softness | The softness of the blending between the blobs. only functions with “blobs” selected in field mode. |
| Size Randomness | An amount of randomness applied to the size of each particle shape. |
| Error Distance | Expands the allowable values for generating the Distance Field. Higher values often get rid of jagged edges and odd rendering behaviours, but with decreased performance. |
| Use Particle Colours | If this is enabled then the colour of each primitive will be taken from it’s particle. This only has an effect for procedural renderers that support colour generation. |
| Field Mode | Change how the emitted particles generate in the procedural system.
|
| CSG Mode | These options change how a this procedural node combines with the existing of the procedural system.
|
| CSG Blend Weight | How much the new procedural blends with the old procedurals, depending on the CSG Blend Weight. |
| Affect Colour | Toggles whether colour is used or not. |
| Always Enabled (No Time Bars) | Always enabled regardless of node timeline. |
| Material Colour | Modify the colour for the procedural material. |
| Custom CSG Code | Allows for custom code to be used. |
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Particle Node | ERROR: Variable not found: {input-node-particles-particle-node-description} | ERROR: Variable not found: {input-node-particles-particle-node-typical-input} |
| Bounding Box | The region to which mesh generation will be restricted. | Bounding Box |
| 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 |