Particle FX for DAZ|Studio

Generating Particles

Particles are generated inside Source Actions by Source Operators.

The Source Operator makes new particles and passes them to the other Operators in the Source Action. Each of these Operators sets the initial values of the particle's attributes.

The Operators in the Source Action only act on the particle this one time, when it is first being generated.

The Source Action should also contain a Set Lifetime Operator. This operator assigns a lifetime to the particle.

The Source Operator has three parameters.

The Particles Per Period parameter sets the number of particles to generate in each time period.

The Period parameter sets the time period units, either Per Sec, Per Frame or Count.

The Particles Per Period Range is the range used to randomize the number of particles being generated each frame.

Selecting Per Sec means the Operator will generate, on average, the number of particles specified in one second, spreading them out over one second of time. Per Frame will generate that number of particles each frame of animation. Count generates a one-time set of particles at the start of the animation or Particle System Start Time.

If the Source Operator has a child Randomizer, it will vary the number of particles generated each frame.

For an animation the Particles Per Period and Particles Per Period Range can be keyframed to provide more dynamic particle emissions.

The Set Lifetime Operator assigns a lifetime to each particle.

The Life Time Units parameter sets the lifetime units, either seconds or frames.

The Life Time parameter sets the life time of the particle, in the units specified by Life Time Units.

The Life Time Range is used for randomizing the assigned particle lifetimes.

Each particle has a birth time assigned to it when it is created.

When the age of the particle exceeds its lifetime it is automatically removed from the Particle System.

For most effects a lifetime of a second or two is usually sufficient.

Other Operators, such as Set Color Gradient, may use Particle Age or Lifetime as a parameter selection. They will always be using units of Seconds. That is important when the particle lifetime is being set in units of Frames.