Particle Tool

Overview

This is where you can access and set up properties, settings, and various parameters of:

  • Effects  these include particles and their visual components.
  • Systems  access to particles and their visual components only in systems.

Effects

These are the particles and their visual components. You can access them only in systems.

Properties

Particles

PropertyDescription
TransformCurrentPositionMoving the selected effect or system according to given numerical values along the 3 grid axes X, Y, Z.
RotationRotating the selected effect or system according to given numerical values along the 3 grid axes X, Y, Z.
ScaleScaling the selected effect or system according to given numerical values along the 3 grid axes X, Y, Z.
ModifierPositionMoving the selected modifiers according to given numerical values along the 3 grid axes X, Y, Z.
RotationRotating the selected modifiers according to given numerical values along the 3 grid axes X, Y, Z.
ScaleScaling the selected modifiers according to given numerical values along the 3 grid axes X, Y, Z.
Mesh Source
AnimationSelecting an animation for a model to view.
Preview MeshSelecting a model to view.
ActivePlaying particles relative to the model's bones  true/false.

Effect

PropertyDescription

Type

Particle type:

  • sprite;
  • mesh.
Time Limit (sec)

Lifetime of a particle. If "0" is selected, the particle will live infinitely.

Max Particles

The maximum count of particles used in this effect.

Multiply Count Rate

Multiple Count Rate correlates with max particles.

Warm Up Time (ms)

The time needed for the particle effect to be fully formed (or reach its looping shape).

Particles Life Time (sec)Lifetime is rounded to 0.033s.
Enable RTX*unavailable* 
Always UpdateAllows the particle to always be updated.
Forced BB

Helps with sorting bounding boxes (BB), when particles with differing BBs spawn from the same place.

Rate Anim

Additional RGB curve's uses for:

  • R = rate_factor;
  • G = frame_playback_speed (uses for animated particles);
  • B = initial velocity multiplier (allows you to influence constant velocity).
PhysXActivates PhysX support.
Sort

Particles' sorting methods:

  • Newer on Top.
  • No Sort.
  • Older on Top.
  • Sort by Distance (Light).
  • Sort by Distance (Slow).
Velocity Scale

Particle scaling depending on its speed:

  • Additive (adds a value).
  • Modulative (step by step).
  • No Scale.
Adjust By Aspect Ratio

Allows setting up particles by the aspect ratio true/false.

Color ScaleParticle's brightness.
Use Parent Color

Color particles might be changed by parent particles.


Lit by Lightsources If enabled, the particle is lit.
Allow Forward ShadowsAllows particles to give shadows.
Allow Multiply ShaderAllows particles to use a multiply shader.
Motion Factor

One of the multipliers that are inherited from any particle velocity.

Motion Factor GlobalAllows to apply a global motion factor: true/false.
StatsActions Memory (bytes)Shows size occupied in the memory.
Particles Memory (bytes)Shows size occupied in the memory.
Polycount *Max Particles
Initial BB MinShows values min forced bounding boxes.
Initial BB Max Shows values max forced bounding boxes.
Initial Max Size Shows the initial max size value.
AlignmentType

Particle positioning relative to the camera:

  • By Motion (particle positioning relative to the speed).
  • By Motion (Axis Lock) (particle positioning relative to the speed by one of the axes).
  • By Motion (Face) (particle positioning relative to the polygon).
  • Full Lock (particle is locked to one of the planes).
  • Look at Camera (particle is always visible).
  • No Align (particle is always visible).
Inherit Parent RotationAllows to inherit the parent rotation: true/false.
SpriteFrame
If enabled, the texture will be used as a sprite sheet.
Random SelectRandomly selects a particle that might play.
Selected Allows you to choose necessary particles in a sprite sheet.
Columns The number of columns in a sprite sheet.
Rows

The number of rows in s sprite sheet.

CountThe number of particles in a sprite sheet.
Animated
If enabled, the texture will be presented as a sequence.
Random PlaybackIf enabled, the texture may play in reverse.
Random Start Frame

If enabled, the particle will start from a random frame.

Looped If enabled, the particle will play for its Life Time with the chosen speed.
Speed The speed at which the particle will be played.

TextureThe texture being used.
Shader


Allows you to choose a shader and customize its properties.

Shader Ext Parameter
UV FlipUAllows you to flip a texture horizontally or vertically. 
V

Strip Enable texture mapping, if false, and disable, if true.
Velocity Spawn Rate

The ratio of the number of spawning particles in a direct proportion to the speed. The higher is the speed that is set by the boundaries, the higher is the spawn.

Clamp Min Non-modifiable values.
Clamp Max Non-modifiable values.
Factor Non-modifiable values.

List of Actions

ActionDescription

Aux Animator 

Allows to set and adjust an external parameter for particle shaders.

Avoid 

Allows to set and adjust a custom entity type that emitted particles will avoid.

Bounce 

Allows to set and adjust a custom entity type from which emitted particles will bounce.

Collision 

Allows to assign and adjust the collision of emitted particles.

Color Animator 

Allows to assign and adjust the color of emitted particles.

Damping 

Allows to assign and adjust wind damping of emitted particles.

Flock 

Allows to adjust emitted particles in the form of a flock.

Follow 

Allows to adjust emitted particles to attract particles to the center along a certain radius.

Gradient Track 

Allows to adjust emitted particles according to the gradient.

Gravitate 

Allows to adjust the attraction of emitted particles.

Gravity 

Allows to adjust the force of gravity that affects emitted particles.

Jet 

Allows to adjust emitted particles for additional acceleration over a certain area.

Orbit Line 

Allows to adjust an orbit line that affects emitted particles.

Orbit Point

Allows to adjust an orbit point that affects the emitted particles.

Random Accel 

Allows to adjust the accel of emitted particles.

Random Displace 

Allows to adjust a random distance of emitted particles.

Random Rotation Velocity 

Allows to adjust a random rotation velocity of emitted particles.

Random Velocity 

Allows to adjust the behavior of particles according to the random velocity.

Rotation Damping 

Allows to adjust rotation damping of emitted particles.

Scatter 

Allows to adjust the scatter of emitted particles.

Sink 

Allows to set a custom entity type that emitted particles will sink.

Sink Velocity 

Allows to set a custom entity type and velocity that emitted particles will sink.

Size Animator 

Allows to adjust the size of emitted particles.

Source 

Allows to tailor many settings for emitted particles, such as color, position, size, rotation, etc.

Speed Limit 

Allows to adjust the speed limit of emitted particles.

Speed Limit 3 

Allows to adjust the speed limit of emitted particles according to the coordinate axes.

Target Color 

Allows to adjust the color of emitted particles.

Target Position 

Allows to adjust the target position of emitted particles.

Target Rotation 

Allows to adjust the target rotation of emitted particles.

Target Rotation Velocity 

Allows to adjust the target rotation velocity of emitted particles.

Target Size 

Allows to adjust the target size of emitted particles.

Target Velocity

 Allows to adjust the target velocity of emitted particles.

Turbulence 

 Allows to adjust the turbulence of emitted particles.

Velocity Animator 

 Allows to adjust the velocity animator of emitted particles.

Vortex 

 Allows to adjust the vortex through which emitted particles will be passed.

Wind  

 Allows to adjust the wind strength that will affect emitted particles.

Emitter Properties

PropertyDescription
Source    
EnabledAllows enabling and disabling the emitter's action  true/false.
DescriptionName of action.
Particle RateParticles per second.
Spawn Limit Percentage of max_particles for the current source.
Life time SigmaAdds a Sigma value to a particle's lifetime. For example, if a particle lifetime is 3 and we add the Sigma value of 1, then the lifetime will be randomly picked, from the range of 2 to 4.
PositionDomain Type

Geometric type of the emitter.

  • AABB
  • Blob
  • Cone
  • Cylinder
  • Disc
  • Line
  • Plane
  • Point
  • Rectangle
  • Sphere
  • Triangle
Use Extremum

Allows you to use "Extremes" for some domains and combine them into one effect. This works only with position, size, and velocity.

Start Point The start boundary.
End Point

The end boundary.

Inner Radius The inner radius value, if the domain's type is: cylinder, cone, disc, sphere.
Outer RadiusThe outer radius value, if the domain type is: cylinder, cone, disc, sphere.
Mesh Source

If enabled, the particle may be used as a mesh source, i.e playing directly at the object. Then the spawn points will be set to the object's vertices.

Draw Renders debug draw.
ColorBase
Domain Type

Geometric type of the emitter.

  • AABB
  • Blob
  • Cone
  • Cylinder
  • Disc
  • Line
  • Plane
  • Point
  • Rectangle
  • Sphere
  • Triangle
Use Extremum

Allows you to use "Extremes" for some domains and combine them into one effect. This works only with position, size, and velocity.


Start Point
XYZ

Sets colors in the starting point particle.

End Point


XYZ

Sets color in the ending point particle.
AlphaDomain Type

Geometric type of the emitter.

  • AABB
  • Blob
  • Cone
  • Cylinder
  • Disc
  • Line
  • Plane
  • Point
  • Rectangle
  • Sphere
  • Triangle
Use ExtremumAllows you to use "Extremes" for some domains and combine them into one effect. This works only with position, size, and velocity.
Start Point

The start boundary.

End Point

The end boundary.

Size
Size of particles' polygons by X or Y.
Domain Type

Geometric type of the emitter.

  • AABB
  • Blob
  • Cone
  • Cylinder
  • Disc
  • Line
  • Plane
  • Point
  • Rectangle
  • Sphere
  • Triangle
Use Extremum Allows you to use "Extremes" for some domains and combine them into one effect. This works only with position, size, and velocity.
Start Point The start boundary.
End Point The end boundary.
Rotation Velocity, °
 

Particles' rotation speed.

Domain Type

Geometric type of the emitter.

  • AABB
  • Blob
  • Cone
  • Cylinder
  • Disc
  • Line
  • Plane
  • Point
  • Rectangle
  • Sphere
  • Triangle
Use Extremum Allows you to use "Extremes" for some domains and combine them into one effect. This works only with position, size, and velocity.
Start Point The start boundary.
End Point The end boundary.
 Rotation, °   

 
 
 

The boundary of the texture's rotation.

Domain Type

Geometric type of the emitter.

  • AABB
  • Blob
  • Cone
  • Cylinder
  • Disc
  • Line
  • Plane
  • Point
  • Rectangle
  • Sphere
  • Triangle
Use Extremum Allows you to use "Extremes" for some domains and combine them into one effect. This works only with position, size, and velocity.
Start Point The start boundary.
End Point The end boundary.
Velocity





























Ignore Parent RotationThe particle system ignores the parent object's transform. This is often used to play particles "upright" despite the object's movement. For example, the car will always cast smoke effects upward despite its rotation or roll.
Position as Direction ScaleAllows to adjust the boundaries of the scale in which the emitted particles will exist.
Initial Wind Factor

Multiplies the incoming wind speed before adding.


Domain Type

Geometric type of the emitter.

  • AABB
  • Blob
  • Cone
  • Cylinder
  • Disc
  • Line
  • Plane
  • Point
  • Rectangle
  • Sphere
  • Triangle
Apex Position according to the coordinate axes.
Start PointThe start boundary.
End Point

The end boundary.

Inner Radius Size of the inner radius.
Outer Radius Size of the outer radius.
Draw Renders debug draw.
AuxDomain Type

Geometric type of the emitter.

  • AABB
  • Blob
  • Cone
  • Cylinder
  • Disc
  • Line
  • Plane
  • Point
  • Rectangle
  • Sphere
  • Triangle

Systems 

Particles

PropertyDescription
TransformCurrentPosition

Moving the selected effect or system according to given numerical values along the 3 grid axes X, Y, Z.

RotationRotating the selected effect or system according to given numerical values along the 3 grid axes X, Y, Z.
ScaleScaling the selected effect or system according to given numerical values along the 3 grid axes X, Y, Z.
ModifierPositionMoving the selected modifiers according to given numerical values along the 3 grid axes X, Y, Z.
RotationRotating the selected modifiers according to given numerical values along the 3 grid axes X, Y, Z.
ScaleScaling the selected modifiers according to given numerical values along the 3 grid axes X, Y, Z.
Mesh Source AnimationSelecting an animation for a model to view.
Preview MeshSelecting a model to view.
ActivePlaying particles relative to a model's bones  true/false.

System

PropertyDescription

Time LimitLifetime of a particle. If "0" is selected, the particle will live infinitely.
SaveStarts as Free, particle systems can be saved into savegame.
Allow Global ModificatorAllows global modificator  true/false.
PhysXEnabled Allows the use of physics.
Alias Playing particles relative to a model's bones  true/false.
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