Page 1065 - Kitab3DsMax

Chapter 41: Creating Particles and Particle Flow
FIGURE 41.20
Event outputs can be wired to event inputs.
Event output
Event input

Once wired, all particles that are tested to be true are transferred to the new event node and are subject to
the actions in the wired event node.

Tutorial: Moths chasing a light
Another cool feature that the Particle Flow interface makes available is the ability to have particles chase a
target object. In this example, you use the Target event to make some annoying bugs follow a lantern’s light.
To use Particle Flow to make several bugs chase a light, follow these steps:

1. Open the Moths chasing light.max file from the Chap 41 directory on the DVD.
This file includes a simple lantern created from primitives that is suspended from a chain and
animated rocking back and forth. The file also includes a simple moth.
2. Select Create ➪ Particles ➪ Particle Flow Source, and drag in the Front viewport to create the
emitter icon. Click the Particle View button to open the Particle View interface.
3. In the Event01 node, select the Birth01 action and set the Emit Stop to 100 with an Amount of 50.
4. Drag the Position Object action from the Depot pane, and drop it on top of the Position Icon
action to replace it. Select the new Position Object action, click the By List button under the
Emitter Objects list in the Parameters pane, and select the Sphere01 object.
This sphere surrounds the lantern and is the source of the moths. It has a material with an
Opacity setting of 0 applied so that it is not visible in the scene.
5. Select the Rotation action in the Event01 node, and change the Orientation Matrix option to
Speed Space Follow.
This rotates the moths as they follow the swinging lantern.
6. Drag the Shape Instance action from the Depot pane, and drop it on top of the Shape action to
replace it. Select the new Shape Instance action, click the Particle Geometry Object button in the
Parameters pane, and select the moth object in the viewports.

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