New techniques - Particle systems - Fireworks + stars - All details

Create sphere

Increase in size to envelop scene

Flip normals

Create - geometry - Particle systems - PFsource - drag out icon

Highlight icon - Open particle view - creating icon automatically creates default particle system with default settings + default functions

PF Source - Render (geometry) - wil create geometry which is renderable

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Birth - Method of renderable particle creation (how much / timeline)

Position - Choose where emission of particle starts from

Speed - Induce velocity onto particles

Rotation - Induce different forms of rotation onto particles

Shape - Choose shape + size of renderable particles

Display - for processing purposes choose how particles are displayed in working viewport

((Began with creating static particles positioned over emitter surface (as shown below)))

((Use this method to quickly check system is operating correctly))

Change birth start + stop times to 0 - equates to static system which doesn't begin or end

Change position by clicking add + selecting sphere - location surface - will spread stars over entire surface (randomly if selected)

Remove unnecessary components (right click and delete)

Determine shape and size to create particles that can appear as stars

(Next slide shows display options - mat require to enter first to be able to view changes)

In display set to geometry to allow geometry to be viewed in viewport

Add material static (click and drag from bottom menu) - to assign material at later date

Select sphere - shift drag outscale - create copy sphere

Hide sphere connected to particle system - stars will remain in position without sphere

FIREWORKS

Create PFsource

Direction can be changed in Particle view menu

I prefer to rotate icon

Rotate icon 180' to point vertically up

Enter particle view

Function figures differ greatly depending on scene size - units etc therefore functions will be described not actual figures but generalisation for my use

Particle system created then blogged to account for blogging mistakes

To see particle system working (i.e. as shown) TIMELINE must be scrubbed or activated (play) otherwise nothing can be seen - this particle system is time dependant to function - not a static system as before

Birth - very small number (1) amount - birth rate - small amount of time (few frames)

Position - generate from icon centre (Inherit emitter - pivot)

Speed - generate velocity (along icon arrow)

Display - as geometry - 100% visible

Turn off shape modifier via right click

This geometry is the initial particle - this is only required as a guide for spawn particles (described next in the blog)

Drag spawn tool onto bottom of event one until see blue line (indicating integration)

Spawn tool has connection node - idea is to setup spawn conditions on spawn tool

The resulting particles created from this can be assigned there own shape, size, material, display options as required. These options are attached via the node as not to clash with initial event - add tools as required to separate event - attach node via click n drag

In this example applied

Shape - define shape + size

Material static - too apply material at later date

Display - to show geometry (ALWAYS DIRECTLY AFTER MATERIALS to work without errors)

Delete - Determines lifespan of particles so only visible for certain time span

Scale - to alter particle size over time

Delete - particles required to spawn over time but not infinitely to create tail effect set appropriate lifespan + large variability to allow for gradual decay not clear finite rate

Scale - allows to show effect of gradually tailing off i.e. particles get smaller the longer they live as fireworks particle brightness dims as pieces fall away 

Create - Space warps - Forces - Vortex

Drag out icon

Shift + A align to particle system

Add force tool - enter by highlighting - add - select vortex icon

With vortex highlighted enter right hand menu and adjust figures

Aiming to create light spiral of tail

Velocity, delete and other functions may require alterations due to vortex's influence  

Applied age test onto event - created new event with delete (display is added)

This allows setup for final lifespan of "firework" - use delete to set height of firework

At height of firework create new particle PFsource (place emitter icon in position)

Particle view - very similar setup to previous particle system with minor differences

Can highlight and shift copy events then adjust accordingly

1. Birth - multiple particles instead of 1 - still very short birth time

2. Speed - velocity in random directions

3. adjust figures relating to size - shape + tail length as required

4. adjust figures relating to timeline and animation as required

Geometry - Space warps - forces - gravity - drag out icon - shift + a - align with particle system icon

Add force tool in particle view - (only required in event 1 and will effect corresponding events)

Add to forces list the gravity force - select add, highlight gravity force

Adjust gravity strength to make particles realistically "droop"

Increase birth amount once all settings are correct

Unhide guild hall

Run particle systems

Re-scaling and positioning required to fit will guide hall

Vortex effect may require additional tweaking due to being effected by multiple settings

Select particle icons + forces for fireworks (not stars) - hold shift - drag to copy (not instant)

This will create new renderable events in particle view menu however events will require copying and attaching

Running these new copied systems will result in errors as shown due to cross linking i.e. 2 particle system events on same force etc

Separate forces + any crossing data by simply deleting and reapplying according to requirements

Now work with new fire work i.e. reposition emission icon - change size - birth time, shape size of tail so fireworks are not identical

Check visualisation with building

repeat process for third firework

Stars wasted underneath - Highlight bottom half of sphere polygons - remove

Particle system will automatically correct to new surface

Decided to trim hemisphere further to restrict stars to upper sky

Create basic material - Self illuminate 100% pure white

Open particle view menu - select appropriate material tool

Drag material node onto material selection box - create instance link

Create separate materials and apply where necessary

Screen shot shows organised Particle view

Renamed - events

Organised positions for each firework - paired launches and explosions

Test rendering

Apply materials as required

Mateial placed above due to being linked to material below - being place on same particle system

Turned on initial geometry display and applied material resulting in orange head followed by white tail

MATERIAL OVERRIDE

[did not separate because material override example directly involves fireworks]

Create plane grey material - open render setup - processing - turn on material override - apply grey material

All materials in scene are replaced with grey material - this allows for lighting to be view clearly with shadows without distractions - processing can also be considerably quicker

Run render tests (example is blue due to blue light source in scene)

Apply render tests to inside swell

Render testing revealed - fireworks are casting shadows on night sky

Executed video render test to check occurrence

Problem persists with all 3 fireworks through sequence

Highlight sky - right click - object properties - turn off receive shadows

Upon video test discovered third firework extra geometry (coloured main spawn geometry) did not end as intended (infinite lifespan) - added age test + delete (with display link)

Tested again

adjust figures to obtain desired results

Attempted to change geometry to 2d shapes on firework launch to decrease render time and improve quality shape facing tool instead of shape - all particles are now 2d squares - since always facing camera will never see angled or back of geometry squares only perpendicular view.

aligned with camera in scene

Applied to al fireworks to test

Run though sequence

Render - geometry appears as squares (as desired

Begin building materials - aim is to convert geometry shape to circles via materials

Created circular map with noise - applied to diffuse, opacity, bump (maps)

Render scene to look for differences in render outcome

Attempted to improve result as much as possible

Fireworks became too dull for scene

 desired results unattainable within time frame - decided to revert to shape (particle view modifier tool too show full selected geometry shapes)

Lens effects

To improve firework appearance - apply lens effect to firework particle system materials

Effects - Add - lens effects - move across glow - adjust parameters to gain desired size and intensity - apply to material ID - 100% colour

Render to view - turn on live interaction - allows for adjustments of effects and direct feedback (live changes) from render window

Same process except Star effect rather then glow - compared render tests - chose to use star effect

Render times will increase however appearance will be vastly improved - since particles spawn and overlap - individual star effects will allow for twinkle result