Structure-dependent Differences and Characteristics

This page describes structure-dependent differences and characteristics on the Contents panel for particle effects.

Checking the Structure

To check the structure of a particle effect under CreativeStudio, use Tree mode to view the Contents panel.

Structure-dependent contents are given below.

Setting the Structure

Under CreativeStudio, you can change the structure using the follow setting on the emitter Properties panel. By changing the structure, you can make emitters and particles emitted from them track the model transform (scale, rotation, and translation). For details on setting tracking, see Particle Tracking Settings.

The Non-Hierarchical Relationship Between Models and Emitters

This is the status when the particle emitter and particle model do not form a hierarchy.

Figure 1 Non-Hierarchical Structure

Hierarchy 01

Caution:
Under this non-hierarchical structure, particles emitted after the emitter position has moved do not track the emitter.

Scale

The following figure represents an example in which the emitter is multiplied by 2 and the model is multiplied by 2.

Emitter times 2

The emission area for the particle emitter is multiplied by 2.

Model times 2

The size and position of the particle set located underneath is multiplied by 2 based on the center of the model.

Thru 01

Position

The following figure depicts an example when a model is moved 10 in the X-direction and the emitter is moved 10 in the Y-direction.

Move emitter 10 in the X-direction

The emission area of the emitter is moved 10 in the X-direction and particles are emitted from there. Particles do not track the emitter.

Trans 01
Move model 10 in the X-direction

Particles under the model move 10 in the X-direction.

Trans 02

The table below lists how emitter shapes and generated particles are affected based on an example in which the model and emitter do not form a hierarchy.

Transforms Effect on the emitter shape Effect on particles
Emitter scale. Influenced.
Enlarges around the center of the emitter shape.
Not influenced.
Emitter rotation Influenced.
Rotates around the center of the emitter shape.
Not influenced.
Emitter position Influenced.
Moves the emitter shape.
Not influenced.
Model scale Not influenced. Influenced.
Enlarges around the model center after generation.
Model rotation Not influenced. Influenced.
Rotates around the model center after generation.
Model position Not influenced. Not influenced.
Particles track the model after generation.

Hierarchical Structure with a Model on Top

This is the state when a hierarchy is formed between a model and an emitter and the model is on top. With this hierarchical structure, generated particles will track the emitter when the position of the emission area of the emitter has been moved.
Properties are described below using figures and examples.

The figure below is a conceptual image of the hierarchical structure.

Hierarchy Formation 21

Scale

The following figure represents an example in which the model is multiplied by 2 and the emitter is multiplied by 2.

Scale 21

Position

The following figure depicts an example when a model is moved 10 in the X-direction and the emitter is moved 10 in the Y-direction.

Move emitter 10 in the X-direction

The emission area of the emitter is moved 10 in the X-direction and particles are emitted from there.

Trans 21
Move model 10 in the X-direction

The emission area of the emitter is moved 10 in the X-direction and the particles underneath are moved 10 in the X-direction.

Trans 22

The table below lists how emitter shapes and generated particles are affected in cases where the emitter and model form a hierarchy with the emitter on top.

Transforms Effect on the emitter shape Effect on particles
Emitter scale. Influenced.
Enlarges around the center of the emitter shape.
Not influenced.
Emitter rotation Influenced.
Rotates around the center of the emitter shape.
Not influenced.
Emitter position Influenced.
Moves the emitter shape.
Not influenced.
Model scale Influenced.
Scales around the model center.
Influenced.
Enlarges around the model center after generation.
Model rotation Influenced.
Rotates around the model center.
Influenced.
Rotates around the model center after generation.
Model position Influenced.
Tracks the model.
Influenced.
Particles track the model after generation.

Note: With this hierarchical structure, you can position the entire effect using the model, and even change the position of the the emission area of the emitter.

Particle Set Options

Using Place in the world coordinate system will cause particles emitted from the emitter to always be placed in the world coordinate system. With this option, particles do not track the size, orientation, or position of the emitter even if particles form a hierarchical structure. The world coordinate system is also used for the direction in which gravity works.

The figure below shows one example of placement in the world coordinate system.
Imagine that you have a structure where particles track the emitter after they have been created, and particle B is called as a child from particle A within this particle set. If you enable this option for particle B, you can stop this tracking.

Example of placement in world coordinate system

The term world coordinate system refers to a coordinate system where a Z-axis, representing depth, has been added to the traditional two-dimensional X-Y coordinate system. The location where X, Y and Z coordinates are all (0, 0, 0) is called the origin. Values increase going right for the X-coordinate, going up for the Y-coordinate, and going toward the viewer for the Z-coordinate.

The following diagram is a conceptual image of a model coordinate system inside a world coordinate system.

World Coordinate System

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