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Fun with Particle Effects

In this tutorial, you will learn to modify a particle effect by changing the color and size of the BFG energy ball, as well as removing the smoke and shockwave.

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You can use the Decl Editor, the FX Editor, or the Particle Editor to find the properties you’re looking to modify. Each of the tutorials in this section describes the use of a different editor to access particle effect information.

Change the color of a particle effect​

  1. Open Asset Browser
  2. Open the root folder for the asset you would like to modify, and find the object. For this tutorial, go to: projectile → projectile → player → bfg
  3. Right click on the bfg thumbnail, then select Edit.
  4. The Decl Editor should open in the center of your screen, displaying the properties of the bfg projectile entity.
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You can always dock any editor in a different area of your screen to fit your needs.

If you have previously opened this editor, you may have to find the docked tab for the editor. Keep in mind, the editor may be on tab behind other editors within a pane. Simply select the tab to switch to that editor view.

  1. Locate the FX decl → Right Click → Edit
  2. The FX Editor should open in the center of your screen, displaying the properties of the projectile effect.
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You can always dock any editor in a different area of your screen to fit your needs.

If you have previously opened this editor, you may have to find the docked tab for the editor. Keep in mind, the editor may be on tab behind other editors within a pane. Simply select the tab to switch to that editor view.

  1. In the FX Editor, select the projectile Action you’d like to edit. For this tutorial: Select bfg_ball
  2. The Action Properties section of the FX Editor will open.
  3. Locate the Decl Prt in Action Properties: Action Properties → Particle Parms → Decl Prt
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The Decl Prt is the particle effect decl, nested in the FX decl.

  1. Right Click Decl Prt → Edit
  2. Clicking edit will open the Particle Editor and the Preview.
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Keep in mind, the editor may open in a tab behind other editors within a pane. Simply select the tab to switch to that editor view.

tip

It can be useful to dock the Particle Editor and Preview in different panes, so you can see your edits as you make them.

  1. In the Particle Editor:
    • Use the check boxes to select and deselect different parts of the particle effect (smoke, lightning, etc.)
    • Use the arrows to expand the parts of the particle effect to access editable options
  2. In the Particle Editor: Expand Smoke → Click Color Attributes
  3. Click the color bar to open the Color Picker.
  4. Use the tool to select a custom color.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Edit other parts of the the particle effect, as desired. For this tutorial:
    • Change the color of the lightning
    • Change the color of the shockwave
    • Make the rays more translucent
  7. Click Save (in the Particle Editor) to save your color changes.
  8. Load into Sandbox to test. give weapon/player/bfg

Change the size of a particle effect​

  1. Open the FX Editor.
  2. In the FX Editor, open the decl of the entity you would like to modify. For this tutorial, go to: Open → weapon → bfg → projectile
  3. In the FX Editor, expand the projectile Action you’d like to edit. For this tutorial: Expand bfg_ball.
  4. Now, locate the projectile effect size in the FX Editor: bfg_ball Action Properties → Size
  5. Change the Size to 5.
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This field uses multipliers, not units. So 5 = 5x original size.

  1. Click Save (in FX Editor) to save your size change.
  2. Load into Sandbox to test. give weapon/player/bfg

Add or Remove parts of a particle effect​

  1. Open Asset Browser.
  2. Open the root folder for the asset you would like to modify, and find the object. For this tutorial, go to: particle → weapons → bfg
  3. Right click on the bfg_projectile thumbnail.
  4. Select Edit.
  5. The Particle Editor and Preview should open, displaying the properties of the bfg projectile entity.
info

You can always dock any editor in a different area of your screen to fit your needs.

If you have previously opened this editor, you may have to find the docked tab for the editor. Keep in mind, the editor may be on a tab behind other editors within a pane. Simply select the tab to switch to that editor view.

  1. In the Particle Editor:
    1. Right Click smoke → Select Remove
    2. Right Click shockwave → Select Remove
  2. Click Save (in the Particle Editor) to save your changes.
  3. Load into Sandbox to test. give weapon/player/bfg