Maya for 3D Printing - Rapid Prototyping
In this course we're going to look at something a little different, creating technically accurate 3D printed parts.
# 1 02-08-2004 , 04:04 PM
mtmckinley's Avatar
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sprite orientation?

I've got a question for once. user added image

Is there a way to control the orientation of sprite particles so that they are not just camera-facing?

Idealy, I'd like to be able to orient them to an axis.

Many thanks in advance. user added image

# 2 02-08-2004 , 10:44 PM
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i believe they're always facing the cam and you can't change that. you can spin them, scale them etc though...


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# 3 02-08-2004 , 11:06 PM
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yeah, I might just have to use planes and stuff

# 4 03-08-2004 , 12:09 AM
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Actually, you can fake it with runtime expressions on the spriteScaleXPP and spriteTwistPP attributes. It IS a fake, but depending on what you're going for, it can work.

Try something like this.

Creation expressions:
particleShape1.spriteScaleXPP = rand(-1,1);
particleShape1.spriteScaleYPP = rand(-1,1);
particleShape1.spriteTwistPP = rand(-180,180);

Runtime expressions:
if (particleShape1.spriteScaleXPP > 1)
{
particleShape1.spriteScaleXPP = -1;
}
if (particleShape1.spriteTwistPP > 180)
{
particleShape1.spriteTwistPP = -180;
}

particleShape1.spriteScaleXPP += 0.01;
particleShape1.spriteTwistPP += 2;

Attached is a sample file to see what I mean.

I'm very excited to help Mike after all the times he's helped me. I hope it works.

Attached Files
File Type: mb particlerotatefake.mb (45.9 KB, 263 views)
# 5 03-08-2004 , 01:07 AM
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No, 'fraid that's not quite what I'm looking for. Neat affect, though. user added image

I imagine I'll just need to use geometry.

Thanks guys! If anyone comes up with anything, feel free to let me know. user added image

# 6 03-08-2004 , 01:14 AM
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Check out this video for an example of the kind of thing I'm going for:

https://www.mtmckinley.net/private/po..._particles.zip

For example, the waterfall and the "swish" of the character's sword.

(FYI- This is a video of some of my particle fx done for the game Fallen Kingdoms, recently announced. These were done in a custom particle editor developed in-house.)

# 7 03-08-2004 , 12:07 PM
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I don't know what the requirements are but could you not render the particle effects from an angle where they look alright and then take that resulted sequence and map it on a plane as a texture sequence... or something user added image


Kari
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Do a lot, Fail a lot and Learn a lot!
# 8 07-08-2004 , 08:50 AM
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# 9 07-08-2004 , 02:57 PM
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No, that's not quite what I'm looking for. While it does change the sprite's twist, they still remain camera-facing.

Thanks, though. user added image

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