This emitter creates particles and moves them through a force field along a customizable path. Emitters define the point of particle creation in 3D space only, while the particles are part of the domain. Here is how to create and edit such an emitter:
Create a spline with Maya's built-in tools.
Drag the spline to the “Spline Object” entry.
The parameter set has one subcategory:
RealFlow Scene
In RealFlow | Maya it is possible to use multiple "Scene" trees in the same project. To link the emitter to a "Scene" node right click on the field, click on "Set Scene" and choose an entry from the appearing list.
Fluid
To link the emitter to a "Fluid" right click on the field, click on "Set Fluid" and choose a fluid container from the appearing list. An emitter can be connected to one fluid container only.
To learn more about how to link RealFlow scene elements and make them interact take a look at the → "Manual Linking" page with examples.
Emitter Type
Toggle the emitter type with this drop-down menu. The following parameters and the viewport representation will be updated according to your selection. Bear in mind that type changes will change the emitter's and fluid's behaviour completely.
Spline Object
Drag the spline object to this slot and convert it into an emitter. You need one emitter per spline.
Creation Type
Here are your options:
- "Axis". The particles are created along the spline's path similar to a curtain. Emission direction is indicated in the viewport through small arrows at the spline's control points. This direction can be changed with "Rotation" (see "Control" below).
- "Tube" The particles are created along the spline's path. The fluid tube's thickness is defined through the circles at each control point. As with "Axis", emission direction is indicated through small arrows.
- "Edge". The particles are created at the first control point and moved along the spline through customizable forces. The first point's circle represents the area of emission.
Speed
Here the particles' initial speed is defined. Higher values will generate more particles per frame. Faster particles act with stronger forces on other particles or objects. The number of emitted particles also depends on the fluid's “Resolution” settings. A value of 0.0 stops the emission of particles.
Randomness
To avoid regular emission, it is possible to randomly displace the particles at creation time. Higher settings create more randomness. This parameter accepts all values between 0 and 50.
Thickness
This parameter is only available with "Creation" set to "Axis". Here, you control the thickness of the particle stream emitted from the spline's axis – this is also possible on a per-control-point basis (see "Thickness" below under "Control"). The unit is metres.
Avoid particle intersection
When enabled, Dyverso tries to avoid the creation of particles in areas where particles already exist.
Add Circle Control
A click on this button adds a new control point to the emitter and opens a new dialogue, where the point's attributes can be specified (see below). Each control point's attributes can be edited individually.
Helper
When enabled the direction and strength of emission is displayed in the viewport. If you change the emitter's parameter, e.g. "Speed" or "Rotation", the gizmo will be updated accordingly.
Circle Control
Offset
You can change the selected control point's position on the spline with this value, e.g.
- 0.0. The control point is moved to the spline's start.
- 0.5. The control point is moved to the spline's midpoint.
- 1.0. The control point is moved to the spline's end.
Radius
The circle around a control point indicates the forces' scope or radius. Only particles inside the viewport's circles will be affected. The circles' sizes can be controlled with this parameter or the viewport gizmo.
Speed
When the emitter is in "Axis" or "Tube" mode it is possible to define different emission speed values for every control point separately:
- 0 stops the creation of particles at this control point.
- The adjusted is value will be multiplied with the global "Speed" value under "Emission".
- The parameter is connected to Maya's scale settings.
Rotation
Every control point has an arrow, indicating the fluid's emission direction in "Axis" and "Tube" mode. By entering a positive degree value this emission direction can be changed. It is also possible to change direction with the viewport gizmo. To see the effect we recommend activating the "Helper" option.
Thickness
It is possible to control the thickness of the emission per control point. The final value will be CP thickness * Thickness.
Vortex
Set the control point's individual vortex strength. Positive values create a clockwise rotation, negative settings create a counter-clockwise rotation around the spline's path.
Axial
Set the control point's individual axial strength. Positive values create an attraction effect towards the spline, negative settings create a repulsion.
Radial
Set the control point's individual axial strength. Positive values create an attraction to the spline's control point, negative settings create a repulsion effect.