SceneForge Concepts --> VFX Elements

Modified on Fri, May 10 at 3:59 PM

VFX Elements

Using an intuitive node-editor, you can customize VFX Elements and Particle Systems

Judah Mantell

Last Update 2 years ago

VFX Elements in SceneForge can be added to your scene using the create menu, and edited using the Node Editor window.

They have a variety of properties that will change the look of your element. These can be controlled using Nodes, which are explained below.

You can add VFX Elements like any other object using the Create Menu, under dynamics.

These objects have two options in their properties menu, aside from the usual:

Toggle VFX Playback	Plays/Pauses the Looping Effect
Open VFX Editor	This opens up the VFX Editor Window.

The VFX Editor

When the VFX Editor window is open, a wireframe gizmo will appear on the active effect showing the emitter volume. This shape/volume will change depending on what you configure in the menu.

The master node (shown above) has two main properties, and then category slots for different "modules" that can be applied to the VFX Element.

The default effect that is playing when the graph is empty is mainly for illustrative purposes, and its properties will be overridden when you add data to the Master Node.

The master node's inputs are as follows:

Input Name	Input Description
Particle Lifetime	Controls how long each particle lasts in seconds. Takes in a value.
Spawn Rate	Controls how many particles spawn per second. Takes in a value.
Motion	Attach a Motion Node here for controlling the effect's motion.
Volume	Attach a Volume Node here to control the size and shape of the effect independent of the object's scale.
Visuals	Attach a Visuals Node here to control how the effect looks.
Forces	Attach a Forces Node here to control the physics forces on the effect.
Noise	Attach a Noise Node here to control the noise affecting the effect.
Lighting	Attach a Lighting Node here to control the effect's lighting.

VFX Element Nodes

The VFX Element Editor has various nodes that are specific to editing VFX.

They are broken up into different categories inside the Add Node Menu.

Category	Description
Core	These are core modules that go into the Master Node Slots.
Math	These are nodes relating to value manipulation and input/output.
Graphics	These are nodes relating to the visuals of a VFX Element.
Volumes	These are different volume shapes that can be applied to the VFX Element.

In addition to the Math nodes that are always available,

the available nodes for VFX Editing are as follows:

Node	Description	Inputs	Outputs
Visuals	Controls Inputs for the Element's Visuals.	Texture, Color/Gradient, Value	Visuals
Motion	Controls inputs for the Element's Movement.	Value/Range, Value/Range, Value/Range	Motion
Forces	Controls the Element's Forces	Value/Range, Vector3	Forces
Noise	Controls random noise applied to the Effect.	Value, Value/Range, Vector3	Noise
Lighting	Controls the lighting of the effect	Color, Value, Value	Lighting
- - - - - -
Color	Controls a specified color.	N/A	Color
Gradient	Controls a specified gradient.	N/A	Gradient
Texture	Sets a specified texture.	Set Texture, Flipbook	Texture
Flipbook	Configures a texture sheet animation.	X (Value), Y (Value), FPS (Value)	Flipbook
- - - - - -
Cone	Sets a 3D Cone Volume	N/A	Volume
Sphere	Sets a 3D Sphere Volume	N/A	Volume
Box	Sets a 3D Box Volume	Vector3 Size	Volume

*More nodes are being added with every update.

As you design your VFX Element, the effect will auto-update in the scene view.

By default, the effect will require all existing particles to die out before changes are visible. This results in a more seamless editing experience.

But, if you would like the changes to be reflected instantly, you can toggle Auto-Refresh using the toggle in the window's menu bar.

To save your graph, you can manually click save, or it will automatically save when you close the window.