The Particle Age Condition is used to determine the age of particles within a system. It will return a True condition when one of the conditions is met:
The Particle Age Condition is used to determine the age
of particles within a system. It will return a True condition when one
of the conditions is met:
When a particle is born.
When a particle dies.
At any given relative time frame.
At any given absolute time.
ON - (Bool) This input data
stream determines whether the operator is considered 'on' or 'off'. You
can connect other Helper operators to this input channel such as a Bool
Helper to activate/deactivate the whole operator. (Default: ON=True)
Time - (Time) This input data stream takes time data from another
node to feed the Particle Age condition, effectively limiting the range
of time that the operator is evaluated.
Particle - (Particle) - This input data stream reads in the currently
selected particle group. The data stream MUST be connected
and will be highlighted yellow if it is not.
Type - (Integer) This input data stream takes on an integer value
that represents the type of particle age condition to be tested for. Valid
input values are 0 through 4, where:
0 = Born
1 = Die
2 = Enters Group
3 = Relative
4 = Absolute
Time 1 - (Scalar) This input data stream is used to override the
Relative Time 1 spinner value.
Time 2 - (Scalar) This input data stream is used to override the
Relative Time 2 spinner value.
Absolute Time 1 - (Frame) This input data stream is used to override
the Absolute Time 1 spinner value.
Absolute Time 2 - (Frame) This input data stream is used to override
the Absolute Time 2 spinner value.
Out - (Bool) - This output
data stream sends the true or false state to other node input data streams
regarding the Particle Age.
Born - A Born condition is treated as true whenever a particle
is created (born) and stored in the connected particle group. A born event
is also created when a particle group is transferred or newly created
by an operator.
Die - A Die condition is treated as true when a particle dies
and is removed from the connected particle group. Particles may also be
killed by operators in many situations.
Enters Group - An Enters Group condition is treated as true when
a particle enters a connected particle group.
Relative / Absolute - The Relative and Absolute radio buttons
are used to help determine the output condition. Output can be triggered
by time based conditions. When a particle reaches a certain age (life
time) an operator may be activated by the output stream.
Relative means that the particle age is measured “relative” to the
lifetime of the particle. A value of zero (0) means the time when
the particle is born and a value of 100 means the time when a particle
dies. You can also think of this as a representation of the "percentage"
of the lifetime for the particle since the base for this calculation
is always the maximum lifetime that was assigned to the particles.
In contrast, Absolute numbers are calculated in frames or ticks. A
value of 0 means frame zero of the animation and a value of 123 means
frame 123 of the animation.
Time 1 - This parameter
sets the start time of the condition relative to the lifetime of the particle.
From this time forward, the output is set to true (logical
1). A value of 0 represents the particle's birth, while a value of 100
represents the particle's death.
Time 2 - This parameter sets the end time of the condition relative
to the lifetime of the particle. From this time forward, the output is
set to false (logical 0).
Time 1 - This parameter
sets the start time of the condition that matches the length of the animation.
From this time forward, the output is set to true (logical
1). A value of 0 represents frame 0 of an animation, while a value of
123 represents frame 123 of an animation.
Time 2 - This parameter sets the end time of the condition that
matches the length of the animation. From this time forward, the output
is set to false (logical 0).