VFX Tutorial - Revision history

Lord Methrid: Typo

2012-05-22T02:21:19Z

Typo

Lord Methrid: Minor typos.

2012-05-22T02:18:33Z

Minor typos.

Warslav: /* VFX Tutorial Part 3 */

2011-02-26T15:01:20Z

‎VFX Tutorial Part 3

Warslav: /* VFX Tutorial Part 3 */

2011-02-26T14:59:29Z

‎VFX Tutorial Part 3

BloodsongVengeance: /* VFX Tutorial Part 2 */

2010-09-17T17:04:20Z

‎VFX Tutorial Part 2

Eshme: /* Creating a new visual effect */

2010-06-22T07:44:21Z

‎Creating a new visual effect

BryanDerksen: {{Infobox vfx}}

2010-02-08T21:40:29Z

BryanDerksen: shrink some large images

2010-02-08T21:37:50Z

shrink some large images

Codepoetzz: /* Adding an emitter */

2009-10-05T20:34:34Z

‎Adding an emitter

Jassper at 13:05, 7 September 2009

2009-09-07T13:05:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:21, 22 May 2012
Line 163:		Line 163:


−	Notice at the top of the time line is reads “Particle Lifetime”. This means that the changes we make here will affect each partial over the lifetime of each particle. The lifetime of the particle is directly related to the “Lifetime” value setting in the Emissions Tab, which currently is set to 1 sec.	+	Notice at the top of the time line it reads “Particle Lifetime”. This means that the changes we make here will affect each partial over the lifetime of each particle. The lifetime of the particle is directly related to the “Lifetime” value setting in the Emissions Tab, which currently is set to 1 sec.

@@ Line 141: / Line 141: @@
 [[File:T1_ptl.jpg]]
-So now you have a raging fire. In part 2 of this tutorial, we will make this fire dance and sing. Part 2 will introduce using the time line settings to very coloration, scale, size and other more advanced settings as well as explore some of the settings introduce here a bit deeper. Keep the bonfire effect you created with this tutorial, we will need it in the second part. The bonfire effect can also be downloaded from the social site.
+So now you have a raging fire. In part 2 of this tutorial, we will make this fire dance and sing. Part 2 will introduce using the time line settings to vary coloration, scale, size and other more advanced settings as well as explore some of the settings introduced here a bit deeper. Keep the bonfire effect you created with this tutorial, we will need it in the second part. The bonfire effect can also be downloaded from the social site.
 == VFX Tutorial Part 2 ==

@@ Line 356: / Line 356: @@
-{{Languages|VFX_Tutorial/ru}}
+{{Languages}}
 [[Category:Tutorials]]
 [[Category:VFX]]

@@ Line 356: / Line 356: @@
+{{Languages|VFX_Tutorial/ru}}
 [[Category:Tutorials]]
 [[Category:VFX]]

@@ Line 145: / Line 145: @@
 == VFX Tutorial Part 2 ==
-In tutorial #1 we created a good bone fire as a base and up until now we only changed the values directly in the properties on the effect. As we can see this works well for simple effects. Changing the values in this manor alters the effect over its entire life time.
+In tutorial #1 we created a good bonfire as a base and up until now we only changed the values directly in the properties on the effect. As we can see this works well for simple effects. Changing the values in this manner alters the effect over its entire life time.
-We have seen how to change the color and scale of the effect by changing the values in the properties age map. This is great for a basic flame but we want to add more life to it by making the flame vary in color and size over the length of the effect.  To start, Set all the Values back to default as shown in the 2 pictures below.
+We have seen how to change the color and scale of the effect by changing the values in the properties age map. This is great for a basic flame but we want to add more life to it by making the flame vary in color and size over the length of the effect.  To start, set all the Values back to default as shown in the 2 pictures below.
 Note: This tutorial assumes you have read Tutorial #1 or are familiar with the basics of the VFX editor.

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 At this point, save your work by selecting “File > Save As” or clicking the Save Icon in the upper left. You will be prompted for a file name. I like to keep all of my VFX files in one place so in My Documents/Bioware/Dragon Age folder I created a VFX folder to save my files.
-For this tutorial we will be creating a bonfire type of effect and to stay with Dragon Age [[naming convention]], we will use a 3 letter prefix, underscore, and then the file name. Name the file “fxp_bonfire_jp”
+For this tutorial we will be creating a bonfire type of effect and to stay with Dragon Age [[Naming conventions]], we will use a 3 letter prefix, underscore, and then the file name. Name the file “fxp_bonfire_jp”
 The “fxp” is for “Visual Effect Placeable” (all VFX files start with fx*) “bonfire” tells me what the effect is, and the “jp” on the end lets me know that it is my effect and not someone else’s, you can add whatever suffix you want. Click “Save” when done.

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:40, 8 February 2010
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		+	{{Infobox vfx}}
		+
	PDF Version Part 1 [[File:VFX_Tut_p1.pdf]]		PDF Version Part 1 [[File:VFX_Tut_p1.pdf]]

@@ Line 285: / Line 285: @@
 Select the smoke emitter and the Scale time line from the top right drop down menu. We want the smoke to grow in size both in the X and Y directions, but more so in the X direction.
-[[File:T3_scale.jpg]]
+[[File:T3_scale.jpg|thumb|680px|center]]
 Both X and Y should start at 1 and X should end around 5.5 and Y should end around 3.5 over the life of the particle. This will give us a funnel shape.
@@ Line 293: / Line 293: @@
 Start out at a 0 multiplier and raise it to 1 at the start and during the duration time, then taper it back down to 0 during the Cessation time. Notice that at around 12000, the flame is gone and we are only left with smoke for the last 4 seconds of the effect.
-[[File:T3_scale_mult.jpg]]
+[[File:T3_scale_mult.jpg|thumb|680px|center]]
 Now we need to change a few of the Emissions. Set the Birth rate to 3, Life Expectancy to 2.5 and Life Expectancy +/- to 0.5. If you recall from previous tutorials the +/- will give us a variance on how long the particle last. As we did with the flame, we want the smoke to also waver from left to right and forward and back, set the Spawn Spread X (Deg) and Spawn Spread Y (Deg) to 10.
@@ Line 305: / Line 305: @@
 Raise the control points at the start and end of the duration to about 1.2, so it looks like the pic below.
-[[File:T3_position.jpg]]
+[[File:T3_position.jpg|thumb|680px|center]]
 Now when you play the effect, the smoke should rise and lower with the flame. Feel free to play with any of these settings to get the look you like best.
@@ Line 315: / Line 315: @@
 Select the Smoke emitter and then select the Color time line. Uncheck all the colors except the Alpha color. Add 2 or 3 control points towards the end of the time line and tapper the alpha down to 0 at the end of the particle life time. This makes the smoke fade out naturally. Save your work.
-[[File:T3_colora.jpg]]
+[[File:T3_colora.jpg|thumb|680px|center]]
 '''Light My Fire:'''
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 Before we continue, let’s put our fire into a game scene. Select the VFX Root and in the Object Inspector, under “Layout Settings”. You can select a area and see what your effect will look like in game. In Layout, select the area resource. Your effect should be near the upper right corner.
-[[File:T3_arena.jpg]]
+[[File:T3_arena.jpg|thumb|680px|center]]
 Play the VFX a few times, notice there is no light given off by the fire.
@@ Line 338: / Line 338: @@
 Select the Flame object and then select the “Color Intensity” time line from the drop down list. Add several control points and adjust the intensity up and down so it climaxes during the duration, similar to the image shown.
-[[File:T3_intens.jpg]]
+[[File:T3_intens.jpg|thumb|680px|center]]
 Be sure to drop the intensity to 0 at around 12000 as this is where the flame goes out.
@@ Line 346: / Line 346: @@
 Now we have a nice bon fire complete with smoke and lighting.
-[[File:T3_flame.jpg]]
+[[File:T3_flame.jpg|thumb|680px|center]]
 '''Challenge:''' Using the Material Library “fx_distortionmatlib” add a third emitter and give your fire distortion.

@@ Line 133: / Line 133: @@
 [[File:T1_fire_1.jpg]]
-'''Getting the effect in game:'''  Right click on the Root and select “Post to Local”. Now your effect should be available to cut scenes, level editor and scripting etc.
+'''Getting the effect in game:'''  Right click on the Root and select “Post to Local”. You'll find the new VFX under the model palette. It can be placed directly in the level editor or the cutscene editor but not the area editor. You can also add the effect dynamically to an area using a script.
 '''Notes:''' Because an effect is Art work, at present will not be included with a Builder to Builder Create and must be sent separately. Scripting examples to come later once there is a client to test for accuracy.
@@ Line 140: / Line 140: @@
 So now you have a raging fire. In part 2 of this tutorial, we will make this fire dance and sing. Part 2 will introduce using the time line settings to very coloration, scale, size and other more advanced settings as well as explore some of the settings introduce here a bit deeper. Keep the bonfire effect you created with this tutorial, we will need it in the second part. The bonfire effect can also be downloaded from the social site.
 == VFX Tutorial Part 2 ==