How to trigger a live particle system???

#1

Hi, I’m doing a live TV show and need to trigger a live particle system from time to time for an effect. Does anyone know how to do this? I’m using Motionbuilder version 7.5

Thanks!

James Speck
Creative Director
Cowboy Water Design
Singapore

#2

What sort of trigger are you after?

You can use keyboard/mouse input to trigger events, such as the visibility of particle shaders. You can also use the proximity of objects to trigger the same event, depening on what you’re trying to achieve.

Cheers,
Daniel

#3

Hello Daniel,

First, thanks for the reply. Second, I did a live Motionbuilder event at the Melbourne Convention Center last year…greeeeat city! I almost came out to visit you guys to see what you were up to…

The event I am trying to trigger is actually a dog peeing. I can trigger the rig inside the dog model to left his leg…but the particle “stream” is on all the time. I need to be able to turn the particle system off and on driving all the parameters I set in the particle menu…

James

#4

Hi James,

What sort of event did you do? Next time, make sure to give us a visit!

I’ve put together a quick example of what I mean, check out http://danielskovli.com/misc/particle_test.zip

I think I understand what you’re trying to achieve, and there are primarily two ways of doing this.

  1. Toggle the visibility of your particle emitter.
  2. Toggle the ‘enabled’ of your particle shader.

The test I’ve included for you has both of these triggers, bound to the SPACEBAR on your keyboard. The particles hardly look like pee, but still :slight_smile:

Hope it helps.

  • Dan
#5

Daniel,

You are a champion. That is exactly what I was looking for…I just need to adjust the particle to make it more “pee” like. Later I will attached this constraint to the underside of the dog model…client has requested the dog pee on demand…this fits the bill.

Yes…next time I will visit. I did manage to stop in and visit the folks over at Act3.

Curious…I don’t have large budgets but do you freelance?

James

#6

That’s great news! :slight_smile:

Act3 Animation (http://act3animation.com/) is our commercial partner, so freelancing/short projects will go through them. I’m sure they will be more than helpful if you send them a quick email with your intentions and expectations.

Being a university, we mainly deal with the educational operation of the studio. However, we also have the occasional research project cross our paths.

I’ll be happy to further discuss this partnership and any other questions you (or others) might have, but I think a more appropriate media for that might be email or the good old telephone. Not being a huge fan of spam, I try to refrain from posting my address in plaintext on open forums like this, but feel free to shoot me a private message if you want my details.

All the best,
Daniel

#7

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