Second Life Forums Archive - Particles as Billboards (Coronas on Lamps)

Thygrrr Talaj

Registered User

Join date: 2 Jan 2007

Posts: 46

02-04-2007 07:15

Hi!

I want to make a permanently visoble "glare" around an object, much like the coronas seen around lamps in many places.

Strangely enough, I can't solve these problems:

The particles are emitted irregularly and not at a steady rate.
New Particles either overlap old particles or appear too late, causing the corona to flicker.

How can I make a single permanent particle this way?

Max Pitre

Registered User

Join date: 19 Jul 2006

Posts: 370

02-04-2007 08:13

Any way you can use a sphere with a colored texture instead? Maybe set the transparency up and use the light settings until you get what you want.

Thygrrr Talaj

Registered User

Join date: 2 Jan 2007

Posts: 46

02-04-2007 09:39

No, it's not possible to do it with a sphere, unfortunately.

I've seen it working on other peoples' lamps, all I need is a hint how to tweak my particle system.

Currently I'm using:

CODE


[ 
           PSYS_SRC_TEXTURE, flare, 
           PSYS_PART_START_SCALE, <4.0,4.0,0>,     
           PSYS_PART_END_SCALE, <4.0,4.0,0>, 
           PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, <1,1,1>,  
           PSYS_PART_END_COLOR, <1,1,1>, 
           PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 1.0,
           PSYS_PART_END_ALPHA, 1.0,     
         
           PSYS_SRC_BURST_PART_COUNT, 1, 
           PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE, 20.0,  
           PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE, 20.1, 
           PSYS_SRC_MAX_AGE, 0.0,  
        
           PSYS_SRC_PATTERN, 1, // 1=DROP, 2=EXPLODE, 4=ANGLE, 8=ANGLE_CONE,
           PSYS_SRC_ACCEL, <0.0,0.0,0.0>,  
           PSYS_SRC_BURST_RADIUS, 0.0,
        
           PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MIN, 1.00,   PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MAX, 1.00, 
        
           PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_BEGIN,  0.0,       PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_END, 0.0,  
           PSYS_SRC_OMEGA, <0,0,0>, 
                    
           PSYS_PART_FLAGS, ( 0      
                                | PSYS_PART_INTERP_COLOR_MASK   
                                | PSYS_PART_INTERP_SCALE_MASK   
                                | PSYS_PART_EMISSIVE_MASK   
                           
            ) ]

AJ DaSilva

woz ere

Join date: 15 Jun 2005

Posts: 1,993

02-04-2007 11:06

This is what I've been using for static particles myself, if it's of any use:

CODE

llParticleSystem([
    PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 1.0, // I think this line can be scrapped...
    PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, <1.0,1.0,1.0>, // Maybe this one too.
    PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE, 30.0,
    PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE, 29.99,
    PSYS_PART_FLAGS, PSYS_PART_FOLLOW_SRC_MASK|PSYS_PART_EMISSIVE_MASK
]);

You'll need to add a line for whatever texture you want to use.

I reckon it's pretty much impossible to get it perfect though.

Tiarnalalon Sismondi

Registered User

Join date: 1 Jun 2006

Posts: 402

02-05-2007 07:01

There's always the trick that people use to make the black outlines around cartoon AV's. Has to do with twisting a hollow prim which makes the inside and outside textures switch. It creates an odd effect that you can see 'inside' the prim from all angles, but the texture that's now on the outside is visible as well.

You could do this and set the color for this halo effect and turn the transparency up to make it look like a nice soft glow *shrug*

I would think this would be better than any particle system since particles depend on the settings of the client too much. Some people wouldn't see them at all ever, or depending on the amount of particles in the area, no one would see them.

Shippou Oud

The Fox Within

Join date: 11 Jul 2005

Posts: 141

02-05-2007 08:52

From: Tiarnalalon Sismondi

There's always the trick that people use to make the black outlines around cartoon AV's. Has to do with twisting a hollow prim which makes the inside and outside textures switch. It creates an odd effect that you can see 'inside' the prim from all angles, but the texture that's now on the outside is visible as well.

You could do this and set the color for this halo effect and turn the transparency up to make it look like a nice soft glow *shrug*

I would think this would be better than any particle system since particles depend on the settings of the client too much. Some people wouldn't see them at all ever, or depending on the amount of particles in the area, no one would see them.

take a sphear, and twist both ends 180....hollow it 90...paint inside and outside different colors...have fun.

Jopsy Pendragon

Perpetual Outsider

Join date: 15 Jan 2004

Posts: 1,906

02-05-2007 09:20

Thygrr-

There's a free sample of "glow" effects (and several other basic particle types) in the Particle Laboratory of Teal.

You'll find them at the base of the columns, right next to where the script below came from.

The trick is to overlap the particles and fade them out with alpha, as you grow them slightly. That helps them lose their 'crunchy edge'.

From: Thygrrr Talaj

No, it's not possible to do it with a sphere, unfortunately.

I've seen it working on other peoples' lamps, all I need is a hint how to tweak my particle system.

Currently I'm using:

CODE


 // The BARE BONES Particle Script, Vers 4.0 - 10/23/2006 - Jopsy Pendragon
 //		A sample script from the Particle Laboratory of Teal
 // You may copy, mod, sell, spindle, mutilate this script as you please.
 // If you distribute MOD derivatives of this script please include
 // a mention of The Particle Lab of Teal in the comments.  Thanks! :)
 [ 
            PSYS_SRC_TEXTURE, flare, 
            PSYS_PART_START_SCALE, <4.0,4.0,0>,     
            PSYS_PART_END_SCALE, <4.0,4.0,0>, 
            PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, <1,1,1>,  
            PSYS_PART_END_COLOR, <1,1,1>, 
            PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 1.0,
            PSYS_PART_END_ALPHA, 1.0,     
          
            PSYS_SRC_BURST_PART_COUNT, 1, 
            PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE, 20.0,  
            PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE, 20.1, 
            PSYS_SRC_MAX_AGE, 0.0,  
         
            PSYS_SRC_PATTERN, 1, // 1=DROP, 2=EXPLODE, 4=ANGLE, 8=ANGLE_CONE,
            PSYS_SRC_ACCEL, <0.0,0.0,0.0>,  
            PSYS_SRC_BURST_RADIUS, 0.0,
         
            PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MIN, 1.00,   PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MAX, 1.00, 
         
            PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_BEGIN,  0.0,       PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_END, 0.0,  
            PSYS_SRC_OMEGA, <0,0,0>, 
                     
            PSYS_PART_FLAGS, ( 0      
                                 | PSYS_PART_INTERP_COLOR_MASK   
                                 | PSYS_PART_INTERP_SCALE_MASK   
                                 | PSYS_PART_EMISSIVE_MASK   
                            
             ) ]

_____________________

* The Particle Laboratory * - One of SecondLife's Oldest Learning Resources.
Free particle, control and targetting scripts. Numerous in-depth visual demonstrations, and multiple sandbox areas.
-
Stop by and try out Jopsy's new "Porgan 1800" an advanced steampunk styled 'particle organ' and the new particle texture store!

Thygrrr Talaj

Registered User

Join date: 2 Jan 2007

Posts: 46

02-06-2007 07:28

Josy, your Bare Bones script is actually the one I'm currently basing my work on.

The problem with overlapping particles is that it'd technically require some sort of HDR to come out right; it looks fairly bad for what I've been trying to do (make a really bright sun).

So, yes, there's short flicker whenever the particles don't match up nicely, and the particles also behave somewhat unreliably at times (don't show up, or show up twice). This seems to be somewhat independent from the First Look Viewer.

Naiman Broome

Registered User

Join date: 4 Aug 2007

Posts: 246

10-24-2007 06:10

From: Thygrrr Talaj

No, it's not possible to do it with a sphere, unfortunately.

I've seen it working on other peoples' lamps, all I need is a hint how to tweak my particle system.

Currently I'm using:

CODE


[ 
           PSYS_SRC_TEXTURE, flare, 
           PSYS_PART_START_SCALE, <4.0,4.0,0>,     
           PSYS_PART_END_SCALE, <4.0,4.0,0>, 
           PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, <1,1,1>,  
           PSYS_PART_END_COLOR, <1,1,1>, 
           PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 1.0,
           PSYS_PART_END_ALPHA, 1.0,     
         
           PSYS_SRC_BURST_PART_COUNT, 1, 
           PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE, 20.0,  
           PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE, 20.1, 
           PSYS_SRC_MAX_AGE, 0.0,  
        
           PSYS_SRC_PATTERN, 1, // 1=DROP, 2=EXPLODE, 4=ANGLE, 8=ANGLE_CONE,
           PSYS_SRC_ACCEL, <0.0,0.0,0.0>,  
           PSYS_SRC_BURST_RADIUS, 0.0,
        
           PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MIN, 1.00,   PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MAX, 1.00, 
        
           PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_BEGIN,  0.0,       PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_END, 0.0,  
           PSYS_SRC_OMEGA, <0,0,0>, 
                    
           PSYS_PART_FLAGS, ( 0      
                                | PSYS_PART_INTERP_COLOR_MASK   
                                | PSYS_PART_INTERP_SCALE_MASK   
                                | PSYS_PART_EMISSIVE_MASK   
                           
            ) ]

Hi I took this script put in a prim but nothing happened , may be I am doing something wrong?

Jopsy Pendragon

Perpetual Outsider

Join date: 15 Jan 2004

Posts: 1,906

10-24-2007 07:44

From: Naiman Broome

Hi I took this script put in a prim but nothing happened , may be I am doing something wrong?

That's a subset of the script not the entire script.. =)

prepend:

default {
state_entry() {
llParticleSystem(

and append to the end:

);
}
}

to make the snippet functional.

(Particles are not as much a science as an art. You're not guaranteed a particle every burst interval, especially if there's a lot of other particles nearby.)

_____________________

* The Particle Laboratory * - One of SecondLife's Oldest Learning Resources.
Free particle, control and targetting scripts. Numerous in-depth visual demonstrations, and multiple sandbox areas.
-
Stop by and try out Jopsy's new "Porgan 1800" an advanced steampunk styled 'particle organ' and the new particle texture store!

Particles as Billboards (Coronas on Lamps)
Thygrrr Talaj Registered User Join date: 2 Jan 2007 Posts: 46	02-04-2007 07:15 Hi! I want to make a permanently visoble "glare" around an object, much like the coronas seen around lamps in many places. Strangely enough, I can't solve these problems: The particles are emitted irregularly and not at a steady rate. New Particles either overlap old particles or appear too late, causing the corona to flicker. How can I make a single permanent particle this way?
Max Pitre Registered User Join date: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 370	02-04-2007 08:13 Any way you can use a sphere with a colored texture instead? Maybe set the transparency up and use the light settings until you get what you want.
Thygrrr Talaj Registered User Join date: 2 Jan 2007 Posts: 46	02-04-2007 09:39 No, it's not possible to do it with a sphere, unfortunately. I've seen it working on other peoples' lamps, all I need is a hint how to tweak my particle system. Currently I'm using: CODE [ PSYS_SRC_TEXTURE, flare, PSYS_PART_START_SCALE, <4.0,4.0,0>, PSYS_PART_END_SCALE, <4.0,4.0,0>, PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, <1,1,1>, PSYS_PART_END_COLOR, <1,1,1>, PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 1.0, PSYS_PART_END_ALPHA, 1.0, PSYS_SRC_BURST_PART_COUNT, 1, PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE, 20.0, PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE, 20.1, PSYS_SRC_MAX_AGE, 0.0, PSYS_SRC_PATTERN, 1, // 1=DROP, 2=EXPLODE, 4=ANGLE, 8=ANGLE_CONE, PSYS_SRC_ACCEL, <0.0,0.0,0.0>, PSYS_SRC_BURST_RADIUS, 0.0, PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MIN, 1.00, PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MAX, 1.00, PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_BEGIN, 0.0, PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_END, 0.0, PSYS_SRC_OMEGA, <0,0,0>, PSYS_PART_FLAGS, ( 0 \| PSYS_PART_INTERP_COLOR_MASK \| PSYS_PART_INTERP_SCALE_MASK \| PSYS_PART_EMISSIVE_MASK ) ]
AJ DaSilva woz ere Join date: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 1,993	02-04-2007 11:06 This is what I've been using for static particles myself, if it's of any use: CODE llParticleSystem([ PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 1.0, // I think this line can be scrapped... PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, <1.0,1.0,1.0>, // Maybe this one too. PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE, 30.0, PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE, 29.99, PSYS_PART_FLAGS, PSYS_PART_FOLLOW_SRC_MASK\|PSYS_PART_EMISSIVE_MASK ]); You'll need to add a line for whatever texture you want to use. I reckon it's pretty much impossible to get it perfect though.
Tiarnalalon Sismondi Registered User Join date: 1 Jun 2006 Posts: 402	02-05-2007 07:01 There's always the trick that people use to make the black outlines around cartoon AV's. Has to do with twisting a hollow prim which makes the inside and outside textures switch. It creates an odd effect that you can see 'inside' the prim from all angles, but the texture that's now on the outside is visible as well. You could do this and set the color for this halo effect and turn the transparency up to make it look like a nice soft glow shrug I would think this would be better than any particle system since particles depend on the settings of the client too much. Some people wouldn't see them at all ever, or depending on the amount of particles in the area, no one would see them.
Shippou Oud The Fox Within Join date: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 141	02-05-2007 08:52 From: Tiarnalalon Sismondi There's always the trick that people use to make the black outlines around cartoon AV's. Has to do with twisting a hollow prim which makes the inside and outside textures switch. It creates an odd effect that you can see 'inside' the prim from all angles, but the texture that's now on the outside is visible as well. You could do this and set the color for this halo effect and turn the transparency up to make it look like a nice soft glow shrug I would think this would be better than any particle system since particles depend on the settings of the client too much. Some people wouldn't see them at all ever, or depending on the amount of particles in the area, no one would see them. take a sphear, and twist both ends 180....hollow it 90...paint inside and outside different colors...have fun.
Jopsy Pendragon Perpetual Outsider Join date: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 1,906	02-05-2007 09:20 Thygrr- There's a free sample of "glow" effects (and several other basic particle types) in the Particle Laboratory of Teal. You'll find them at the base of the columns, right next to where the script below came from. The trick is to overlap the particles and fade them out with alpha, as you grow them slightly. That helps them lose their 'crunchy edge'. From: Thygrrr Talaj No, it's not possible to do it with a sphere, unfortunately. I've seen it working on other peoples' lamps, all I need is a hint how to tweak my particle system. Currently I'm using: CODE // The BARE BONES Particle Script, Vers 4.0 - 10/23/2006 - Jopsy Pendragon // A sample script from the Particle Laboratory of Teal // You may copy, mod, sell, spindle, mutilate this script as you please. // If you distribute MOD derivatives of this script please include // a mention of The Particle Lab of Teal in the comments. Thanks! :) [ PSYS_SRC_TEXTURE, flare, PSYS_PART_START_SCALE, <4.0,4.0,0>, PSYS_PART_END_SCALE, <4.0,4.0,0>, PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, <1,1,1>, PSYS_PART_END_COLOR, <1,1,1>, PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 1.0, PSYS_PART_END_ALPHA, 1.0, PSYS_SRC_BURST_PART_COUNT, 1, PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE, 20.0, PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE, 20.1, PSYS_SRC_MAX_AGE, 0.0, PSYS_SRC_PATTERN, 1, // 1=DROP, 2=EXPLODE, 4=ANGLE, 8=ANGLE_CONE, PSYS_SRC_ACCEL, <0.0,0.0,0.0>, PSYS_SRC_BURST_RADIUS, 0.0, PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MIN, 1.00, PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MAX, 1.00, PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_BEGIN, 0.0, PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_END, 0.0, PSYS_SRC_OMEGA, <0,0,0>, PSYS_PART_FLAGS, ( 0 \| PSYS_PART_INTERP_COLOR_MASK \| PSYS_PART_INTERP_SCALE_MASK \| PSYS_PART_EMISSIVE_MASK ) ] _____________________ * The Particle Laboratory * - One of SecondLife's Oldest Learning Resources. Free particle, control and targetting scripts. Numerous in-depth visual demonstrations, and multiple sandbox areas. - Stop by and try out Jopsy's new "Porgan 1800" an advanced steampunk styled 'particle organ' and the new particle texture store!
Thygrrr Talaj Registered User Join date: 2 Jan 2007 Posts: 46	02-06-2007 07:28 Josy, your Bare Bones script is actually the one I'm currently basing my work on. The problem with overlapping particles is that it'd technically require some sort of HDR to come out right; it looks fairly bad for what I've been trying to do (make a really bright sun). So, yes, there's short flicker whenever the particles don't match up nicely, and the particles also behave somewhat unreliably at times (don't show up, or show up twice). This seems to be somewhat independent from the First Look Viewer.
Naiman Broome Registered User Join date: 4 Aug 2007 Posts: 246	10-24-2007 06:10 From: Thygrrr Talaj No, it's not possible to do it with a sphere, unfortunately. I've seen it working on other peoples' lamps, all I need is a hint how to tweak my particle system. Currently I'm using: CODE [ PSYS_SRC_TEXTURE, flare, PSYS_PART_START_SCALE, <4.0,4.0,0>, PSYS_PART_END_SCALE, <4.0,4.0,0>, PSYS_PART_START_COLOR, <1,1,1>, PSYS_PART_END_COLOR, <1,1,1>, PSYS_PART_START_ALPHA, 1.0, PSYS_PART_END_ALPHA, 1.0, PSYS_SRC_BURST_PART_COUNT, 1, PSYS_SRC_BURST_RATE, 20.0, PSYS_PART_MAX_AGE, 20.1, PSYS_SRC_MAX_AGE, 0.0, PSYS_SRC_PATTERN, 1, // 1=DROP, 2=EXPLODE, 4=ANGLE, 8=ANGLE_CONE, PSYS_SRC_ACCEL, <0.0,0.0,0.0>, PSYS_SRC_BURST_RADIUS, 0.0, PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MIN, 1.00, PSYS_SRC_BURST_SPEED_MAX, 1.00, PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_BEGIN, 0.0, PSYS_SRC_ANGLE_END, 0.0, PSYS_SRC_OMEGA, <0,0,0>, PSYS_PART_FLAGS, ( 0 \| PSYS_PART_INTERP_COLOR_MASK \| PSYS_PART_INTERP_SCALE_MASK \| PSYS_PART_EMISSIVE_MASK ) ] Hi I took this script put in a prim but nothing happened , may be I am doing something wrong?
Jopsy Pendragon Perpetual Outsider Join date: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 1,906	10-24-2007 07:44 From: Naiman Broome Hi I took this script put in a prim but nothing happened , may be I am doing something wrong? That's a subset of the script not the entire script.. =) prepend: default { state_entry() { llParticleSystem( and append to the end: ); } } to make the snippet functional. (Particles are not as much a science as an art. You're not guaranteed a particle every burst interval, especially if there's a lot of other particles nearby.) _____________________ * The Particle Laboratory * - One of SecondLife's Oldest Learning Resources. Free particle, control and targetting scripts. Numerous in-depth visual demonstrations, and multiple sandbox areas. - Stop by and try out Jopsy's new "Porgan 1800" an advanced steampunk styled 'particle organ' and the new particle texture store!

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Particles as Billboards (Coronas on Lamps)