How to create custom particles

Manual

Can be found there: http://www.ogre3d.org/docs/manual/manual_31.html

Variables

First of all: I don't know exactly what every parameter means. That's why I don't explain every one. But it will be enough to create your own particles.

First line

The first line in a particle file describes the name of the particles. You can use every name you want. Example:

tracks/fire

material

The material section defines the used material for the particles. You can create new materials to give the particles a different look. It's actually the texture of the particles. Example:

material        	tracks/SmokeMat

particle_width and particle_height

Those parameters scale the particles. Example:

particle_width  	0.2
particle_height 	0.4

This particle is higher than it's broad.

quota

Quouta describes how many particles can be emitted. The higher value, the more particles may be in a scene. If the particle amount is higher than quota, the emitter will stop emitting until the amount is lower than quota.

quota           	250

time_to_live

This is the time a particle exists, until he is deleted.(Probably in seconds) Attention, to high values will decrease the framerate!

time_to_live        		2

direction

This is the direction a particle is emitted. The first parameter is the roll axis, second the vertical axis and third the diagonal axis.

direction           		0 1 0

This particle is emitted upwards.

velocity_min and velocity_max

The minimum and maximum velocity the particle can reach.

velocity_min        		2
velocity_max        		4   

colour

Here you describe the colour of the particles. The first value is how much red there will be, the second is how much green and the third is how much blue. It's easy to remember with RGB.(0-1) The last value is the transparency of the particles(0 is completely invisible, 1 is not transparent).

colour  1.0, 0.5, 0.0, 0.5

This particle is orange(Red+ A bit of green=orange), and a bit transparent.

alpha

You can decrease the transparency per second with that:

alpha -0.04

force_vector

This is a kind of gravity. You can also make positive gravity, so the particles are pulled upwards:

force_vector 0 -1 0

downforce

force_vector 0 1 0

upforce

rotation

Rotation_range_start: The starting angle of the particle rotation_range_end: The angle when the particle is deleted

rotation_range_start  		0
rotation_range_end   	 	360

affector Scaler

The rate value there let's you scale the particle while it's flying.

rate 1.2

The complete file

Here you can see how those parameters are implantated:

tracks/Smoke
{
    	material        	tracks/SmokeMat
    	particle_width  	0.2
    	particle_height 	0.2
    	cull_each       	false
    	quota           	250
    	billboard_type  	point
    
   	// Area emitter
   	emitter Point
   	{
		angle               		11
       	emission_rate       		125
       	time_to_live        		2
       	direction           		0 1 0
       	velocity_min        		2
       	velocity_max        		4    	
		colour  0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.4
	}

	affector ColourFader
	{
		alpha -0.04
	}

	affector LinearForce
	{
		force_vector 0 -1 0
	}

   	affector Rotator
   	{
        	rotation_range_start  		0
        	rotation_range_end   	 	360
        	rotation_speed_range_start  	-10
        	rotation_speed_range_end    	10
   	}

   	affector Scaler
   	{
       	rate 	1.1
   	}

}