Emit nParticles Using a Texture

The behavior of nParticles is often determined by their many dynamic properties. These properties control how the nParticles react to the settings in the Nucleus solver as well as fields, collision objects, and other nParticle systems. In the following section, you'll get more practice working with these settings.

If you have used standard particle systems in previous versions of Maya, you'll be pleased to see how, since 2009, Maya has streamlined the workflow for creating particle effects. Many of the attributes that required custom connections, expressions, and ramps are now automated.

Surface Emission

In this exercise, you'll use nParticles to create the effect of flames licking the base of a space capsule as it reenters the atmosphere. You'll start by emitting nParticles from the base of the capsule and use a texture to randomize the generation of the nParticles on the surface.