Topics in this section

• Birth Operator

  The Birth operator enables creation of particles within the Particle Flow system using a set of simple parameters. In general, use Birth as the first operator in any event connected directly to a global event; this is called the birth event.

• Birth File Operator

  The Birth File operator enables interoperability between 3ds Max and applications that generate particle cache files using the Maya nCache format, including Maya and Softimage. Specifically, you use the Send To function to send a scene to Softimage, use ICE to add particle effects, and then send the scene back to 3ds Max. The returned scene now contains a Particle Flow system whose particles are generated by a Birth File operator from a point-cloud file.

• Birth Script Operator

  The Birth Script operator enables creation of particles within the Particle Flow system using a MAXScript script. The script can use any program functionality available to MAXScript.

• Birth Texture Operator

  The Birth Texture operator uses an animated texture to calculate the timing, location, and scale of particles. In general, Birth Texture causes particles to emit from the object where the texture is white or a bright color.

• Delete Operator

  Use the Delete operator to remove particles from the particle system. By default, particles live “forever,” that is, for the duration of the animation. The Delete operator lets you give them a finite life span. This is useful for eliminating particles once they've served their purpose in the animation.

• Initial State Operator

  The Initial State operator is a birth operator that uses a snapshot of another particle system or other events as a starting point for a new event. The particle system or events from which the Initial State operator gets its snapshot must be different from those of the Initial State operator itself.