Control Point (particles)

In particles, a Control Point is a Vector variable that enables external values, like locations or colours, to be passed into a particle system.

Each system can have up to 64 CPs, but the first, 0, is reserved as the system's origin.

Confirm:Children inherit the CPs of their parent.

Specifying

In the particle system

Use one of the following operators:

• Set Control Point Positions
• Set Control Point to Particles' Center
• Set Control Point To Player
• Set child control points from particle positions

To temporarily set a value, use the "Ctrl Pts" tab of the preview window.

In a map

Fill in the fields of the info_particle_system used to spawn the system.

In code

Call CNewParticleEffect::SetControlPoint().

In a QC file

Confirm:It is not possible to configure control points when compiling a model.

However, see the Position on Model Random initializer.

Using

There are many particle functions which can be configured to read values from a control point. Of particular interest are:

Operators

Remap Control Point to Scalar

Remap Distance to Control Point to Scalar

Remap Distance Between Two Control Points to Scalar

Initializers

Remap Control Point to Vector

Note:There is no 'CP to Vector' operator, just this initializer. The reasons for this omission are not clear.

Remap Control Point to Scalar

Remap Initial Distance to Control Point to Scalar

Using these functions, a CP's value(s) can control the following particle values:

Scalar

Lifespan

Creation time

Todo: Same idea as pre-ageing, or affecting spawn time?

Radius

Roll speed

Alpha

Alpha alternate ^[Todo]

Sequence number

Sequence number 1 ^[Todo]

Trail length

Particle ID

Yaw

Vector

Position

Roll

RGB Colour (normalised)