nxExplode

Overview Video

nxExplode causes particles to explode away from their current position.

Object tab

Visible in Editor

Enabled by default, the icon appears in the viewport, giving you visual feedback.

This icon can be modified, using the Icon Size parameter below.

nxExplode icon, which can be changed in size, after unfolding the Visible in Editor option.

Icon Size

Accessed by clicking the drop-down arrow to the left of the Visible in Editor parameter.

Use the slider, or manually input a value to change the icon size.

Timing

Set as Always On, by default.

The other two options are: Trigger at Scene Time and Trigger at Particle Age.

Always On

The modifier is activated.

Animation showing Timing set to Always On, with the effect of particles exploding immediately from the scene start.

Trigger at Scene Time

In this mode, you can set a time in the Time parameter and the modifier will explode particles relative to this time in the scene.

When they explode depends on the setting in the Timing Mode parameter (by default, Timing Mode is set to Equals, with a Time value of 30F).

This animation shows Timing set to Trigger at Scene Time, with Timing set to Equals, directing the explosion to take place when the Time equals 30 frames.

Trigger at Particle Age

The same as above but, instead of the scene time, it compares the particle age to the Time parameter.

In this animation, with Timing set as Trigger at Particle Age, particles will explode as soon as they reach the age of 30 frames.

Timing Mode

Determines when the particles will explode in relation to the Time setting.

Equals is the default setting; the other options are: Equals or Greater Than and Equals or Less Than.

Equals

Particles will explode only once, when the scene time, or particle age, is equal to the Time setting.

Equals or Greater Than

Particles will explode when the scene time, or particle age, is equal to or greater than the Time setting.

This means that, if Timing is set to Trigger at Scene Time, once the modifier is activated it will be active for the rest of the scene.

Equals or Less Than

Particles will explode when the scene time or particle age is equal to or less than the Time setting.

This means that, if Timing is set to Trigger at Scene Time, the modifier is activated from the start of the scene, but will cease to be active once the time is exceeded.

Time

Use this to set the Time value.

Explode Away From

There are two settings here: Particle Mass Center (the default) and This Modifier.

Particle Mass Center

Particles affected by the modifier will explode away from the centre of mass.

Explode Away From is set as Particle Mass Center, in this animation. With this option, the explosion will originate at the average particle mass center, taking into account all available particles.

This Modifier

Particles explode away from the position of the modifier itself.

In this animation, Explode Away From is set at This Modifier. In this mode, particles positioned off the center will cause an explosion to the side.

Speed

Sets the speed (cm per second) with which particles will move when they explode.

Animation to show how a key-framed Speed value allows manual control over particle speed, when having the Set Speed at Start Only option disabled.

Variation

This setting adds some random variation to the particles from the Speed setting.

Animation demonstrating how adding variation will randomly assign speed values to particles affected by nxExplode.

Seed

WIll give a different, random setting, based on the values input.

Unstick if Necessary

Enabled, by default.

If a particle is stuck to an object, for example by a Cover/Target modifier, or by sticking the particle to an object at emission, the particle will automatically be unstuck so that it can be exploded away.

In this animation, the Unstick if Necessary parameter is enabled, illustrating that if particles are set to stick to geometry, this option makes sure they will unstick if nxExplode triggers.

Set Speed at Start Only

If this box is checked, the modifier will set the initial particle speed using the Speed and Variation settings but, once the particle has been exploded, it will not set the speed again.

If this is unchecked, the speed will be set again with each frame.

This can be useful if, for example, you want to keyframe the explode speed.

Groups Affected tab

Groups

To specify the group, drag and drop the desired Group object into this field.

This setting is useful if you want to ensure that the spawned particles are, or are not, affected by nxExplode.

Mapping tab

The modifier’s settings can be mapped to particle data.

Use the dedicated manual page, below, for instructions on how this works.

Mapping

Fields tab

You can use the Fields options to control where nxExplode operates.