nxLimit

nxLimit constrains particle properties to defined ranges.

nxLimit uses a layer-based system, allowing multiple limit operations to be stacked and blended together.

Object Properties

nxLimit Object tab.

Add Layer

Adds a new limit layer to the stack.

Each layer can be set to a different operation mode and blended with the layers below it.

Layers

The layer stack.

Layers can be enabled or disabled using the toggle on the left of each entry.

Layers are processed from bottom to top.

Layer Settings

When a layer is selected in the Layers tree, its settings are shown below.

Each layer has a General tab and a Falloff tab.

General tab

Layer Mode

Sets the operation for this layer.

The available modes are Velocity, Position, Scale, Rotation, Speed, Radius, Mass and User Value.

Blend

Sets how this layer is blended with the result of the layers below it.

The available blend modes are Normal, Add, Subtract, Multiply, Difference, Screen, Overlay, Min and Max.

Strength

The blend strength of this layer.

Falloff tab

Add Falloff

Adds a falloff to this layer.

The available falloff types are Box, Linear, Sphere and Noise.

Falloff

The falloff stack for this layer.

Multiple falloffs can be added and combined.

Velocity operation settings

Velocity limits the direction of particle movement along each axis.

Coordinates

Sets the coordinate space used to evaluate the velocity limits.

Set as Emitter, by default.

The alternatives are World and Custom.

Link

An object whose coordinate space is used when Coordinates is set to Custom.

Range Min

The minimum velocity along each axis, as a percentage of the full velocity range.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the Range Min value on each axis.

Range Max

The maximum velocity along each axis, as a percentage of the full velocity range.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the Range Max value on each axis.

X-Axis Restriction

Restricts the velocity component on the X axis.

Set as None, by default.

X+ allows only positive velocity on the X axis.

X- allows only negative velocity on the X axis.

Y-Axis Restriction

Restricts the velocity component on the Y axis.

Set as None, by default.

Y+ allows only positive velocity on the Y axis.

Y- allows only negative velocity on the Y axis.

Z-Axis Restriction

Restricts the velocity component on the Z axis.

Set as None, by default.

Z+ allows only positive velocity on the Z axis.

Z- allows only negative velocity on the Z axis.

No Banking

If enabled, particles will not bank or tilt as they move along a curved path.

Position operation settings

Position constrains particles to a defined region along each axis.

Coordinates

Sets the coordinate space used to evaluate the position limits.

Set as Emitter, by default.

The alternatives are World, Custom and Particle.

Link

An object whose coordinate space is used when Coordinates is set to Custom.

X Restriction

Sets the restriction mode for the X axis.

Set as None, by default.

The alternatives are X+, X-, Range and Fixed.

X+ clamps the particle position to be at or above the X Min value.

X- clamps the particle position to be at or below the X Max value.

Range clamps the particle position between X Min and X Max.

Fixed locks the particle position to the X Fixed value.

X Min, Variation

The minimum position on the X axis.

Available when X Restriction is set to X+ or Range.

X Max, Variation

The maximum position on the X axis.

Available when X Restriction is set to X- or Range.

X Fixed

The fixed position on the X axis.

Available when X Restriction is set to Fixed.

Y Restriction

Sets the restriction mode for the Y axis.

The options and behaviour are the same as X Restriction.

Z Restriction

Sets the restriction mode for the Z axis.

The options and behaviour are the same as X Restriction.

Scale operation settings

Scale constrains the size of particles to a minimum and maximum range.

Range Min

If enabled, a minimum scale limit is applied.

Value

The minimum scale limit on each axis.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the minimum Value on each axis.

Range Max

If enabled, a maximum scale limit is applied.

Value

The maximum scale limit on each axis.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the maximum Value on each axis.

Rotation operation settings

Rotation constrains particle rotation within defined positive and negative limits on each axis.

Mode

Set as World, by default.

The alternative is Relative.

In World mode, the rotation limits are applied in world space.

In Relative mode, the rotation limits are applied relative to the particle’s own axes.

Link Channels

If enabled, all rotation axes share the same positive and negative limits.

When disabled, each axis is controlled independently using the Rotation H, Rotation P and Rotation B tabs.

Rotation H, Rotation P, Rotation B tabs

Each tab controls the limits for the heading (H), pitch (P) and bank (B) rotation axes.

The controls below apply to each tab.

Limit H Positive

If enabled, a positive rotation limit is applied to the heading axis.

Positive Limit H

The maximum positive rotation on the heading axis, in degrees.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the positive limit.

Limit H Negative

If enabled, a negative rotation limit is applied to the heading axis.

Negative Limit H

The maximum negative rotation on the heading axis, in degrees.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the negative limit.

Link Channels mode

When Link Channels is enabled, the per-axis tabs are replaced by the following controls.

Limit All Positive

If enabled, a positive rotation limit is applied to all axes simultaneously.

Positive Limit All

The maximum positive rotation on all axes, in degrees.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the positive limit.

Limit All Negative

If enabled, a negative rotation limit is applied to all axes simultaneously.

Negative Limit All

The maximum negative rotation on all axes, in degrees.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the negative limit.

Speed operation settings

Speed constrains the overall movement speed of particles.

Range Min

If enabled, a minimum speed limit is applied.

Value

The minimum speed limit.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the minimum Value.

Range Max

If enabled, a maximum speed limit is applied.

Value

The maximum speed limit.

Variation

Adds a random variation to the maximum Value.

Radius operation settings

Radius constrains the radius of particles.

The controls are the same as the Speed operation settings.

Mass operation settings

Mass constrains the mass of particles.

The controls are the same as the Speed operation settings.

User Value operation settings

User Value constrains a custom user-defined particle data channel.

The controls are the same as the Speed operation settings.

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 nxLimit.

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 nxLimit operates.