xpFreeze

xpFreeze halts particle movement; it does not stop particle generation, or trails, or anything else in the system; it simply stops particles from moving.

Object properties

xpFreeze Object tab menu.

Enabled

Check this box to enable the xpFreeze modifier.

In this animation, xpFreeze is disabled.

xpFreeze is enabled, in this second animation, with particles freezing as soon as they enter the modifier’s field of effect.

Mode

Set at Independent, by default.

You can change this to Action-Controlled.

Independent Mode

In this mode, particles will be affected if they come into the field of effect of the modifier.

Action-Controlled Mode

When in the Action-Controlled setting, the modifier will only act on a particle when told to do so by an action.

Operation

Set as Freeze in Falloff Inner Zone Only, by default.

The Alternative is Freeze Depends on Falloff.

Freeze in Falloff Inner Zone Only

If a particle enters the inner offset zone of the field and, if Action on Particles is set to Freeze, it will be halted.

Subsequently, if set to Unfreeze, the particle will start moving again.

xpFreeze_Freeze in Inner Zone_v02.png

Particle frozen (red arrow), as it comes into contact with the inner offset zone, with Operation set to Freeze in Falloff Inner Zone Only.

Freeze Depends on Falloff

Very similar to the above, but introduces a probability weighting.

A particle in the inner offset zone of the field will always be halted.

Particles outside of the inner zone may or may not be frozen, depending on the strength of the falloff.

This means that some fast-moving particles will make it through the modifier without being frozen at all.

xpFreeze_Depends on Falloff_v02.png

Here, Operation is set to Freeze Depends on Falloff, with the particle becoming frozen as soon as it comes into contact with the field’s inner offset zone.

Action on Particles

Set as Freeze, by default.

The alternative is Unfreeze.

Freeze

The modifier will freeze the particle (bring it to a stop).

Unfreeze

Frozen particles will start moving again.

If a particle is not frozen then the modifier will have no effect on it.

This animation demonstrates the effect of Action on Particles being set to Unfreeze, with the second xpFreeze modifier negating the particle-freezing effect of the first.

Movement, Spin, Scale

Check these options to specify which parameters are frozen.

For example, you can choose to stop a spinning particle from moving, but keep spinning, or halt any change in scale, but keep the particle moving.

If no boxes are checked, the modifier will have no effect.

With Movement and Spin both enabled, their effects are frozen, in this animation whereas, with Scale unticked, particle scaling continues.

Set Speed to Zero

When a particle’s movement is frozen, it keeps its current speed value, although it cannot be moved.

If it is unfrozen again, it will move with the speed and direction it had before it was frozen.

If it is important that any frozen particle also has its speed set to zero, check this box.

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 xpFreeze.

Fields tab

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