Render particles based on Generation number?

[skinnytorus]

Hi, guys.

I'm testing your new particle event system now and there's a bit of an issue. I don't see clearly if it's a bug, but anyway I'd like you to have a look at what's going on:

I'm trying to render the 1st particle generation as cubes, and the 2nd one as sprites using selector based on generation.

Logically, I set up the selector for the Sprites to choose the 1st generation and the one for Cubes - the 2nd gen. But there's a problem: the Sprites are being rendered for both gens all the way, and the cubes - just for the 1st gen. Test file attached.

What's wrong?

Skinny

GenerationRender1.compo (16.6 KB)

[martin]

Hey !
Well the sprite selector selects a sprite out of all the layers you give him - here there is just one so it selects the same sprite in all cases. That's the expected behavior.
The difference is with the geometry selector in the Instantiate. It does not behave the right way...

Anyway, to fix your issue, add an empty compo in the sprite selector so the other generations select an empty sprite. And we'll investigate for the instantiate selector bug (it's in the system now), but in the mean time, well this bug makes it work for you !

[martin]

Here: GenerationRender2.compo (9.5 KB)

[skinnytorus]

Hi, Martin.

Thanks for the help. Indeed, it's the Instantiate node. Hope to see it fixed in one of the the new builds.

But even so I don't understand how selectors work if fed by a single particle system with several generations. As I can see, the selector should pick items placed below it in the Element list according to the generation number. But what logic is being applied to setups with each generation having a different renderer (such as in my example)?

What if we are to render several sprites/meshes by a single renderer? Imagine we have to render several particle meshes and several particle sprites (for diversity) within each of the particle generations in my example. Assuming that I can't add additional selectors through the menu, there's some logical link missing, don't you think so?

Skinny

[martin]

Yep that's the v02 of the generation mask ! Today it is not yet made to work efficiently with any kind of selectors. There are ways to do what you talk about, they are just too convoluted.