There are certain effects I’d like to learn how to do, but having never touched particles or anything else related to effects work I don’t know where to start. I’m not even sure I’m posting in the right forum - I don’t know if particles are what you’d use for this.
Examples of the sorts of things I’d like to do:
Diffuse rocket plumes like this - tutorials abound for rocket plumes, but they’re smokey, firey, atmospherey affairs and not really what I’m looking for.
Flashes, very transient smoke and the muzzle flash-like effects on the pusher surface.
The common theme here is I’m looking to do effects that are sort of smooth clouds rather than discrete particles. I don’t get the feeling that any sort of complex physics simulation is called for for this. Any help is appreciated - whether on how to specifically create effects like this, or resources I could use to get a handle on effects work in Blender/Cycles in general.
My poor spaceships need fx badly. They’re so naked without. 