Multiple particle systems

Support Modeling
#1

Hello, all. Not sure where this post should go, but here goes.

I am learning particles, both dynamic and static, right now and I have come to my first bump in the road. I have a need to have multiple particle systems in a single mesh, or at least achieve a result to make it look that way.

For a simple example, I have made a subdivided plane and made two sections into different vertigroups, say “Spot” and “Outer” is what I called them. I am wanting to make the “Spot” group of vertices emit black strands of hair and the “Outer” group emit a different color strands of hair.

I have tried many things and can’t seem to do it right. How can this be done, if it can be done in the first place?

Thank you for your time.

#2

very basically do you mean like this?

http://brendonmurphy1.googlepages.com/multiparticles.jpg
multiparticles.jpg720×576

There are ways to refine this much better. basically I used 1 plane, selected the middle verts, ctrl/p to seperate middle section, apply particles to both then ctrl/j to rejoin mesh, or in this case I parented the mesh, just for the test.
You could also use this with a solid color base mesh, say skin, just select the verts to have particles, copy the verts, split into particle color areas, then turn off show emitter mesh parent/child all sections of the particles then parent back to the original mesh.
hope this helps.
m.a.

#3

Will this method allow the mesh to move as if it were a single piece or will I have multiple pieces to deal with through every frame?

I am wanting to achieve the look of animal fur patterns like tigers, leopards, etc.

#4

Okay, I have a plane up with two vert groups, StripesVG and BodyVG. When I select StripesVG and hit Ctrl-p, it gives me the error message "Select either 1 or 3 vertices to parent to. If I select the vert group and hit p I get the dialog to choose from Selected, All Loose Parts, or By Material. If I choose Selected, my vert group disappears and I can’t get it back.

How do I separate my vert groups from each other and then add the particles and then rejoin them?

#5

Okay. Got all the way up to the point where I need to rejoin the meshes. I was able to put particles on each mesh after I separated them, but when I join them, one of the particle systems takes over and doesn’t let the other particles show at all.

#6

Okay. I found out I can’t join my two meshes and keep both particle systems. Bummer. I can parent them, but then if I move the entire group via the child, the object is still two separate pieces. Is there no way to have a single object, that can be animated, with multiple particle systems being emitted?

#7

Edit button is below your post btw…

#8

Sorry about that. I was tired and frustrated.

As for the rendering. I achieved the desired effect as long as the renders are just still shots, but to animate, edit, or anything else with this method, I have to have some way of using a SINGLE mesh that emits MULTIPLE particle systems or get the same results of that.

#9

There is a new particle system being worked on that supports multiple particle systems on the same mesh, and uv mapping to the particles.

build at graphicall:


there are ones for linux and mac at graphicall, too if you need them.
documentation (a little incomplete and out of date):
http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/BlenderDev/Particles_Rewrite_Doc

#10

Hmm. Is this a third party plug-in or an actual Blender feature? I don’t mind plug-ins at all. In fact I love them. I am just wandering cause I AM just a beginner even though I have a couple years experience with 3D geometry and render theory. All I wish is to animate things like animals and objects that have fur or other “strand” components that I can animate and especially edit with little trouble. Until I can miraculously join up with friends or colegues for rendering, I have to deal with easy instead of quality.

#11

Stupid thing reposted my same post.

What is this GraphicAll build deal? I get nothing from the site but a list of bugs in blender or a plug in I can’t tell.

#12

Scroll down and there is a big download button. Basically, graphicall holds lots of versions of blender with cool new features and optimizations.

#13

Hmmm. Does the site, or the download, provide documentation on how to use the features? Like the multiple particle system?

#14

No, but I provided a link to some documentation in my post.