Hi Kelley,

That animation has four particle systems: 1) the billowing launch cloud, 2) the rocket trail, 3) the explosion fireball, and 4) the flying debris.

The rocket trail uses the free particle option so the particles don't mechanically follow the generator. They have an emission rate that is slightly greater than the speed of the generator so they have very little motion "backwards" once the rocket is up to speed. The particles themselves are the sphere option with quite a little variation +- in size to create irregularity.

For the exhaust/smoke shader,the color channel has a cellular mixer in for the gray and black colors. This same shader was then duplicated into the transparency channel with the gray color exchanged for something near white for partial transparency and greater irregularity of the smoke.

The Fireball shader has the specific key frames over time for the multiple glow changes like the fireworks - I just change what's going on at different points in the timeline.

It does take a little while to set up, but sure is fun!

Message edited on: 02/17/2005 20:55