After much backing and filling trying to make particles behave, I can't get past this last hurdle:

Looking at the Assembly Room, it's obvious that the particle emitter is there. It shows that the colors spec'd are there. [They're even brighter in the Side View]. But when I render the missile in flight, [or still] it looks like a lightsaber hanging out of the back.

[BTW, the rear part of the 'particle exhaust' is just out of the spotlight cone.]

You can have something like this (flash animation):
Rocket Flames .

The page you suggested, doesn't want to load. Is there another way to go there? [and thanks for the tip anyway, I really want to get this one solved.]

You need the Flash plug-in to view it.

www.youtube.com/user/ShawnDriscollCG

The link is http://www.grutadaonca.com.br/noviski/rocket.html. And, as SHONNER wrote, you need the Flash plugin.

I was also playing with particles over the weekend, making a spluttering fuse. I found the preview was so unlike the actual particles produced it was practically useless. I've got another small problem with them. The lifespan color changes only apply, it appears, to surface color. I haven't figured out how to make similar lifespan color changes in a self-illuminated fountain (aka fireworks, sparks, etc.)

Don't know what went amiss before. I have the Flash plug-in. But the new URL you sent worked fine. That is bloody dramatic!

But...if that's a Flash animation, [unless I'm mistaken] I can't get the same effect in a Carrara animation, can I? In any event, I'll certainly see what the 'fire' effect can do. Thanks again.

I agree with nomuse: the particle preview window is not a good indicator of what you're going to get.

Attached Link: http://www.grutadaonca.com.br/noviski/flame.zip

Kelley, the effects was created in Carrara. I put in a Flash animation to avoid video codecs erros, media players and other stuff. Download the .car file with a flame from the link above.

Message edited on: 02/15/2005 11:59