Skip to content

1. First System and Playback

Create a visible particle stream, then learn when to replay from the scene start.

Set up the Blender file

Install and enable Pro Particles Studio first. See Installation if the add-on does not start. Start a new Blender file. Set the timeline to 1–96 and frame rate to 24 fps.

Build the stream

  1. Delete the default cube. Add a UV Sphere named Fountain Source, Radius 0.25 m, Location (0, 0, 0.4). Apply its scale.
  2. Press N in the 3D Viewport, open the Pro Particles Sidebar tab and choose Start with Lists. Set Substeps to 4 in Global Settings.
  3. In Emitters, use the created default Emitter and rename it Fountain. Keep only this one Emitter. Change its starter Shape source to Volume, assign the sphere, and use Volume Fill: Density.
  4. Set Emission Timing: Rate, Rate 120 /f, Start Frame 1, Duration 96, Lifetime 96 frames, and lifetime Variation 0.
  5. Set particle Radius 0.025 m, Radius Random 0, Emission Seed 17, Initial Velocity (1.2, 0, 5), Surface Push 0, and Random Velocity (0, 0, 0). Set birth Color to blue (#2C99F9).
  6. Keep one Point Cloud post effect with Display: GPU Preview, Shape: Sphere, Radius: Particle Radius, Radius Scale 1, and particle Color.
  7. Return the Timeline to frame 1, then start playback with Space. Stop at about frame 24 to inspect the stream. Keep the source assigned to the Emitter; hide it from renders if you later add a camera.
A blue particle stream rising in a straight slanted column
Frame 24: a straight stream using Initial Velocity, before adding forces.

The rising stream

At frame 24, about 2880 particles form a rising, slightly slanted stream. Gravity has not been added, so particles continue in their initial direction. The source is a birth region, not a collider.

Save as 01-first-system.blend. After changing a source, birth property, or effect, stop playback, return to frame 1, and replay. Simulation is calculated frame by frame. A saved final mesh cannot resume the live simulation.

Optional: make the stream vertical

Set Initial Velocity X to 0 and replay from frame 1. The stream should become vertical. Restore X to 1.2 before continuing.

Troubleshooting

  • No particles: verify the Volume object, Density fill, enabled Emitter, timing and Point Cloud display.
  • Particles move in all directions: check Surface Push and Random Velocity before adding effects.

Reference: Emitters, First Particle System.

Course overview · Next: 2. Rate, Duration and Lifetime