Updated Particle Flow Operators

Path: Particle View > Add or select Shape Instance or Age Test operator.

Particle Flow Tools: Box#2 provides updated versions of the Shape Instance operator and Age Test, both originally part of Particle Flow as included with 3ds Max. This topic describes only the new parameters for these actions.

Shape Instance

Fast Shape Evaluation - When on, this option speeds up execution of the Shape Instance operator by evaluating the particle shape at the final integration step only. This is similar to History-Dependent option for Output sub-operators. You can see how the option works with the example scene SpidersForCaching.max. Compare the time to switch from first frame to the last frame in viewport with this option on and off.

Note: Also new in Shape Instance and several other operators is the Sub-Mtl ID Offset parameter, used in material inheritance (see preceding topic).

Age Test

Adjustable Age - The Script and Data operators can modify the age of particles on the fly. However, for performance purposes the standard Age Test caches each particle's age when it first enters the event, and then uses the cached value for testing. Modifying the age the particle enters the event can create test discrepancies. This new option resolves this issue. If the event contains Script or Data operators that modify particle age or event age, turn Adjustable Age on.