GPU Particles

Overview

Configures settings related to GPU particles. When enabled on a node, that node works as an emitter and spawns GPU particles.

Unlike regular particles, which are simulated on the CPU, GPU particles are simulated on the GPU. This allows much larger particle counts to be handled efficiently.

GPU particles are available only on modern graphics APIs.

Target	Support	Notes
DirectX 9	❌
DirectX 11	✅	Shader Model 5.0 or later
DirectX 12	✅
OpenGL	❌
Vulkan	✅
Metal	✅
WebGL	❌

Target	Support	Notes
Unity	❌	Supported in the future
Unreal Engine	❌	Supported in the future
Godot Engine	❌	Supported in the future

Parameters

Because GPU particles are simulated on the GPU, the available functionality is more limited than with regular particles.

Enabled

Enable GPU particles if checked.

Basic

Basic settings for GPU particle spawning. When GPU particles start, memory is allocated from the particle buffer according to Spawn Amount x Time to live.

Spawn count

The total number of particles to spawn. Spawning stops when this count is reached.

If Infinity is enabled, it will keep spawning particles indefinitely. It will stop spawning particles when the parent particle is destroyed or when an external request to stop is made.

Spawn Amount

The number of particles spawned per frame. Increase this value to make the particles denser.

Initial Delay

The delay before particle emission starts.

Time to live

The lifetime of each particle. This also affects how quickly various parameters change.

Emission

Sets the shape of the particle emission source. The final shape is affected by the parent particle's transform (position, rotation, and scale).

Emission Shape

Sets the type of emitter shape. Supports Point, Line, Circle, Sphere, and Model.

Point shape	Line shape	Circle shape	Sphere shape	Model shape

Parameters for Point shape

There are no additional parameters for point shapes.

Parameters for Line shape

Particles are spawned from the line segment between Start Point and End Point. Increasing Line Thickness gives the shape a cone-like spread.

Parameters for Circle shape

Particles are spawned from a circle whose central axis is Circle Axis. The radius is determined by Inner Radius and Outer Radius.

Parameters for Sphere shapes

Particles are spawned from the surface of a sphere defined by Sphere Radius.

parameters for Model shape

For model shapes, particles are spawned from the surface of the specified model mesh. You can also specify Size separately.

Position

Sets particle position and movement. Particle positions are also affected by Force in addition to the values set here.

Direction

The movement direction vector used when particles are spawned.

Spread

The angle to randomly spread particles in the direction of movement when spawning particles. The range is from 0 to 180 degrees; 0 degrees has no randomness, 90 degrees diffuses in a hemispherical shape, and 180 degrees diffuses in all directions.

Initial Speed

The speed at which particles are spawned. This affects the initial velocity. A random range can be set.

Damping

Damping applied during particle motion. Increasing this value makes particles slow down as they move. A random range can be set.

Rotation

Sets particle orientation and rotation. The visual result depends on the billboard settings of the drawing shape. Fixed mainly uses the XYZ parameters, while Z-axis rotation billboards mainly use the Z parameters.

Initial Angle

The angle (Euler) at spawn time. A random range can be set.

Angular Velocity

The rotation speed (Euler) applied over time. A random range can be set.

Scale

Sets the particle size. Behavior changes depending on the selected mode.

• In Fixed mode, the scale stays at the specified value.

• In Easing mode, the scale changes smoothly from the start value to the end value over the particle lifetime.

Single Scale

Fixed scale, independent of the axis. A random range can be set.

XYZ Scale

Fixed scale for each of the XYZ axes. A random range can be set.

Start and End (Single)

The start and end scale for axis-independent easing. A random range can be set.

Start and End (XYZ)

Scale of the start and end points of easing applied to each of the XYZ axes. A random range can be set.

Force

Configures forces applied externally to particles.

Gravity	Vortex	Turbulence

Gravity

Applies acceleration in the specified direction. It does not have to point downward, and it is not affected by the parent particle's orientation.

Vortex

Applies a rotating force around the specified Center Point and Axis. You can adjust the strength of this motion using Rotational Force and Attraction Force.

Turbulence

Applies noisy motion using a vector field generated from Random Seed, Field Scale, and Complexity. You can adjust the strength of the turbulence using Power.

Rendering

General settings for rendering particles.

Blend

Blending settings when drawing.

Depth Write

Turn ON to write depth.

Depth Test

Turn ON to perform depth test.

Shape

Sets the shape of particles when they are drawn.

Shape

Select a shape from the following three types.

Shape Type	Description
Sprite	Draws simple quads.
Model	Draws user models.
Trail	Draws line connecting the locations of the trajectory along which the particles is moving.

Billboard

Specify how the sprite is placed in relation to the particle.

Billboard Type	Description
Rotated Billboard	Sprite rotates along the Z-axis while facing the viewpoint.
Directional Billboard	Sprite faces the camera while rotating so that its Y+ direction points along the direction of movement.
Fixed Y-Axis	Sprite faces viewpoint side while fixed to Y-axis.
Fixed	Sprite orientation follows particle rotation.

Model

Specifies the user model to draw.

Trail Length

Specifies the length of the trajectory. Increasing this value increases the trajectory length and also the memory allocated from the trail buffer.

Shape Size

Specifies the base size of the rendered shape. This is multiplied by the Scale parameter. If the shape is a trail, it affects the thickness.

Color

Sets parameters for particle color.

Color inheritance

When enabled, the particle is affected by the color of its parent particle.

Color All

Sets the particle's color.

Color Type	Description
Fixed	Sets a fixed color that does not change.
Random	Sets two colors that are randomly determined during particle spawn.
Easing	Sets the color of the starting point and the end point. The color changes over the particle's lifetime.
F-curve	Sets the F-curve depicting the RGBA change.
Gradient	Sets the gradient depicting a RGBA change.

Emissive Scaling

Multiplier applied to particle brightness. This value is multiplied by the RGB of Color All.

Fade-In

Makes particles fade in when they appear.

Fade-Out

Makes particles fade out when they disappear.

Material

Sets the material used to draw particles.

Material Type

Type	Description
Unlit	Displays particle colors directly, without lighting
Lighting	Shaded by the light source

Color Texture

Specifies the color texture used for rendering particles.

Normal Texture

Available when the material type is Lighting. Specifies the normal texture used to render particles.