[Unity] List of Particle System modules

This article explains the types and usage of each module of Particle System.
There is a detailed documentation on the official Unity website, but this article aims to provide an intuitive understanding of the Particle System using videos.
*The version of Unity used in this article is 2019.3.6f.

Description of the Particle System module

For more information on the basics of the Particle System module, please refer to this article.

Description of the Emission Module

The Emission module determines the amount of particles and the timing of their emission.
If the Rate over Distance value is set to 10, 10 particles will be emitted every time a particle moves a certain distance.

Bursts can be set to emit a large number of particles at a certain time.

Description of Shape Module

The Shape module allows you to set the shape of the particles to be emitted.
Select a shape from the Shape pull-down menu.

Renderer Module Description

The Renderer module allows you to set the shape and shade of the Particle by selecting Mesh in the Render Mode and choosing a shape from the Mesh pull-down menu.
In the Renderer module, you can set the shape and shadow of the particle.

In the Renderer module, you can also change the Material.

Size over Lifetime Module Description

The Size over Lifetime module allows you to change the size of a particle over time.
It also allows you to set the curve so that you can change the size from large to small to large.

Description of the Color over Lifetime module

The Color over Lifetime module allows you to change the Color and Alpha values over time.

Description of the Force over Lifetime module

The Force over Lifetime module allows you to add wind-influenced expressions to Particles.
For example, if you set it as shown in the image, it will look like the wind is blowing to the right.

Description of Limit Velocity over Lifetime module

The Limit Velocity over Lifetime module allows you to slow down the movement of a particle.
This allows you to implement expressions such as air resistance.
In the Speed field of the Limit Velocity over Lifetime module, you can input the speed that results from the deceleration due to air resistance.
Dampen is the magnitude of the air resistance.
Set Start Speed to 20, Speed in the Limit Velocity over Lifetime module to 0, and Dampen to 0.1.
If Dampen is set to 0.1, the speed of 20 will gradually approach 0 and finally stop.

Description of Velocity over Lifetime Module

The Velocity over Lifetime module allows you to control the force applied to the velocity.
If you set the y-axis to Curve, you can add a height difference to the movement of the particle.

You can also create a vortex-like effect.
Set Orbital to 5 and Radial to 1.
The number of Particle occurrences is set to 1 and Trails is set to ON to represent a vortex.

Description of the Rotation over Lifetime module

The Rotation over Lifetime module allows you to rotate a particle along the time lapse.

If you check the Separate Axes checkbox, you can set the particle to rotate on each of the X, Y, and Z axes.

Trails Module Description

When the Trails module is turned on, the trails that the particle has traveled can be displayed.

Material can be set in the Renderer module.

When the Renderer Mode in the Renderer module is set to None, the particles that are displayed by default will be hidden and only the trails will be displayed.

If you set the Trails module Type to Ribbon, you can express particles by connecting their grains with lines.
Set the number of particles generated to 4, set the Trails module Mode to Ribbon, and set the Ribbon Count to 2.

Description of Noise Module

When the Noise module is turned on, irregular movements can be added to Particles.
The noise movement can be easily confirmed by displaying Trails.
When Trails is turned on, and Strength, which controls the intensity of Noise, is set to 4, the following video will be shown.

Description of the Collision Module

The Collision module controls the behavior of the particle when it collides with another object.
When turned on, it can express the physical behavior when colliding with an object.
When the Collision module’s Type is set to World, collisions with other objects in the scene that have colliders are possible.
Bounce sets the magnitude of the impact when a collision occurs. The smaller the value, the smaller the impact.

Sub Emitters Module Description

The Sub Emitters module allows you to add Emitters.
We will apply the Collision condition.
Set the Collision module’s Type to World.

Place the objects that you want to collide in the scene.

Set the Sub Emitters module to Collision and set the Particles to be generated upon collision.

Description of the Light Module

When you set the Light module, you can make a particle emit light.
In the Light module, select Point Light in the Hierarchy window, and set Intensity Multiplier to 0.5.

Description of Inherit Velocity Module

The Inherit Velocity module allows a particle system to move with respect to the velocity of its parent object when the particle system is a child hierarchy.
When using the Inherit Velocity module, the Simulation Space should be set to World.

If Multiplier is less than 1, the particles in the child hierarchy will follow the parent object.

If Multiplier is greater than 1, the particle in the child hierarchy will move faster than the parent object.

This video gives an overview of each module of Particle.
This is a very deep part of Particle, so you may find interesting expressions by customizing it in various ways.

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