Action: Explode Particles

This action will let you 'explode' particles away from their current position. It can either affect particles directly, or act by changing an Explode modifier in the scene.

Interface

The Action's interface looks like this:

Parameters

Mode

This sets the operation mode of the Action. There are two options:

Direct Change

The Action will cause the particles to be exploded away from their current position. It does NOT require an Explode modifier. This lets you explode the particles at a precise point without having to work indirectly through a modifier, which can be a little convoluted for such a simple alteration.

Control Modifier

In this case the Action will let you control the operation of an Explode modifier in the scene.

Control Modifier Mode

Explode Modifier

This field is only available if you choose 'Control Modifier' in the Mode setting.

This field accepts an Explode modifier which you drag into the field from the Object Manager. Without a linked modifier, you cannot access any of the other parameters and the Action will have no effect. In addition, in the modifier's interface the Mode parameter MUST be set to 'Action-Controlled'. If it is set to 'Independent' the modifier will simply work on its own like any of the standard Cinema 4D modifiers and the Action will have no effect on it.

Effect on Particle

This drop-down menu has two modes:

Modifier Will Affect Particle

In this mode the modifier will start to influence the particular particle which is affected by this Action. Once the particle is influenced by a modifier, that influence will continue until the effect is turned off (e.g. by another Action).

Note that whether the modifier actually has any effect on the particle will depend on the modifier's parameters and especially on its falloff. Even if the modifier is set to effect a particle, it may have no effect on it if the particle never enters the field of effect of the modifier.

Modifier Will NOT Affect Particle

In this mode, the modifier's influence on the particle will be turned off and the modifier will never affect the particle, unless it is turned back on again (e.g. by another Action).

Direct Change Mode

These are the parameters which can be changed in 'Direct Change' mode.

Speed and Variation

This the speed (with variation, if any) that the particles will be given when the explosion occurs.

Unstick if Necessary

If a particle is stuck to an object, for example by a Cover/Target modifier or by sticking the particle to an object at emission, the particle must be unstuck for this modifier to work. This will be done automatically if this switch is checked. Otherwise you will have to use another Action to unstick the particle first.

Groups Affected

Drag any particle group objects into this list. If there is one or more groups in the list, only those particles which are in those groups will be affected by the action. But if there are no groups, all particles will be affected by the action.