Particles which rotate according to their trajectory

The particle system in Construct is great, however one option often found in other systems seems missing - particles which "follow" the trajectory = rotate according to their movement path.

Here's how it works currently - if the particle has no random angle or rotation it'll always point in the same direction (let's pretend that the arrow is our particle):

<img src="http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg36/some9000/T1.png">

Now it would be great to have an option of following its trajectory like this:

<img src="http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg36/some9000/T2.png">

Great for all sorts of effects and seems like it could be easy to do.

Also, speaking of particles - a built in random hue function would be great.

I would also add the ability to stretch the particles along the trajectory vector based on the speed and or on a constant value.

The particles object is already pretty complicated. I wouldn't want it to end up having 100s of properties and nobody being able to figure out how to use it.

Is it unreasonable to suggest using a custom particle system with lots of Sprite objects when you need things like this? I can't imagine it'd be any less efficient unless you're creating 1000s of particles or testing for collisions on them.

The particles object is already pretty complicated. I wouldn't want it to end up having 100s of properties and nobody being able to figure out how to use it.

Well, this would probably only need a checkbox which says "Follow trajectory" and grays out the random angle parameters (or simply ignores them).

Is it unreasonable to suggest using a custom particle system with lots of Sprite objects when you need things like this? I can't imagine it'd be any less efficient unless you're creating 1000s of particles or testing for collisions on them.

Well, to me it was mostly a question of performance. If you say it's OK to throw a lot of sprites around that's all the encouragement I need. Thanks.

With all my high end graphics program I have never seen the ability to rotate a partical like you suggest. Partials are meant to be just that. Partials. but...

Why making your own?

Path Movement Behavior by R0J0hound

Make the path and then just create a streams of objects to follow?

With all my high end graphics program I have never seen the ability to rotate a partical like you suggest. Partials are meant to be just that. Partials. but...

Sorry, I must disagree here. I worked as a Visual Effects Artist and 90% of my time with particles and it is quite common to have the behavior descriped by Somebody. For example if you want to have sparks flying away in every direction.

I think a custom particle engine with sprites is the solution here. We might redesign the particles object for Construct 2, to add lots of customisability but keep it simple, but right now we're trying to stabilise and keep things as they are for 1.0. Efficiency shouldn't be a major concern - particles can draw more efficiently in Particle Spray if they never rotate (using a more efficient Point Sprite rendering mode), but once they start rotating they draw the same way as sprites, so you don't lose much by using sprites anyway.

here's an example of particle sprites that rotate toward their trajectory

Sorry, I must disagree here. I worked as a Visual Effects Artist and 90% of my time with particles and it is quite common to have the behavior descriped by Somebody. For example if you want to have sparks flying away in every direction.

But every which way is not what he requested. Can you please sight an example of a non-custom application that "emits" partials with gravity physics and has facing direction toward the flight path?

@lucid Nice!

But every which way is not what he requested. Can you please sight an example of a non-custom application that "emits" partials with gravity physics and has facing direction toward the flight path?

Lightwave

Softimage

Houdini

3DS Max (probably)

Maya

Blender (probably)

particle illusion

Anyways, I'm with Ash on this. Doing it with sprites works better.

Lost my Keys

Not the versions of Maya or Max that I have. Partials just spew out. if you add gravity they fall with the head still facing up. And from a lonnng time ago at least old lightwave did not either. Particles do not normally rotate with gravity.

Post an example please

.. just did 3 quick tests with particle illusions and not one did. But that program is a special case. It is just 2d glitz.

Opps Double Post LOL

Lost my Keys

Not the versions of Maya or Max that I have. Partials just spew out. if you add gravity they fall with the head still facing up. And from a lonnng time ago at least old lightwave did not either. Particles do not normally rotate with gravity.

Post an example please

Here are my two examples from an inquiry topic about this:

No rotation:

<img src="http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg36/some9000/P1-1.gif">

And with rotation:

<img src="http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg36/some9000/P2-1.gif">

Both done in 3DS MAX 2010, but it's been available since the very beginning and I also believe even in the old DOS version 3DS.

It depends on the particle type - Facing will face, of course, but the rest will follow the trajectory when you pick "Direction of Travel/MBlur" under rotation options.

What your wanting looks more like a trail, rather than just plain particles.

It seems that Cinema 4D is also very capable of such things.

http://www.maxon.net/en/products/modules/modules/thinking-particles/particles-in-motion.html

But, Construct is not designed to be the most flexible graphic creation, but the most easiest and fast game development tool.