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210 Chapter 11: Space Warps and Particle Systems

Tests

The basic function of a test in Particle Flow is to

determine w hether par ticles satisfy one or more

conditions, and if so, make them available for

sending to another event. When a particle passes

a test, it is said to “test True.” To send eligible

particles to another event, you must wire the test to

that event. Particles that don’t pa ss the test (“test

False”) remain in the event and are repeatedly

subjected to its operators and tests. Or, if the test

isn’t wired to another event, all particles remain

in the event. You can use several tests in an event;

thefirsttestchecksallparticlesintheevent,and

each test after the first checks only particles that

remain in the event.

One test, Spawn, doesn’t actually perform a test,

but simply creates new particles f rom existing

ones, and sets the new particles’ test result to True

so they’re automatically eligible for redirection to

another event. A nd the Send Out test simply sends

all par t icles to the next event by default.

Some tests c an also serve as operators, in that

they contain p arameters that modify particle

behavior . If you don’t wire a test to another event,

it functions only as an operator; the test aspec t

doesn’t affect particle flow.

Tip: Always place a test at the end of its event,

unless you have specific reasons for placing it

elsewhere. That way, all preceding actions can take

effect during each integration step before the test is

evaluated.

All the tests are grouped together in the Particle

View depot, and are listed in alphabetical order.

All test icons are the same: a yellow diamond

containing a simplified diag r am of an electrical

switch.

TheParticleFlowtestsintheParticleViewdepot

The tests are:

Age Test (page 2–211)

Collision Test (page 2–212)

Collision Spawn Test (page 2–215)

Find Target Test (page 2–218)

Go To Rotation Test (page 2–224)

Scale Test (page 2–227)

Script Test (page 2–229)

Send Out Test (page 2–230)

Spawn Test (page 2–230)

Speed Test (page 2–233)

Split Amount Test (page 2–234)

Split Selected Test (page 2–235)

Split Source Test (page 2–236)