User Guide
26 REFERENCE
PYROCLUSTER
Gradient Mode
PyroCluster generally renders puffs based on the values in a color gradient. The color
to the left of the gradient is used in the center of the puff while the color to the right
is used at the outer edges.
Flat Radius
Particles tend to look at in Flat
Radius mode, but they are fast
to render.
Flat Radius mode uses a trick to render the color gradient into the volume effect.
It’s not a true 3D gradient effect; rather, the gradient is drawn planar, perpendicular
to the camera’s view point. So use this option when you want faster renders, while
sacricing some image quality.
Local Radius, Min, Max
Local Radius gradients (using
the same gradient as in the
Flat Radius example above) with
Max set to 100 (left) and 50
(right). Note that there is more
blue on the outer edges of the
puff to the right because blue is
used as the puff color from 50%
of the radius to its full value.
Local Radius mode always applies the color gradient within the volume of the puff,
from the center to the surface of each puff. The color to the left of the gradient is
used for the center of the puff while the color on the right is used at the edges.