Expert: Andre Hickman - 9/13/2007

Question
Hello!

I am going to try to do a school project simulating the effect of particles from a standard particle emitter striking a surface. What I need to know is if individual particles can be tracked using MAXScript or another interface so that I can output certain values such as velocity. Is this even possible without a 3rd-party plugin?

Thank you for your help!

Answer
Hey Oran,

to my knowledge that functionality is not built into basic Max tools.  I'm not sure it scripting would help you there.  I know the data HAS to be there somewhere, I'm just not sure how to access it.

You may want to look at a plugin like Sitni Sati's Afterburn...It has the ability to fine tune parameters like color and opacity, based on velocity etc....perhaps you could try to use the plugin to "color" the particles based on speed, and then extrapolate data from color percentage.

Outside of that, I'm afraid I'm stumped, and am not sure if it is possible outside of some incredible plugin (that may be out there) or some superior custom coding.

--Andre'