In this tutorial you will learn how to:

• Use material effects channel IDs.
• Use animated opacity mapped plane objects to simulate an explosion.
• Use particle array fragmentation.
• Set visibility keys.
• Add motion blur.
• Use render effects glows and blurs.

Files for This Tutorial

All the files necessary for this tutorial are provided on the program disc in the \tutorials\space directory. Before starting the tutorials, copy the \tutorials folder from the disc to your local program installation.

Lessons in This Tutorial

Animating the Laser Blast

Creating a Material for the Laser Blast

Animating the Asteroid

Creating a Plane for the Explosion

Creating a Material for the Explosion

Adding an Opacity Map

Synchronizing the Animated Maps

Cloning the Explosion Plane

Breaking the Asteroid into Flying Pieces with Particle Array

Adding Materials to the Particles

Controlling Particle Animation

Adding Motion Blur

Putting a Light Inside the Asteroid

Setting Visibility Keys to Make the Asteroid Disappear

Adding Render Effects to the Laser Blast

Adding a Second Glow to the Explosion

Animating the Explosion's Glow

Adding Streaks with Radial Blur