Build along / Example 01
Turn your drawing into particles
Paint a small graphic, give it motion in Particle Editor and place your own effect in a level.
- Draw Image
- Particle Editor
- Your level
A small project with a visible result
What you will build
A stream of your own painted shapes, drifting and fading in the scene.
Before you start
An editable level and a little space for the effect. Use the expanded right-side menu to find Draw Image and Particle Editor.
| Control | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Brush | Star Shapes | A simple graphic that stays readable when small. |
| Single Shape | On | One shape per stamp for this supported brush. |
| Thickness / Hardness / Alpha | 48 / 100 / 1 | A crisp first mark; use a bright colour. |
| Particle preset | Falling Leaves | Keep its initializers and actions for a working starting motion. |
| Pattern / New particles/second | Steady / 12 | A suggested starting rate; tune density in the preview. |
| Drawing | Your saved drawing | Apply it to the selected emitter and inspect Current graphic. |
| Blendmode | Normal | Keep the painted colours visible against your background. |
Use these as starting settings and verify the result in Play. The build notes contain the same steps in a text file for use beside the editor.
Build it, one step at a time
- Step 01
Paint one clear shape
Expanded right menu → Draw Image → Brush → SettingsUse a visible, unlocked raster layer. Choose Star Shapes, switch Single Shape on, set Thickness 48, Hardness 100 and Alpha 1. Choose a bright colour and tap once. Leave the surrounding canvas transparent.
Check your resultYou can see one crisp shape without an opaque rectangle around it.
Open the related reference - Step 02
Save the drawing
Draw Image → Save → DrawingsSave the artwork as My First Particle. Reopen it from Drawings to check that the mark and its transparent surroundings were saved. If the shape is very small within the canvas, adjust the artwork before continuing.
Check your resultMy First Particle appears in Drawings and opens for editing.
Open the related reference - Step 03
Use your image in an emitter
Expanded right menu → Particle Editor → Preset → DrawingChoose Falling Leaves as a starting preset. With its emitter selected, open Drawing and choose My First Particle. Check Current graphic. The preset supplies the starting motion, life and actions.
Check your resultCurrent graphic shows your artwork in place of the original leaf.
Open the related reference - Step 04
Tune and restart the effect
Particle Editor → emission controls → RestartSet Pattern: Steady, New particles/second: 12 and Blendmode: Normal. Keep the preset’s other settings for the first test. Press Restart. Adjust Scale if your drawing looks too big or small; the required size depends on its canvas.
Check your resultYour shapes move, turn and disappear over time. Try both a light and a dark preview background.
Open the related reference - Step 05
Save and place it
Particle Editor → Save → right menu → ParticlesSave the effect as Painted Drift. Return to the level and open Particles. Select its saved tile, then tap a clear position in the scene. Use Scene Object when the placed effect should be scenery without a physics body.
Check your resultThe saved effect is available in the library and placed in your scene.
Open the related reference - Step 06
Test it in context
Level → Play → return to editor → Save LevelEnter Play and look at the effect over the actual level background. Check that the stream stays readable and old particles disappear. Save the level, reopen it and test again. Change one setting at a time when making a variation.
Check your resultThe effect still uses your drawing after the level is reopened.
Open the related reference
Check your build
If something looks wrong
Nothing moves
Check that the emitter is Active. Velocity supplies starting motion; the Move action updates particle positions. Start again from Falling Leaves if the action list was cleared.
Particles keep accumulating
Check the Life initializer and the Age and Death Life actions. Reduce the emission rate while testing.
The drawing has a coloured box around it
Reopen the drawing and check whether a background layer was painted. Transparent empty canvas should surround the particle graphic.