alpha of particles based on age

[wiked lo]

Is there an easy way to control the alpha of particles based upon their $AGE so that they will fade out, rather than just die?

I've created a smoke/fog POP and right now the metaballs have a poping look because they just disappeare when they die, it would be smoother to have them begin to fade out when they get to a certain age, say 2 seconds. Any suggestions?

[Wolfwood]

You can use $AGE in conjunction with the smooth() expression.

You can put the following expression into the Alpha attribute in the Point SOP. "1-smooth($AGE,2,3)"

This will return 1 (Fully opaque) when the age of the particle is less than 2 seconds old.

After 3 seconds the alpha will be completely transparent.

If the particles age is in between 2 and 3 the alpha will be smoothly interpolated.

See the attached hip for an example.

If you wanted you could add some random offset to "start fade" and "end fade" so each particle fades out at a different time and rate. Like

"1-smooth($AGE, 2+(rand($ID)/2), 3+(rand($ID+5)/2))"

LIFEpops1.zip

[wiked lo]

Wolfwood - thanks so much. I knew I had done this before, but had a brain fart and couldn't remember the exactly code I had put in the point SOP (must be the lack of sleep). Thanks again.

[sky]

Would you please re-upload attached file ?

It was corrupted archive.

Thanks

[cheolsooe]

Thanks Wolfwood. Also, I got the answer from your attached file.