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Can a particle system be previewed on an activation track?

Discussion in 'Timeline' started by fastgamedev, Aug 28, 2017.

  1. fastgamedev

    fastgamedev

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2014
    Posts:
    79
    I have a particle system on an Activation Track. It works fine in play mode, but doesn't emit in Timeline preview mode. Wasn't this a feature of Timelines, previewing of particle systems?
     
    fastgamedev, Aug 28, 2017
    #1
    awsapps and Cleo_willo876 like this.

  2. thierry_unity

    thierry_unity

    Unity Technologies

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2015
    Posts:
    187
    Hi @fastgamedev ,
    Yes previewing particles is part of timeline, just not from the activation track.
    You will need to use the controls track to be able to preview particles outside of playmode.
     
    thierry_unity, Aug 28, 2017
    #2
    hdr25, owyang and Cleo_willo876 like this.

  3. fastgamedev

    fastgamedev

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    Mar 27, 2014
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    @thierry_unity ,
    Thank you, using the controls track worked, I can preview the main particle system. But now the sub-emitter particle system (set to emit at birth on the main one) is not emitting particles either in preview or in play mode. ("Control children" is checked on the control playable asset). How do I fix the sub-emitter?
     
    fastgamedev, Aug 30, 2017
    #3

  4. thierry_unity

    thierry_unity

    Unity Technologies

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    Hi,
    We have an opened bug already about flickering sub-particles (Bug ID #888010 for references), I suppose you are hitting the same or similar issue.
    I'm not super familiar with sub-particles, maybe an example of your particles system could help me figure it out.
     
    thierry_unity, Aug 30, 2017
    #4

  5. fastgamedev

    fastgamedev

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2014
    Posts:
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    @thierry_unity ,
    I don't think this is the same bug, there is no flickering, it just doesn't work in preview and in play modes. I created a sample scene for you, attached.

    1. Play the timeline in preview mode. You will see that only the main particle system is activated.
    2. Play the scene and watch the timeline in play mode. You will see that the subemitter is activating, but its particles don't move.
    3. Disable the timeline and enable the particle system. You will see that the subemitter is activating and its particles move as in an explosion.

    #1 and #2 should look like #3.
     

    Attached Files:

    fastgamedev, Aug 31, 2017
    #5

  6. thierry_unity

    thierry_unity

    Unity Technologies

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2015
    Posts:
    187
    Great!
    We have to talk with the particles team but it's indeed a problem, it looks similar to the bug that was already sent to us.
    But there are some minor differences so I opened a new one #947038

    sorry about that, we will try to find a solution as soon as possible.
     
    thierry_unity, Aug 31, 2017
    #6

  7. fastgamedev

    fastgamedev

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    Mar 27, 2014
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    79
    fastgamedev, Aug 31, 2017
    #7

  8. pixelsteam

    pixelsteam

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    May 1, 2009
    Posts:
    924
    Does anyone know if this issue has been solved...I seem to have the same challenge
     
    pixelsteam, Oct 16, 2018
    #8

  9. mikew_unity

    mikew_unity

    Unity Technologies

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2016
    Posts:
    134
    strange, we used control tracks with sub-emitters on the Baymax Dream project in quite a few places without issues. Wonder what might be different with what we did...
     
    mikew_unity, Oct 16, 2018
    #9

  10. seant_unity

    seant_unity

    Unity Technologies

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2015
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    1,516
    We have put many fixes for particles systems since that post, but the specific issue with the posted particle system hasn't been resolved. That case has somehow slipped through the cracks.

    @pixelsteam If you have a specific particle system that isn't working, please file a bug with the particle system attached.
     
    seant_unity, Oct 17, 2018
    #10

  11. GlassMascot

    GlassMascot

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2019
    Posts:
    2
    Still seeing this issue in 2018.4.2 --- sub emitters not triggering on control track.
     
    GlassMascot, Oct 11, 2019
    #11

  12. d2clon

    d2clon

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2017
    Posts:
    19
    I can not see the preview of the Particles in the Timeline in Edit Mode. Unity version 2020.3.2f1

    It is specially annoying because my first thought was that they don't work in Timeline
     
    d2clon, Aug 31, 2021
    #12
    customphase likes this.