Chapter 21.   Particle Systems

Three particle systems are developed in this chapter: one where the particles are points, another using lines, and a third using quadrilaterals (quads). The images on this page show the three systems in action.

The three systems are part of a single application, Particles3D.

The coding illustrates the following techniques:

• the use of BY_REFERENCE geometries for holding information;
• the subclassing of the GeometryUpdater interface to manage shape updating;
• the use of PointArray, LineArray, and QuadArray geometries;
• the application of a single texture to multiple quads;
• the use of textures with transparent elements;
• the blending of texture, colour, and lighting;
• always rotating a shape towards the viewer with OrientedShape3D.

Downloads

• The PDF file for the draft chapter (the old ch.12) (756 KB). Last updated: 8th Feb. 2003.
  
• Zipped Source code (19 KB). Last updated: 19th April 2005. The book's code.
  

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• Back to Chapter 20. An Articulated, Moveable Figure
• On to Chapter 22. Flocking Birds