What is a particle system?
A particle system is referred to in Unity as a system—rather than a component—as it requires these components working together in order to function properly:
A Particle Emitter—this defines the creation of particles, their lifespan, velocities, and range
A Particle Animator—this defines the behavior of the particle throughout its lifespan
A Particle Renderer—this defines the appearance of the particles rendered
Before we begin to work with these systems themselves, we need to understand these three component parts in more depth.
Particle Emitter
Within any particle system, the emitter component is in charge of instantiating individual particles. In Unity, there is an Ellipsoid Particle Emitter and a Mesh Particle Emitter available.
The ellipsoid emitter is most commonly used for effects such as smoke, dust, and other such environmental elements that can be created in a defined space. It is referred to as the ellipsoid because it creates particles within an ellipsoid...
