As an addition to Particle Designer 1.2, version 2 has a huge amount of updates to it. This program allows you to create 3 particles at once with all of the functions available in GM6+, but it also allows you to create emitters, attractors, changers, deflectors, and destroyers as well. With its easy interface and random generating particles, you will be able to create particle effects and particle systems in no time! You can export the entire system to GML to use in your game, or take screenshots and animated GIFs. It even includes a codebox, which allows you to use most GML to even test as if it was in-game! And it doesn't even have to be used for your game.

Major features:
--All functions for a particle type for a single particle
--Great user interface
--All functions for the emitter, attractor, changer, deflector, and destroyer.
--Generate random particle settings
--Lock settings so they aren't affected by random option
--Very functional codebox for changing values while testing.
--Import a GML file
--Export the particles, a tab, or the particle system to GML
--Export the above to the clipboard
--Save and open PDSF files, which include codebox gml
--Full capability to use external sprites(not saved however)
--Take screenshots of the particle, and even save GIF animations
--Shortcut keys
--Preferences for testing and exporting particles
--Fullscreen capabilities(stretches window)
--Detailed help files to help with using the program, and putting particles into your game

Why should I download version 2.3?
--Fixed the dimensions of the GIF capture image
--FPS turns red when on the crash prevention limit
--Fixed interface bug when switching to advanced mode
--Warns if the crash prevention is higher than the room speed
--The 'Set tabs each step' option is now saved in the pdsf
--Most codebox bugs are fixed
--Particle streams correctly when opened in advanced mode
--A lot faster pdsf saving and loading
--Help file was updated a lot for better clarity and accuracy
--Menu DLL is saved in temporary files now
--Particle step and death functions can now be imported

VERSION 2 SCREENSHOTS:



Screenshot 3
Screenshot 4
Screenshot 5

For more information, screenshots, etc. visit these links!
*OFFICIAL PD2 PAGE* - INCLUDES: updates list, FAQ, extra particles, etc.
*OFFICIAL PARTICLE DOWNLOAD TOPIC*

Downloads now include some pdsf and gml examples that you can load.
Download Links:(~3 MB) Windows Vista Compatable!
Download from WHFF
Host-a
Box

Instant Play

download the chm file (compiled help. outdated)

You may need to extract the files before running!

Credit: Credit is not required for anything generated, but you may put credit as "Alert Games" if you want to.
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Having Trouble?
Before posting it here please check the included help files first. There is also an online FAQ, which is found HERE

NOTE:
Particle Designer no longer supports file association. This is when you click on a file in explorer and opens with Particle Designer. The reason for this is because computers with problems(such as trojans or other reasons) would cause problems and Particle Designer would close. If you really want this feature, PM me about it



Common problems:

When I export the particle and put it in my game, it gives me an error!


My particles lag a lot when i put it into a new game

Your screenshots are broken but i clicked on your "OFFICIAL PD2 PAGE" and they worked. THey look nice and i am downloading

edit: the screenshots work now. The program is awesome. Really great for game development. THe bug i found was when you click to type in your number the 0 dont go away and if you type in numbers after it it will just go back to 0. THanks for making this. It will save me a lot of time.

Ya, thanks for your reply. I have no idea why they aren't, but they don't work on any forum >_<

EDIT: Alright, the screenshot should work now

Woah! Yeah! Awesome particles!

Is there any way I could get the source for your codebox?

Well, I can make an example, but right now I am busy. Also, the codebox does still have some minor bugs in it having to do with the horizontal viewing.

I would tell you to try to make one on your own, but it is actually quite difficult. But, if I make an example, I'll PM you here.

Hmm...

The interface has kept some of it's... should I say... flatness? I'm not sure over the word...

It's a good program, but even bigger improvements, especially a glossy / photoshopped GUI would make it nice.

I'm making PythonPartix for now... with a nice GUI... about like your particle designer.

I've been using Particle Designer 1.2 for a while now (I've been using it in my current project, too), and I really liked it. The new one is great! I haven't tried using many of the new features, but this is a great improvement over the last one.

The only problem I found is that exporting to the clipboard doesn't seem to work (or maybe I'm just doing something wrong). Other than that, it's very good, and I recommend it to anyone who has Game Maker. Even if you're not registered, it still comes in handy because you can export effects to animated GIFs and use them as sprites.

I'll give it 9/10. If it weren't for that problem with the clipboard, I'd give it 10/10.

Wow. All I can say is wow. With a bit of tweaking, I was able to create a couple of the most vivid particle systems I have ever seen. This is one of the most useful programs I've seen on the GMC. 10/10, easy

-Chess

Great to see it finally released. I always loved this program and used it a lot, as it allows some particle designing "on flight".

The new version seems to be even better and I'm sure I'm going to use it for my next project.

Good job Alert Games.

I have to agree that it's a great program, but there are details to take care of.

There is a bug when deleting the third particle type. If you set it to emit from the emitter, and then delete the particle tab, it still emits that particle type when pressing burst.

There is some clipboard issue as well.

The GUI is really the thing that needs fixing. Do you have photoshop? With a flashy GUI I'd give this 95%.

This reminds me of exgen. Almost as good, actually in my opinion its better. Is quick, easy, free and exports the particles as scripts!.
I love it 9/10 (You dont get 10 because Nothings perfect)

It is pretty nice! It gives me inspiration to work on some of my projects .

Yeah, I know it does that, but I haven't taken the time to fix it. The reason being is because it should correct it by pressing 'burst' or 'change' again. Thanks for the comment though

Also, I do have photoshop, but I didn't work on the GUI really.

There shouldn't be any problems with the clipboard. What specifically didn't work?

i love it

Ah, about time you got this finished. Great program.

Great program indeed. Been using v1.2 to test out particle effects, so I wouldn't have to start my game every time to check them out.

I have sad news. Apparently a dll that I use in the program interferes with the program, specifically when it has a parameter when running. Therefore, I am having some difficulty compiling it for Vista users. Sorry. I'll try to find the problem for the eventual release of PD2.1.

Thanks for your feedback everybody.

This sounds great, although I am running vista. I'll download it as soon as it will work.

Yeah, sorry about that. I will try to see what the problem is, but it may take a while since it is not my main priority.

Thanks!

When i run it it says "unexpected error" and then it closes out

A great program. I can make lots of nice particle effects easily. For example...

Possible Causes:
1) You didnt extract the files
2) You clicked it in a menu
3) You ran it by using "open with..."

The reason why it gets that unexpected error is because it has a problem with a dll and a parameter at the same time. I want to fix it, but it may take a bit to figure out.

The problem with the clipboard is that none of the "export to clipboard" options put anything on the clipboard. I'm using Windows XP, and it worked fine in version 1.2.

hmmm... i have tested it. What tab did you try to export?

My first impressions are very good.

Um... Thanks

keep it up

Wow, I've used this extensively now and I find this AMAZING!

I love the random - this is quite entertaining.

The ability to move emitters, change the room speed and do everything else with the particles is just brilliant! Having it all extract to GML was a great stroke of awesomeness. I love this program! 10/10!

I've tried exporting the particle system and the emitter, but neither of them put anything on the clipboard. Is there anything I forgot to do?

No, I just noticed the bug myself. There was an error in the emitter export script, so I will fix that for 2.1. Obviously my beta testers weren't that good >_> Sorry about that. I guess PD2.1 will become a greater priority.

Also, the menu dll is causing a lot of problems. You can only run the program directly pretty much, and it won't work in a GM7 executable at all. I will probably get a new dll, or use some sort of menu example to fix this. The skin could use some work as well.

You may see version 2.1 come out sooner than I planned. =o

That was tight. What else is there to say?

Looks cool, too bad it's not a GM7 exe.

Tha main problem is that if I make it a GM7 exe, then the menus will not work. I need a good menu system GM7 compatable before the release of version 2.1.

So far, I fixed a bug, and i'm working on fixing another bug. Im also working on the appearance, and eventually a little of the codebox and an efficient save method.

Version 2.1 will be a better realease than version 2.0

What is the code that makes it incompatible?

Actually, I don't know. I just tested it and it worked fine.

The real problem is, whenever a parameter string is used, GM (6 or 7) does not open a file for reading, and causes it to not load your current settings. This can be a problem, cause if you don't click on the EXE itself, a parametric string maybe used and set off the settings. Do you have any idea how to solve this?

IT'S FINALY RELEASED!!!!!!!!!!!1

I shall love it, and hug it, and call it cuddles... and feed it crackers when it's hungry-

You can use it, but I would wait for PD1.2 XD

Apparently, GM has a problem reading files when there is a parameter string, so I am going to fix that too Along with the others mentioned above.

Lets us know when you convert it to 7

Version 2.1 will be completed this month. The new version will be compiled in GM7. It will be a lot more efficient, and some bugs will be fixed

Great one!
Is it writen in Gamemaker?
You could also add friction for shapes and the friction has minimum and maximum value. It will be useful for explosions.

Great program, I will use this often (i already used PD1 quite regularly)!

One little thing which is very annoying is that in the Emitter settings, you set
x1
x2
y1
y2

That is very illogical, you should have put those in the usual order
x1
y1
x2
y2
just as point_distance, draw_line and all other GM functions for two points do...

Well, there isn't a friction function for particles in GM. Using a negative value in the 'increase' works just as good

@Erik Leppen: Well, the reason why I do that is because that is how it is set up in the function. All the buttons go in order of the manual.

I will consider that though

VERSION 2.1 RELEASED!

Updates:
* Exporting to clipboard bugs fixed
* PDSF files are now efficient and bugs are fixed
* Better Inteface Appearance
* Using 'Open With' on a gml file or PDSF file with Particle Designer now works
* Can save to any folder rather than just to the 'Particles' folder

Enjoy! And leave and comments and/or concerns!

This program is very usefull, and I will get some particles and PDSF files up on my forums shortly

Great. I'm downloading the updated version right now.

I'm reworking some of the effects in MAGI and I'm going to use PD extensively. Once again - thanks for this wonderful tool.

EDIT: One thing that would be really great - exported particle name should be the same as the file's one, not "particle#". This would save some hassle of renaming the particles manually, once they're saved. An option in preferences would suffice.
This is actually the only thing I find annoying when working with PD.

Actually they are. At least they are when you export to file.

Are you absolutely sure that it didn't do that? If you are sure, then please tell me exactly how you saved it

For example:

I make a particle and then I export it to a file (by clicking export->this tab->to a file). I name the file "ReboundE". What I recieve is:



But it would be much better if it would be like this:



It would save me those extra few clicks needed to rename the particle. If it should name the particle automatically, then I have now idea why it doesn't .

You must have done something wrong... I made a particle, made an effect, and did export->this tab->to file and got this:



so... i dunno.

EDIT: OH, I know what you did. You should name the tab the name you want the particle to be, and the file can be any name you want That way, you can call the particle name the same, but have different filenames. Cheers!