Effectdoc.txt

EFFECT Module documentation


INTRODUCTION
The module effect allows you to access all the data of an effect. 
An effect can modify an object (typically a mesh) in three different ways.
    a) the build effect : makes the mesh appear progressivly.
    b) the wave effect : waves appear on the mesh (which should be fine-grained)
    c) the particle effect : every vertex of the mesh emits particles, 
which can themselves emit new particles. This effect is the most parametrizable.

In the blender internals, the effect object is just a placeholder for the "real"
 effect, which can be a wave, particle or build effect. The python API follows 
this structure : the Effect module grants access to (the few) data which
 are shared between all effects. It has three submodules : Wave, Build, Particle
, which grant r/w access to the real parameters of these effects.




functions of the module :

Get(Name:string,pos:int) : returns the pos-th Effect associated
 to the object whose name is Name.

get : same as Get

New(Type:string ) : Creates and returns a new Effect Object.
The parameter Type can take the values "particle", "wave" or "build"



Effect object member functions :

getType() : Retrieves the type of the Effect Object.

setType(val:int) : Sets the type of the Effect Object.
The possible values of the type are :
    0 : effect build.
    1 : effect particle.
    2 : effect wave.


getMode()Retrieves the mode of the Effect Object

setMode(val:int) :Sets the mode

The mode of the effect is a combination of parameters, whose semantics depend upon the effect type.
All types :
Bit 0 : set to 1 if the effect is selected in the effects window.
Wave effect :
Bits 1,2,3  :  set to 1 if the button "X", "Y" or "Cycl" is clicked.
Particle effect :
Bits 1,2,3 :  set to 1 if the button "Bspline", "Static" or "Face" is clicked.






Submodules : Wave, Build, Particle.




Wave module 



functions of the module :

Get(Name:string,pos:int) : returns the pos-th wave Effect associated to the object whose name is Name.

get : same as Get

New( ) : Creates and returns a new Wave Object.


Wave object member functions :

getStartx() : returns the startx parameter of the wave object.

setStartx(val:int) : sets the startx parameter of the wave object.

getStarty() : returns the starty parameter of the wave object.

setStarty(val:int) : sets the starty parameter of the wave object.

getHeight() : returns the height parameter of the wave object.

setHeight(val:int) : sets the height parameter of the wave object.

getWidth() : returns the width parameter of the wave object.

setWidth(val:int) : sets the width parameter of the wave object.

getNarrow() : returns the narrow parameter of the wave object.

setNarrow(val:int) : sets the narrow parameter of the wave object.

getSpeed() : returns the speed parameter of the wave object.

setSpeed(val:int) : sets the speed parameter of the wave object.

getMinfac() : returns the minfac parameter of the wave object.

setMinfac(val:int) : sets the minfac parameter of the wave object.

getDamp() : returns the damp parameter of the wave object.

setDamp(val:int) : sets the damp parameter of the wave object.

getTimeoffs() : returns the timeoffs parameter of the wave object.

setTimeoffs(val:int) : sets the time offset parameter of the wave object.

getLifetime() : returns the lifetime parameter of the wave object.

setLifetime(val:int) : sets the lifetime parameter of the wave object.



The Object.attr syntax

Wave attributes can be read/written with the object.attr syntax.
Example :

w = Blender.Wave.Get("Obname",3) #retreives the 4th effect associated to the object named Obname
a = w.speed  # a is now the value corresponding to the speed of the effect
w.speed = 42   # the speed of the effect is now equal to 42

The parameter can take these values :  "lifetime","timeoffs","damp","minfac","speed","narrow","width","height","startx","starty"




Build module 



functions of the module :

Get(Name:string,pos:int) : returns the pos-th build Effect associated to the object whose name is Name.

get(Name:string,pos:int) : same as Get

New( ) : Creates and returns a new Build Object.


Build object member functions :

getLen() : returns the length of the effect (in frames).

setLen(val:float) : sets the length of the effect (in frames).

getSfra() : returns the starting frame of the effect.

setSfra(val:float) : sets the starting frame of the effect.


The Object.attribute syntax

The attribute can take these values : "sfra","len".


Particle module 



functions of the module :

Get(Name:string,pos:int) : returns the pos-th particle Effect associated to the object whose name is Name.

get(Name:string,pos:int) : same as Get

New( ) : Creates and returns a new Effect Object.


Particle object member functions :

getStartTime() : returns the start time  of the particle effect (in frames).

setStartTime(val:float) : sets the start time of the particle effect (in frames).

getEndTime() : returns the end time  of the particle effect (in frames).

setEndTime(val:float) : sets the end time of the particle effect (in frames).

getLifeTime() : returns the life time  of the particles.

setLifeTime(val:float) : sets the life time of the particles.

getNormfac() : returns the normal strength of the particles (relatively to mesh).

setNormfac(val:float) : sets the normal strength of the particles(relatively to mesh).

getObfac() : returns the initial of the particles relatively to objects.

setObfac(val:float) : sets the initial of the particles relatively to objects.

getRandfac() : returns the initial random speed of the particles.

setRandfac(val:float) : sets the initial  random speed of the particles.

getTexfac() : returns the initial speed of the particles caused by the texture.

setTexfac(val:float) : sets the initial speed of the particles caused by the texture.

getRandlife() : returns the variability of the life of the particles.

setRandlife(val:float) : sets  the variability of the life of the particles.

getNabla() : returns the dimension of the area for gradient computation.

setNabla(val:float) : sets  the dimension of the area for gradient computation.

getTotpart() : returns the total number of particles.

setTotpart(val:int) : sets  the total number of particles.

getTotkey() : returns the number of key positions.

setTotkey(val:int) : sets the number of key positions.

getSeed() : returns the seed of the RNG.

setSeed(val:int) : sets the seed of the RNG.

getSeed() : returns the x,y,z components of the constant force applied to the particles.

setSeed(valx:float,valy:float,valz:float) : sets the x,y,z components of the constant force applied to the particles.

getMult() : returns the 4 probabilities of a particle having a child.

setMult(val1:float,val2:float,val3:float,val4:float) : sets the 4 probabilities of a particle having a child.

getLife() : returns the lifespan of the 4 generation particles.

setLife(val1:float,val2:float,val3:float,val4:float) : sets  the lifespan of the 4 generation particles.

getMat() : returns the material used by the 4 generation particles.

setMat(val1:float,val2:float,val3:float,val4:float) : sets the material used by the 4 generation particles.

getChild() : returns the number of children a particle may have.

setChild(val1:float,val2:float,val3:float,val4:float) : sets  the number of children a particle may have.

getDefvec() : returns the x, y and z axis of the force defined by the texture.

setDefvec(val1:float,val2:float,val3:float) : sets the x, y and z axis of the force defined by the texture.



The Object.attribute syntax

The attribute can take these values : "seed","nabla","sta","end","lifetime","normfac","obfac","randfac","texfac","randlife","vectsize","totpart","force","mult","life","child","mat","defvec".