Texture Sheet Animation module

A particle’s graphic need not be a still image. This module lets you treat the Texture as a grid of separate sub-images that can be played back as frames of animation.

Using the Texture Sheet Animation module

This module is part of the Particle SystemA component that simulates fluid entities such as liquids, clouds and flames by generating and animating large numbers of small 2D images in the scene. More info
See in Glossary component. When you create a new Particle System GameObjectThe fundamental object in Unity scenes, which can represent characters, props, scenery, cameras, waypoints, and more. A GameObject’s functionality is defined by the Components attached to it. More info
See in Glossary, or add a Particle System component to an exiting GameObject, Unity adds the Texture Sheet Animation module to the Particle System. By default, Unity disables this module. To create a new Particle System and enable this module:

1. Click GameObject > Effects > Particle System.
2. In the InspectorA Unity window that displays information about the currently selected GameObject, asset or project settings, allowing you to inspect and edit the values. More info
   See in Glossary, find the Particle System component.
3. In the Particle System component, find the Texture Sheet Animation module fold-out.
4. To the left of the fold-out header, enable the checkbox.

API

Since this module is part of the Particle System component, you access it through the ParticleSystem class. For information on how to access it and change values at runtime, see the Texture Sheet Animation module API documentation.

Grid mode properties

Sprite mode properties

For some properties in this section, you can use different modes to set their value. For information on the modes you can use, see Varying properties over time.

Details

Particle animations are typically simpler and less detailed than character animations. In systems where the particles are visible individually, animations can be used to convey actions or movements. For example, flames may flicker and insects in a swarm might vibrate or shudder as if flapping their wings. In cases where the particles form a single, continuous entity like a cloud, animated particles can help add to the impression of energy and movement.

You can use the Single Row mode to create separate animation sequences for particles and switch between animations from a script. This can be useful for creating variation or switching to a different animation after a collisionA collision occurs when the physics engine detects that the colliders of two GameObjects make contact or overlap, when at least one has a Rigidbody component and is in motion. More info
See in Glossary. The Random Row option is highly effective as a way to break up conspicuous regularity in a particle system (for example, a group of flame objects that are all repeating the exact same flickering animation over and over again). This option can also be used with a single frame per row as a way to generate particles with random graphics. This can be used to break up regularity in a object like a cloud or to produce different types of debris or other objects from a single system. For example, a blunderbuss might fire out a cluster of nails, bolts, balls and other projectiles, or a car crash effect may result in springs, car paint, screws and other bits of metal being emitted.

Use the Row Mode property to break up conspicuous regularity in a Particle System (for example, a group of GameObjects that all repeat an identical flickering animation over and over again). To generate particles with random graphics, use this property with a single frame per row. This is useful for breaking up regularity in a single system, such as cloud, or to produce different types of debris. For example, a gun might fire out a cluster of nails, bolts and other projectiles, or a car crash effect could emit springs, car paint, screws and other bits of metal.

UV flipping is a great way to add more visual variety to your effects without needing to author additional textures.

Selecting the Sprites option from the Mode dropdown allows you to define a list of Sprites to be displayed for each particle, instead of using a regular grid of frames on a texture. Using this mode allows you to take advantage of many of the features of Sprites, such as the Sprite PackerA facility that packs graphics from several sprite textures tightly together within a single texture known as an atlas. Unity provides a Sprite Packer utility to automate the process of generating atlases from the individual sprite textures. More info
See in Glossary, custom pivots and different sizes per Sprite frame. The Sprite Packer can help you share materials between different Particle Systems, by atlasing your textures, which in turn can improve performance via Dynamic BatchingAn automatic Unity process which attempts to render multiple meshes as if they were a single mesh for optimized graphics performance. The technique transforms all of the GameObject vertices on the CPU and groups many similar vertices together. More info
See in Glossary. There are some limitations to be aware of with this mode. Most importantly, all Sprites attached to a Particle System must share the same texture. This can be achieved by using a Multiple Mode Sprite, or by using the Sprite Packer. If using custom pivot points for each Sprite, please note that you cannot blend between their frames, because the geometry will be different between each frame. Only simple Sprites are supported, not 9 slice. Also be aware that Mesh particles do not support custom pivots or varying Sprite sizes.

• 2019–04–16 Page amended

• Functionality of Texture Sheet Animation module changed in Unity 2017.1 NewIn20171

• Time Mode added to Particle System in Unity 2018.3 NewIn20183

• Row Mode added to Particle System in Unity 2019.1 NewIn20191