Posted by PHlooG at cache.whirlpool.com on January 18, 2000 at 14:45:13:
In Reply to: Oops, and a question posted by Vincent on January 18, 2000 at 13:23:53:
: Gee, I'm sorry- I thought you meant "practical". What are particle effects? I've never heard that term. I'm guessing maybe Scott made the same mistake, and thought you meant "practical".
If you're referring to effects involving particle systems, you're correct...none really to be seen in Dogma.
I've not heard them called particle effects much, but I think that what you were referring to were CG effects involving the creation of digital 'particles' to represent falling water, sparks, etc. Depending on the way that they are texture or replaced with volumetric effects, they can even use particle systems to represent clouds and fire. It is also possible to replace each particle with a mesh representation of an object, so that each particle is a bird in a flock, or a bee in a swarm.
A bunch of my CG pals were ooh-ing and ah-ing over the wonderful particle systems used to create the waterfalls in Episode 1. They all felt like fools when they were told that it wasn't actually CG, but good old-fashioned salt. So there you have an practical effect taking the place of a particle effect/system.
And Magnolia sucked (JUST KIDDING!!!!)
PHlooG
Can't avoid being an ass