Product Comparison 3.0 vs. SE

More detail on the differences between particleIllusion 3.0 and particleIllusion SE.

Since SE uses an older version of the particleIllusion effects engine (2.0), you can't do these 3.0 effects in SE:



The image on the left shows Forces, which allow you to influence particles after they are created (3.0 only).

The center image shows an example of a Super Emitter (3.0 only), which is an emitter which creates other emitters automatically, resulting in some very complex and realistic effects.

The image on the right shows the don't erase option, which causes particles to "paint" themselves onto the stage (3.0 only).

SE is limited to a single layer, while 3.0 has support for multiple layers and transparency:



Note that this does not mean that SE can use only a single emitter -- you can have as many emitters (effects) as you want on a single layer.

particleIllusion 3.0 has additional color options, including the ability to have the particles get their colors from the background footage:

3.0 has more emitters available for it (over 2800 as compared to over 2000 for SE), and to better keep track of all of these emitters, 3.0 has a "Library Manager". With this feature you can easily move emitters (and particle types) between libraries. Left window shows the currently loaded library, middle list contains all of your libraries (from multiple paths), right window contains selected library from that list:

3.0 has an improved graph window (where you'll do a lot of your work) as well:

3.0 has the ability to use the alpha channel of an image (or sequence) as a "mask" to define where particles are created, which opens up a lot of new possibilities:

3.0 is easier to use when working on HD projects.

Both 3.0 and SE need a visible window in which to render, so the output resolution is limited to slightly smaller than your desktop resolution. 3.0 includes the pIllusionRender application though, which can render larger output. It is launched automatically by 3.0 when needed, so HD and higher resolution renders are possible.

Other features/improvements that 3.0 has that SE does not :
(in no particular order)

• Save and restore screen layouts with key shortcuts
• middle mouse button panning in stage window
• mouse wheel zooming in stage window
• graph window shows current property values
• particle colors can be restriced to "key" colors
• ability to set start/end frames and repeat playback
• drag and drop layers
• color coding in layers window
• duplicate layer function
• ability to turn off selected emitters and particle types in the stage
• graph window properties can be changed during playback for more interactivity
• can change the X and Y sizes of particles independently
• preview window can use images
• choose between alpha and RGB channel display
• high-quality motion blur option
• "safe areas" guides
• field rendering
• "aspect overlays" allow you to mask out the portions of the frame that will not be visible
• "don't erase" option can create some beautiful organic images
• made it easier to convert between emitter shapes (line, area, ellipse, etc.)
• position keys can now be modified at any time
• more information in status bar including zoom level and cursor position
• up/down arrows move between keys of all graphs, not just position
• more key shortcuts
• "numeric entry" has been improved
• color picker now has "eyedropper" to sample colors
• particle type emission angle and range can be independent of emitter
• "full emitter" option for preview windows
• easier "scrubbing" in the stage window