Leaf Group Properties
Particle Systems

Tree - Wind Zones

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Wind ZonesA GameObject that adds the effect of wind to your terrain. For instance, Trees within a wind zone will bend in a realistic animated fashion and the wind itself will move in pulses to create natural patterns of movement among the tree. More info
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add realism to the trees you create by making them wave their branches and leaves as if blown by the wind.

To the left a Spherical Wind Zone, to the right a Directional Wind zone.
To the left a Spherical Wind Zone, to the right a Directional Wind zone.

Properties

Property: Function:
Mode
        Spherical Wind zone only has an effect inside the radius, and has a falloff from the center towards the edge.
        Directional Wind zone affects the entire sceneA Scene contains the environments and menus of your game. Think of each unique Scene file as a unique level. In each Scene, you place your environments, obstacles, and decorations, essentially designing and building your game in pieces. More info
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in one direction.
Radius Radius of the Spherical Wind Zone (only active if the mode is set to Spherical).
Main The primary wind force. Produces a softly changing wind pressure.
Turbulence The turbulence wind force. Produces a rapidly changing wind pressure.
Pulse Magnitude Defines how much the wind changes over time.
Pulse Frequency Defines the frequency of the wind changes.

Details

Wind Zones are used only by the tree creator for animating leaves and branches. This can help your scenes appear more natural and allows forces (such as explosions) within the game to look like they are interacting with the trees. For more information about how a tree works, just visit the tree class page.

Using Wind Zones in Unity

Using Wind Zones in Unity is really simple. First of all, to create a new wind zone just click on Game Object > 3D Object > Wind Zone.

Place the wind zone (depending on the type) near the trees created with the tree creator and watch it interact with your trees!.

Note: If the wind zone is Spherical you should place it so that the trees you want to blow are within the sphere’s radius. If the wind zone is directional it doesn’t matter where in the scene you place it.

Hints

  • To produce a softly changing general wind:
    • Create a directional wind zone.
    • Set Wind Main to 1.0 or less, depending on how powerful the wind should be.
    • Set Turbulence to 0.1.
    • Set Pulse Magnitude to 1.0 or more.
    • Set Pulse Frequency to 0.25.
  • To create the effect of a helicopter passing by:
    • Create a spherical wind zone.
    • Set Radius to something that fits the size of your helicopter
    • Set Wind Main to 3.0
    • Set Turbulence to 5.0
    • Set Pulse Magnitude to 0.1
    • Set Pulse Frequency to 1.0
    • Attach the wind zone to a 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
      resembling your helicopter.
  • To create the effect of an explosion:
    • Do the same as with the helicopter, but fade the Wind Main and Turbulence quickly to make the effect wear off.

  • 2017–09–19 Page amended with limited editorial review

  • GameObject menu changed in Unity 4.6

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Leaf Group Properties
Particle Systems