presents

a plugin for Cinema 4D XL
Idea and algorithm by thorn - Implementation by Ben Johnson

Spark creates an animated "Jacob's Ladder" type effect. You have complete control of the diameter of the bolt, the length, the complexity, color, and amount of movement. This plugin requires Cinema 4D XL v5.1 or above.

Begin by creating 2 Empty (null) Objects. Name the first "Start", and the second "End". These two objects will be the end points of the spark. Position them in the scene as desired.

Now select Spark from your plugin menu. You will be presented with this dialog:

Start Object: The object which will be the beginning point of the spark.
End Object: The object which will be the end point of the spark.
Spark Width: The size of the spark's cross section diameter.
Complexity: The number of cross sections which will be used. Larger values can give a more jagged result.
Randomness: This percentage effects how much the spark will move about.
Movement X: This is the maximum distance the spark cross sections will move on the X axis.
Movement Y: This is the maximum distance the spark cross sections will move on the Y axis.
Start Time: The frame number in which the spark will become visible.
End Time: The frame number in which the spark will invisible.

Input the values to define the spark's size, complexity, and animation parameters.Then click "ok".
A spark object will appear in the object manager.

Apply a material to the spark. Finally, you should add a shadow parameter to the spark from the object menu; turn both casting and receiving shadows OFF. Your spark is ready to go! You can delete the "Start" and "End" objects if you like, or reposition them and make another spark.

Hints:

• The endpoints of the spark do not move. This is intentional - however, if you do want them to move, simply delete the FIRST and LAST cross sections in the Spark group.
• You will notice that the shape of the spark changes every time it renders - even on the same frame. This is because the spark is truly random; the cross sections are not assigned position values for each frame.

We hope you will find Spark to be a useful plugin. If you have any suggestions (or problems) with this plugin, please don't hesitate to contact us!

Cup of C.O.F.F.E.E. plugins are created by Ben Johnson. The emphasis is on quality, reliability, and usefulness. Ben works very hard to bring Cinema 4D users great plugins at a very affordable price. Please do not distribute these plugins. They are copyrighted material, and piracy only discourages future development. Support the developer, and he will support you. And thanks for purchasing this Cup of C.O.F.F.E.E. plugin!

Cup of C.O.F.F.E.E. Plugins are distributed by

Spark ©1998, Ben Johnson