Parameters of the MAIN SETTINGS

The first screen shown in the Edit pane gives you a quick way to modify conventional parameters associated with smoke:

• VOLUME. Overall size of the particle (puff) used. For a description of particles, please see the first page in the Effects section. In reality, smoke volume is not simply equivalent to the size of each puff, but this analogy provides an easy way to think about this smoke characteristic.
• VELOCITY. How quickly the effect moves.
• DENSITY. How thick the effect is presented. In our simulation, we vary the density by changing the effect's transparency (or opacity). In reality, density is more than just transparency of the plume--it also involves how tightly-packed the plume is, something we would translate to Particles Per Frame (see the PARTICLES tab parameters to adjust this). However, using opacity to render density changes is a simple way to achieve the approximate effect.
• BRIGHT. Overall brightness of the plume elements (particles). This lets you simulate various shades of the initial pattern. In the ALL SETTINGS tab, you can precisely modify the Color of the plume, for example, to model hazardous gases. In that area, you can also tell CS Effects to lighten or darken the plume when it reaches a certain point. This is designed to simulate the effect that smoke lightens as it gets further from the source. If you modify the BRIGHT setting on the MAIN SETTINGS panel, the system will adjust the final brightness value to remain consistent. If you modify the BRIGHT setting in the Color panel, you can independently control the starting from ending (final) brightness values, as well as at which point to start changing the brightness from start to final.
• OVERALL SIZE. A convenient way to make the plume larger or smaller overall.

If what you want to modify is not on the MAIN SETTINGS panel, you click on the words ALL SETTINGS to reveal panels you can use to modify any CS Effects parameter.