Add particle systems and visual effects to an FXGL game — configure ParticleEmitter with function-based setters (setVelocityFunction, setAccelerationFunction, setExpireFunction, setScaleFunction, setSpawnPointFunction); use built-in factory emitters (fire, explosion, smoke, rain); apply image-textured particles with multiplyColor / toColor; write custom per-particle physics via setControl; attach TrailParticleComponent for motion trails; apply SlowTimeEffect for bullet-time; apply WobbleEffect for screen-shake; stack multiple effects with EffectComponent; build fireworks displays. Use this skill when adding explosions, fire, smoke, rain, motion trails, impact bursts, bullet-time slow-motion, screen shake, or any particle-based visual polish.
Install with Codex or Claude Copy this prompt, paste it into Codex, Claude, or another assistant, and let it review the skill page and install it for you.
A direct command skips the review prompt. Inspect the source before running it.
Add particle systems and visual effects to an FXGL game — configure ParticleEmitter with function-based setters (setVelocityFunction, setAccelerationFunction, setExpireFunction, setScaleFunction, setSpawnPointFunction); use built-in factory emitters (fire, explosion, smoke, rain); apply image-textured particles with multiplyColor / toColor; write custom per-particle physics via setControl; attach TrailParticleComponent for motion trails; apply SlowTimeEffect for bullet-time; apply WobbleEffect for screen-shake; stack multiple effects with EffectComponent; build fireworks displays. Use this skill when adding explosions, fire, smoke, rain, motion trails, impact bursts, bullet-time slow-motion, screen shake, or any particle-based visual polish.
// --- velocity: Function<Integer, Point2D> (i = particle index) ---
1
45
// --- acceleration: Supplier<Point2D> ---
new
Point2D
0
9.8
// downward gravity
// --- scale delta per frame: Function<Integer, Point2D> ---
0.01
// --- lifetime: Function<Integer, Duration> ---
0.25
2.5
// --- spawn offset from entity origin: Function<Integer, Point2D> ---
new
Point2D
5
5
5
5
// --- color ---
1
0
0
0
// fade to transparent
// --- blend mode ---
// ADD = glow; SRC_OVER = normal
// --- rotation ---
true
// --- interpolation curve ---
Attaching an Emitter to an Entity
import com.almasb.fxgl.particle.ParticleComponent;
// Continuous effect — lives as long as the entity
entityBuilder()
.at(torchX, torchY)
.with(newParticleComponent(ParticleEmitters.newFireEmitter()))
.buildAndAttach();
One-Shot Burst (Explosion / Impact)
import com.almasb.fxgl.dsl.components.ExpireCleanComponent;
ParticleEmitterburst= ParticleEmitters.newExplosionEmitter(80);
burst.setBlendMode(BlendMode.ADD);
burst.setStartColor(FXGLMath.randomColor());
burst.setEndColor(Color.color(1, 1, 0, 0));
burst.setExpireFunction(i -> Duration.seconds(random(1.25, 2.5)));
entityBuilder()
.at(hitX, hitY)
.with(newParticleComponent(burst))
.with(newExpireCleanComponent(Duration.seconds(3)).animateOpacity())
.zIndex(100)
.buildAndAttach();
// ExpireCleanComponent is required — without it the entity stays in the world forever.
Image-Textured Particles
Particles can use a source image instead of a solid rectangle.
Use texture().multiplyColor(color) to tint while preserving shape, or
texture().toColor(color) to fully recolor.
import javafx.scene.paint.Color;
Colorc= FXGLMath.randomColor();
// Tint: preserves the image shape, multiplies each pixel by the color
emitter.setSourceImage(texture("particles/flare_01.png", 64, 64).multiplyColor(c));
// Flat recolor: replaces all non-transparent pixels with the given color
emitter.setSourceImage(texture("particles/rain.png").toColor(Color.YELLOW));
setControl receives a Consumer<Particle> called every frame for every live particle.
Use the mutable Particle fields to implement noise fields, attractors, boundary bounce, etc.
ParticleEmitterrain= ParticleEmitters.newRainEmitter(getAppWidth() / 2);
rain.setSourceImage(texture("rain.png").multiplyColor(Color.BLUE));
entityBuilder()
.with(newParticleComponent(rain))
.buildAndAttach();
// Second lane with different color and interpolatorParticleEmitterrain2= ParticleEmitters.newRainEmitter(getAppWidth() / 2);
rain2.setSourceImage(texture("rain.png").toColor(Color.YELLOW));
rain2.setInterpolator(Interpolators.EXPONENTIAL.EASE_OUT());
entityBuilder()
.at(getAppWidth() / 2, 0)
.with(newParticleComponent(rain2))
.buildAndAttach();
ExpireCleanComponent is mandatory for one-shot emitters. Without it the entity
persists forever consuming memory. Always pair with burst emitters.
BlendMode.ADD washes out on light backgrounds. Switch to BlendMode.SRC_OVER
for effects on non-black scenes.
No setVelocityX/Y, setGravityX/Y, or setLifetime methods exist. Use
setVelocityFunction, setAccelerationFunction, and setExpireFunction instead.
newRainEmitter takes a width argument — newRainEmitter(int widthPx). Calling it
without an argument compiles but uses a zero-width lane.
setControl runs every frame per particle — keep its lambda fast. Avoid allocations
inside it; use Vec2.set() to mutate rather than creating new objects.
TrailParticleComponent spawns one entity per particle — high emission intervals with
many fast entities push entity counts into the thousands. Profile if FPS drops.
SlowTimeEffect does not affect run() / runOnce() timers, JavaFX transitions, or
UI animations. Only entity Component.onUpdate() sees the scaled tpf.
newExplosionEmitter(radius) — radius controls spread width, not particle count.
Increase setNumParticles() separately for a denser burst.
