Water Bubble Shield

HOW IT'S MADE

Water Bubble Shield stacks 17 particle emitters, each with its own job. Techniques worth a look: ribbon trails, sub-emitters set off by other particles, paths, particles stretched along their motion and post filters (bloom and vignette). 3 scene layers (ground and props) show in the studio for context and stay out of every export.

It loops seamlessly every 2.4 s, and 3 of its layers fire in bursts, so it pulses instead of flowing evenly. To change its colour, select "Rim Light" in the studio and edit Colour A and Colour B. Size on the same layer sets how big its particles are. The colour swatches by the downloads recolour every layer at once.

Layers, in draw order

1. Floor Caustics, Rim Light, Bounce Lightparticles / additiveA single long-lived particle that stays for the whole loop.
2. Shield Fill, Shield Depth, Specular Arc +1particlesA single long-lived particle that stays for the whole loop.
3. Inner BubblesparticlesA steady stream of bubbles from a disc. They sway from side to side. Colours range between white and pale cyan.
4. Current, Current, CurrentparticlesA steady stream of ribbon trails. They travel along a path. Colours range between white and pale cyan.
5. Hit Rippleparticles2 single particles at set times. They grow as they age. Colour: white.
6. Hit Flashparticles / additiveA single particle at 1.2 s. It grows as it ages. Colour: white.
7. Hit Spray Sourceparticles / additiveOne burst of 22 pixels at 1.2 s. They spawn "Hit Spray Rim" as they appear, spawn "Hit Spray Body" as they appear and spawn "Hit Spray Highlight" as they appear. Colours range between orange and gold.
8. Hit Spray Rim, Hit Spray BodyparticlesStreaks set off by "Hit Spray Source". They fall under gravity and slow down with drag. Colour: blue.
9. Hit Spray HighlightparticlesStreaks set off by "Hit Spray Source". They fall under gravity and slow down with drag. Colour: white.