{"id":325,"date":"2026-04-06T18:30:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T18:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/?page_id=325"},"modified":"2026-04-27T20:41:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T20:41:36","slug":"niagara-system-in-unreal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/projects.etc.cmu.edu\/dots-to-depth-studios\/niagara-system-in-unreal\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make 3DGS Data Reactive to Niagara Forces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Install Plugin<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Open Unreal Engine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click on Edit, Plugins. In the pop-up window, add 3D Gaussians, and reopen Unreal for this change to take effect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Optional step to see the Niagara folder: Open the Content Drawer on the left side. Click on Settings (gear icon), and make sure Engine Content and Plugin Content are checked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Import a 3DGS ply file. If a compatibility issue pops up, use SuperSplat to export a Standard PLY. For more information on SuperSplat, check out our SuperSplat documentation<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo from: https:\/\/akiya-research-institute.github.io\/3dGaussiansPlugin-Manual\/en\/<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once we import the .ply file, we can drag it directly into our game scene and get a 3DGS game object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Get the Special Niagara System<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In your Content Drawer, right-click and select Niagara System from plugin’s folder. This is a specialized Niagara System Template that contains specific parameters from the plugin. We need to edit it as a foundation to create our desired effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Double-click on it, and a new window will pop up. Here, we can impelement our own effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An example that will lead to the effects shown in the video below. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Time Control<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  • Click on Emitter State<\/strong>. Change the Loop Duration<\/strong> to a big number (e.g. 10000)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Click on Initialize Particle<\/strong>. Change the LifeTime Max<\/strong> to a big number (e.g. 10000)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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    • Use SystemUpdate.LoopDuration as the actual particle system life time. For exapmle, if we set the time in SystemUpdate.LoopDuration as 8, the effect will last for 8 seconds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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      Add Effect<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      To achieve the desired effect, we can edit the Particle Update module; within this module, we can add various forces, allowing the Niagara System to use them to manipulate the movement of the particles. Here, we add a Curl Noise Force, which causes the particles to gradually blur and then fade away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Bind to 3DGS Object<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Once the Niagara system is ready, we can link it directly to the 3DGS Object so the Niagara System can control the behavior of particles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Under Niagara Override, select the system you just made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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