This resource consists of lightning flash effects that light up the entire sky. These effects do not include lightning bolts, but are instead meant to simulate the lighting up of the sky caused by lightning. One of my earliest particle effects included thunderstorms that many people referred to as "blue balls." This is intended as an upgrade.
Lightning Flash 1 will light up 180 degrees of the sky, so in order to light up the full sky, two assets would need to be added on opposite sides of the scene, as can be seen in the demonstration scene. This asset is best positioned 50 to 100 meters in the direction that you desire the lightning flashes to occur. Despite the limitations with version 1, it can be very effective, especially for window scenes, and it has little to no frame rate impact. Lightning Flash 2 uses 3D mesh to light the full sphere of the sky, which can have more of an impact on framerates, predominately in VR mode. Lightning Flash 2 is best positioned with the CUA node in the center of the scene. This resource also includes a fast reacting, low resolution reflection probe, as illustrated in the demo scene.
Demonstration scene "lightning demo 1" has controls on the right side of the scene which enables switching between version 1 and version 2 of the lightning flash effects, as well as toggling the reflection probe on and off, and controlling the volume of sound effects. The demo scene has the new lightning effects, as well as a good old "blue balls" thunderstorm.
I owe special gratitude to @mspeck01 for sound development for this resource, and for this well produced demonstration video.
Lightning Flash 1 will light up 180 degrees of the sky, so in order to light up the full sky, two assets would need to be added on opposite sides of the scene, as can be seen in the demonstration scene. This asset is best positioned 50 to 100 meters in the direction that you desire the lightning flashes to occur. Despite the limitations with version 1, it can be very effective, especially for window scenes, and it has little to no frame rate impact. Lightning Flash 2 uses 3D mesh to light the full sphere of the sky, which can have more of an impact on framerates, predominately in VR mode. Lightning Flash 2 is best positioned with the CUA node in the center of the scene. This resource also includes a fast reacting, low resolution reflection probe, as illustrated in the demo scene.
Demonstration scene "lightning demo 1" has controls on the right side of the scene which enables switching between version 1 and version 2 of the lightning flash effects, as well as toggling the reflection probe on and off, and controlling the volume of sound effects. The demo scene has the new lightning effects, as well as a good old "blue balls" thunderstorm.
I owe special gratitude to @mspeck01 for sound development for this resource, and for this well produced demonstration video.
