Dust particles are a simple way to add impactful visual elements to your project. In this section, you’ll learn how to use an image to create a floating particle effect, then once the material is ready, to create a system from an emitter template that will serve as the basis for your dust effect.

Create the Dust Particle Material
Begin by creating a custom image for your dust material, you can import a texture image file or use the image provided below to create your dust material.

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Create a folder in the Content Browser called Materials, then double-click the folder to open it.
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Right-click inside the Content Browser and select Material from the dropdown menu.
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Name the material Dust_Mat.
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Click Import and select the texture file of your dust particle and click OK. Your texture file imports into the Content Browser.
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Double-click the material thumbnail to open the Material Editor.
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Select the Main Material Node (MMN) to open the MMN settings in the Details panel. Under Material > Blend Mode change the option to Translucent.
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Right-click inside the Material Editor graph and search for the Texture Sample and Divide nodes.
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Select the Texture Sample node and add the dust file to Texture in the Details panel.
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Drag off the RGB output pin on the Texture Sample node and plug into the Base Color input pin on the Main Material node.
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Drag off the A output pin on the Texture Sample node and plug into the A input pin on the Divide node.
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Change the B input value to 1.0 on the Divide node. This reduces the opacity of the material to give it a more see-through look.
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Drag off the Divide output pin and plug it into the Opacity input pin on the Main Material node.
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Click Apply > Save to save the material.
Create the System
The Niagara system determines the basic look of the dust. You'll start by creating the system, then adjust the shape of the bounds that the particles will spawn in to create a dust effect that works for your project.
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Create a folder in the Content Browser called Dust.
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Double-click the Dust folder, then right-click in the Content Browser of the folder and select Niagara System from the dropdown menu.
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Select New System from selected emitter(s), then Next. The emitter template menu opens.
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Select Hanging Particulates from the scroll menu, then click Plus > Finish.
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Name the emitter Dust Particulate.
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Double-click the effect thumbnail to open the System Editor with the Hanging Particulates emitter template.
Click image to enlarge.
Now you’re ready to test and edit how the particles behave.