I've noticed lots of excellent looking explosions and lighting effects using Alpha Channels recently and want to do something similar for explosions on my game, R.P.G. - Rocket Propelled Guts! However, i have no idea where to start! Any help would be so welcome please, i'm pulling my hair out!!
The most common way to create nice looking visuals like explosions, fire, water, and light, usually involve using both the alpha channels and the add pixel shader (using HWA) or the add ink effect. This way as you pile a few objects on each other, they all appear to merge together.
A very simple explosion styled particle effect is:
Always Set X of Object to ObjectX + Alterable Value A
Always Set Y of Object to ObjectY + Alterable Value B
Always Add to Alterable Value B
If Alterable Value A > 0 Then Subtract 1
If Alterable Value A < 0 Then Add 1
Then to create the particle effects:
Create Object and Set Alterable Value A to Random ( 16 ) - 8 And Set Y to Random ( 8 )
This allows the object to move the amount of pixels in the alterable values, relative to their own position, and when you create the object you're setting those values. Tweak as necessary.