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Explode Physics is a PhysX Painter tool that spawns multiple objects in a single interaction and immediately applies an outward or randomized physics force to each one. The objects scatter, collide with the environment, and settle under gravity.
New to Explode Physics? Follow the step-by-step Explode Physics — Getting Started tutorial first.

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Supported resource types

Explode Physics supports:

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How it works

  1. You click or drag in the scene view. The tool casts a ray downward to find the surface point.
  2. A random count between Instances Min and Instances Max is chosen.
  3. For each instance:
    • A random prototype is selected from the active group.
    • The center spawn point is offset above the surface by Position Offset Y.
    • If Spawn From One Point is off, the individual instance position is offset by a random vector inside a sphere of radius Size / 2 around the center. If it is on, every instance spawns at the exact center point.
    • The object is instantiated and physics simulation begins immediately.
    • If Spawn From One Point is off, a force is applied in the direction from the center point to the instance position, scaled by Force. If it is on, a force is applied in a random direction instead (Force is not used in that case).
  4. After all instances are spawned, physics runs until all simulated bodies settle.

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Tool-level settings

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Explode Physics Tool Settings

  • Position Offset Y — how far above the surface hit point the center of the explosion is placed. Default: 15.
  • Spacing — minimum cursor travel distance before a new burst fires while dragging. Default: 20. Minimum: 0.5.
  • Instances — a min/max range slider controlling how many objects are spawned per interaction. Range: 2–200. Default min: 25, default max: 50.
  • Spawn From One Point — when enabled, all objects spawn at the center point and each receives a random-direction force. When disabled, objects are distributed within a sphere and pushed outward from the center. Default: false.
  • Size — the diameter of the spawn sphere when Spawn From One Point is off. Shown as a slider from 10 to 300. Default: 10. Only visible when Spawn From One Point is off.
  • Force — the magnitude of the outward force applied to each instance when Spawn From One Point is off. Slider from 0 to 100. Default: 20. Only visible when Spawn From One Point is off.

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Scene view visualization

  • When Spawn From One Point is off: a sphere handle is drawn at the offset center point, and a dotted line connects the surface hit to the center. The sphere diameter matches Size.
  • When Spawn From One Point is on: a small button handle is drawn at the center point only.

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When to use Explode Physics

Explode Physics is best when you want to:
  • create a burst of scattered debris or props from a single impact point;
  • quickly fill an area with randomly distributed objects in one or a few clicks;
  • achieve chaotic or explosive-looking object distributions that would be slow to place manually.

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Notes

  • The tool belongs to the PhysX Painter family.
  • No Scatter or Success system is used — each object is picked randomly from all selected prototypes, and all instances in a burst are spawned unconditionally.
  • The physics simulator uses acceleration physics mode and ObjectTimeDisablePhysicsMode.
  • Undo is registered after mouse release, so a full drag stroke is undone in one step.