Ribbons and Trails
Strips that follow a moving point
Also known as: Ribbon renderer · Trail renderer · Weapon trail · Sword trail VFX · Niagara ribbon · Unity trail
Definition
Ribbons and trails are strips of geometry that follow a moving point, used for sword swipes, projectile tails, magic streaks, speed lines and wind. A ribbon connects the positions of a particle or an object over time into a camera-facing strip with a texture, and fades out along its length. Niagara has a Ribbon renderer, and Unity has the Trail Renderer and the Trails module of the Particle System. They look much smoother than a series of separate sprites.
In production
Use a texture that fades at the edges and tapers to a point at the end, and scroll or stretch it along the ribbon for motion. Add a few segments for curves, and keep the width and lifetime short for fast effects. Ribbons are translucent, so keep them narrow and few to avoid overdraw. A weapon trail should follow the blade's path, with a clear start and end of the swing.
