ParticleDesigner is a very useful tool that let you create particle effects in a very efficient way.

You can download it from here: ParticleDesigner . The license for the program is just 7.99$, quite a bargain for such a fine tool!

The main interface lets you choose between various pre-set emitter systems, giving an immediate preview on the Simulator on the side:

Then, after selecting your preferred pre-set, if you double-click on it or press the Emitter Configuration button on the upper-right side of the window you'll be able to configure every properties we've already seen in the previous parts of the tutorial:

You can also use the Randomize button to create random particle systems. 

When you're happy with the result, press the Save as button to export your particle system.

Select cocos2d (plist) as the file format. You can also embed the texture directly in the plist file if you want.

Then, to use it in your project, add the plist file in the Resources folder. If you didn't embed the texture, add the texture png file as well.

Then, to initialize a new particle system from our file, use particleWithFile:

	 

	CCParticleSystemQuad* particles = [CCParticleSystemQuad particleWithFile:@"emitter.plist"];