# How to set initial color GPU particle parameter from blueprint? **URL:** \ **Category:** Blueprint\ **Tags:** parameters, unreal-engine, editor, Blueprint, question\ **Created:** [October 2, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120 "2014-10-02T17:34:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xdbxdbx](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@xdbxdbx](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/xdbxdbx)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/1 "2014-10-02T17:34:13Z")
My Setup at a glance: ![16875-cascade+gpu+wtf.jpg](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/c/6/e/c6ee8bc9e45170080841bbe8a5779e2522105fc6.jpeg) Not sure if this is a bug or not, but I cant set the initial color of the GPU particle from within a blueprint script. the colors change when i set the constant values in the components tab and when i set the constants in cascade, but if I set it by calling either the set color param or set vector param in blueprint (or both as seen in picture), absolutely no change occurs. Am I doing anything wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Lovecraft\_K](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Lovecraft\_K](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Lovecraft_K)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 3:16pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/2 "2014-11-07T15:16:59Z")
Hey xdbxdbx - I have entered this bug in with our engineers for further investigation and I will let you know when we have a solution. The report is listed as UE-5168. Thank You Eric Ketchum ---
**Author:** ![kamrann](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@kamrann](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/kamrann)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/3 "2015-06-01T17:41:02Z")
This is pretty old and appears to still be unresolved (as of 4.7 at least). I just had 2 hours of confusion before finding this report. Any news? ---
**Author:** ![SVR33](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/svr33/32/906589_2.png) [@SVR33](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/SVR33)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/4 "2015-06-01T22:03:10Z")
Funny, I’m having the same issue right now, too. I’m using a Ribbon emitter and have it set up exactly the same as the OP. It’s drawn as black regardless of what color I input. ---
**Author:** ![straycodemonkey](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@straycodemonkey](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/straycodemonkey)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/5 "2015-11-04T13:49:28Z")
Same here to on 4.9.2. I’m trying to use a Distribution Vector Particle Parameter but it’s ignoring whatever the parameter is set to. ---
**Author:** ![Lovecraft\_K](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Lovecraft\_K](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Lovecraft_K)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/6 "2015-11-05T15:15:00Z")
Hello Everybody - When using the Particle Parameter that you will want to set directly from Blueprints, please make sure that your Particle Parameter Mode is set to DIRECT. ![65678-parammode.jpg](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/1/f/0/1f0793820bb78de835c9d6544efcf5850ed37848.jpeg) Thank You Eric Ketchum ---
**Author:** ![ivanrosadev](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@ivanrosadev](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/ivanrosadev)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/7 "2016-02-10T12:59:10Z")
That isn’t working neither on 4.10 ---
**Author:** ![Lovecraft\_K](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Lovecraft\_K](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Lovecraft_K)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/8 "2016-02-10T16:46:00Z")
Hello Ivan - Are you setting the ParamModes to DPM Direct and making sure that you are setting the value in your Blueprint? Internally this functionality is working correctly. Eric Ketchum ---
**Author:** ![toksn](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@toksn](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/toksn)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/9 "2016-02-22T22:45:26Z")
for me it is not working as well. tried to call GetVectorParameter or GetAnyVectorParameter with my parametername but i get false as a result which leads me to think the parameter is not there at all. ---
**Author:** ![Lovecraft\_K](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Lovecraft\_K](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Lovecraft_K)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/10 "2016-02-23T21:22:57Z")
Hello - Using Initial Color with GPU Particles is still a known issue as of 4.11 Preview 6. I have included additional information to the bug report, UE-5168. However there is a workaround: 1. Set your Initial Color Module to a Constant 1,1,1 2. Add a Scale Color / Life Module 3. In the Color Scale Over Life set the Distribution to Vector Particle Parameter 4. Name your parameter in Parameter Name 5. Under Param Modes set the 0,1 and 2 all to DPM Direct 6. If needed, set the Constant RGB values to 1,1,1 (will not affect outcome.) You should now be able to control the Particle Parameter in your Blueprints. Remember you can also stack the same module more than once, so you can add another Scale Color / Life Module to control overall behavior over the particles life, if required. I have attached a sample project below showing the setup mentioned above. Thank You - Eric Ketchum Test Project 4.10.4 ---
**Author:** ![toksn](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@toksn](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/toksn)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/11 "2016-02-23T23:17:01Z")
thank you very much. tried to get my particle effects colored for 3days with initialcolor but i can stay sane now thanks to you. it worked ---
**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_04f32a061](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_04f32a061](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_04f32a061)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2018, 11:26am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/12 "2018-07-18T11:26:14Z")
Just a small supplement: Don’t use “Initial Color” at all, instead use “Color over life” with parameters for initialization (as described above). And add “Scale Color / Life” _after_ that module to add some non-parameter information if you want (especially distribution curve). Furthermore, this bug will probably not be fixed (status “won’t fix”, see [UE-5168](https://issues.unrealengine.com/issue/UE-5168)), so you have to use this workaround. ---
**Author:** ![Davision](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Davision](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Davision)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 11:34am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/13 "2019-06-23T11:34:44Z")
The bug still exist and it has marked as Won’t Fix because it has been so long! Now that workaround only works if you want all particles the same color at the same time. Considering defining a color is a basic thing of a particle system it would be much appreciated if anyone can fix this issue. I have not tested yet if the same bug exists with Niagara, maybe if its working there the fix can be taken over for the regular particle systems. ---
**Author:** ![AyrunStudio](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/ayrunstudio/32/549009_2.png) [@AyrunStudio](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/AyrunStudio)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 4:13pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-set-initial-color-gpu-particle-parameter-from-blueprint/295120/14 "2023-05-17T16:13:36Z")
Hi, I know that is a old post, but maybe someone want a solution to this problem. I have this workaround, instead of using a “Initial Color” module, I use a “Color Over Life” module, and it work.