Why doesn't my sub-emitter inherit the parent particle's color?

Sub-emitters spawn with their own start values unless you configure inheritance. On the SubEmitters module, expand the entry and tick Inherit Color (and Velocity, etc.) per emit. Parent's runtime values then propagate.

What's the difference between Birth, Collision, Death sub-emitter events?

Birth: spawn sub-particles when the parent spawns. Collision: when a parent particle collides. Death: when a parent expires. Use Death for explosions, Collision for sparks-on-impact, Birth for trails.

Can I inherit Custom Data?

Yes. Custom Data 1/2 inherit just like Color and Velocity. Useful for passing per-particle parameters (e.g. a damage value, an enemy ID) down to sub-particle behaviors.

Fix: Unity Particle System Sub-Emitter Not Inheriting Color

Quick answer: SubEmitters module → expand the entry → tick Inherit Color (and Velocity, Size, Rotation, Lifetime as needed). Parent runtime values now propagate to sub-particles at the configured event (Birth/Collision/Death).

Parent particle is red. Death sub-emitter spawns white sparks. The sub never inherited the red. The Inherit checkbox lives on the SubEmitters entry, not on the sub-system itself.

The Symptom

Sub-emitter spawns at the right moment but with wrong start values. Color, velocity, or size doesn’t carry over from parent. Each parent looks identical in the sub.

The Fix

Parent ParticleSystem → SubEmitters module:
  Entry [0]:
    Type:               Death
    System:             Sparks (child PS)
    Probability:        1.0
    Inherit Color:      true     // THIS
    Inherit Velocity:   true
    Inherit Size:       false
    Inherit Rotation:   false
    Inherit Lifetime:   false
    Inherit Duration:   false

Each Inherit option propagates that property from the parent particle to every sub-particle spawned in this event.

Sub-System Settings

The child particle system needs Start Color compatible with inherited multiplication. Default Start Color = white means the inherited color is preserved as-is. A non-white Start Color tints on top.

Custom Data Inheritance

For per-particle data beyond color/velocity, use Custom Data:

Parent: Custom Data 1:    Constant 5.0     // damage value
Sub:    Custom Data Stream: Receive from parent

Verifying

Spawn red parents and blue parents in the same system. Sub-particles at death should be red and blue respectively. If all sub-particles are white, Inherit Color is unticked.

“Tick Inherit per axis. Sub-particles match their parents.”

Related Issues

For VFX Graph events, see VFX Graph events. For particle culling off-screen, see particle culling.

Inherit per axis. Color carries.