It’s our 38th development update for the FLIP Fluids liquid simulation addon for Blender! Last week’s development mainly involved bug fixes, initial experimentation with a vortex force field, and a new feature that allows for upscaling a simulation to a higher resolution when resuming a bake.
Resolution Upscaling
We have added functionality to upscale a simulation to a higher resolution when resuming a bake. A helpful workflow feature to save time for certain simulation effects! Notes:
If resuming a bake at a higher resolution, the simulator will automatically upscale the simulation data to the new resolution.
Useful if you have a simulation that takes some time to generate motion before you want to render the animation. For example, the initial motion and fill of a river could be simulated at a low resolution quickly, and then upscaled and continued at a higher final resolution.
Functionality to downscale a simulation to a lower resolution will be added at a later date.
I had a chance last week to start an initial implementation of a vortex force field. It looks like the vortex field will be one of the simpler force field features to implement! I am able to re-use a lot of code from the curve guided force field as a vortex field is quite similar to generating a rotating field around a straight line curve. Here’s a frame from an early test of a whirlpool:
Next Video: Solving Common Issues
The next tutorial video that is in production will be about solving common issues with the FLIP Fluids addon! As an example: a common question we are asked is how to start/stop and inflow. This can be done by simply animating the inflow Enabled option.
Here is a quick export preview to show how a square wave f-curve can be used to turn on/off the flow:
[gfycat data_id="tinycontentdassie"]
Tip: most settings in the FLIP Fluids addon can be keyframed or f-curve animated. If you right click on a setting and you see an Insert Keyframe, then animating this setting is supported.
Force Field Experimental Version 9.0.9.09
This new experimental version update adds fixes to bugs introduced in the last few experimental updates, as well as the new resolution upscaling feature.
Update mainly consists of bug fixes and a feature to upscale simulation resolution on resume.
Added functionality to upscale a simulation to an increased resolution on resuming the bake. Notes:
If resuming a bake at a higher resolution, the simulator will automatically upscale the simulation data to the new resolution.
Useful if you have a simulation that takes some time to generate motion before you want to render the animation. For example, the initial motion and fill of a river could be simulated at a low resolution quickly, and then upscaled and continued at a higher final resolution.
Functionality to downscale a simulation to a lower resolution will be added at a later date.
Material UI dropdown lists have been copied from the FLIP Fluid Material panel into the FLIP Fluid Display Settings panel.
Bug Fix: Fixed issue where the simulation mesh could be loaded into the viewport during animated object export, causing a very slow export process.
Bug Fix: Fixed issue where Empty type objects could be exported to incorrect locations within the simulator.
Weekly Development Notes #38 – Vortex Fields, Resolution Upscaling, and Bug Fixes
Covering the week of October 26th – 30th, 2020.
It’s our 38th development update for the FLIP Fluids liquid simulation addon for Blender! Last week’s development mainly involved bug fixes, initial experimentation with a vortex force field, and a new feature that allows for upscaling a simulation to a higher resolution when resuming a bake.
Resolution Upscaling
We have added functionality to upscale a simulation to a higher resolution when resuming a bake. A helpful workflow feature to save time for certain simulation effects! Notes:
- If resuming a bake at a higher resolution, the simulator will automatically upscale the simulation data to the new resolution.
- Useful if you have a simulation that takes some time to generate motion before you want to render the animation. For example, the initial motion and fill of a river could be simulated at a low resolution quickly, and then upscaled and continued at a higher final resolution.
- Functionality to downscale a simulation to a lower resolution will be added at a later date.
[gfycat data_id="affectionatespectacularindigobunting"]In Progress: Vortex Force Field
I had a chance last week to start an initial implementation of a vortex force field. It looks like the vortex field will be one of the simpler force field features to implement! I am able to re-use a lot of code from the curve guided force field as a vortex field is quite similar to generating a rotating field around a straight line curve. Here’s a frame from an early test of a whirlpool:
Next Video: Solving Common Issues
The next tutorial video that is in production will be about solving common issues with the FLIP Fluids addon! As an example: a common question we are asked is how to start/stop and inflow. This can be done by simply animating the inflow Enabled option.
Here is a quick export preview to show how a square wave f-curve can be used to turn on/off the flow:
[gfycat data_id="tinycontentdassie"]Tip: most settings in the FLIP Fluids addon can be keyframed or f-curve animated. If you right click on a setting and you see an Insert Keyframe, then animating this setting is supported.
Force Field Experimental Version 9.0.9.09
This new experimental version update adds fixes to bugs introduced in the last few experimental updates, as well as the new resolution upscaling feature.
Want to try out these changes? They can be tested in our Force Field Experimental Builds Package in the latest version!
Release Notes v9.0.9.09
Featured Artwork
Post on our Facebook Page, or tag us @FLIPFluids on Twitter or @flip.fluids on Instagram for a chance to be featured!
RND Fluid Test for short film – Created by Paul Nelson
@PaulNelsonArt on Twitter
Soft Drink Commercial Tutorial – Created By cgDroid
@cgdroid65 on Instagram | Tutorial on the cgDroid YouTube Channel
HAPPY HALLOWEEN – Created by Morten Jensen
@mortenlu.kungfu on Instagram | Morten Lu on YouTube