phoenix fd 3.0 for 3ds max
A big update to the fluid simulator adds a new FLIP solver
although simulations are a specialised area, many 3D artists find a need to dabble in a variety of liquid, fire, smoke and such effects. Generalists and freelancers are a prime example, as are smaller studios. The biggest hurdle for these users is often the steep learning curve involved. Specialists can justify investing the time and effort, but that’s not always the case for indie users, which is where plugins like Phoenix FD come in.
From the get-go Phoenix FD 3.0 for 3ds Max is a joy to use and newcomers will have no trouble getting to grips with how the software works. The toolshelf is there upon launch, once you install, which, along with the standard controls, houses a number of very useful and useable presets.
These presets are new in version 3 and using them is a great way to handle the software, as they offer scripted simulation setups, allowing more time to be spent learning how the details work, rather than the scene set-up process. While just one of many new additions in version 3, these presets are worth the upgrade just for their time-saving ability; a godsend for new users.
The presets cover a range of uses from fire and explosion, to smoke and fluids (there’s also a new FLIP fluid solver) and the default settings for these are very good. All you need to do is select the mesh you want to set fire to, then clock the icon for the fire preset. Phoenix FD then sets up the necessary components and relationships, ready for you to press simulate.
You can stop the sim at any point, then continue, or stop and delete as needed. While the simulation is running you can navigate the scene, with the refresh rate remaining pretty smooth for all but the fastest of moves, at which point the sim continues but the scene drops to bounding boxes. The viewport previews have been updated in version 3 and now give a good representation of the final rendered result, saving time on tests and generally making the workflow smoother and less frustrating.
Selecting the simulation in the outliner opens up the properties panels. From here you can access just about any attribute imaginable, but in clearly labelled and logically laid out segments. Overall settings are open by default making it easy to set the resolution and other properties. You can unfold panels to deal with heat, fuel and more.
Accurate simulations can often be hard work, but Phoenix FD 3.0 alleviates that pain with its new shelf items. Not only is it faster to set up and get results, but those results are better than ever, with new solvers and much more helpful viewport previews.