HOW can i create a realistic fluid simulation?
Rachel Tibbs, Las Vegas
Pietro Chiovaro replies
Today I will explain how to create a realistic fluid simulation like this one. For the correct creation of fluid we first have to understand which elements will be interested in the simulation; in this case the main elements interested are the cup, the ice cubes and the straw. Once you have defined the ‘list’, you have to indicate the relation that these objects have with the fluid. To do this, select an object interested in the simulation (for example the cup). Next select the Physics panel, and from here select Fluid. Now you have to indicate the type of participation in the fluid simulation, and select Obstacle. This process must be done with all the other objects that should be seen as obstacles by the fluid (in this case the cup, ice cubes and straw).
Once we have done this, we have to create a cube that will define the area in which the fluid simulation will work. To activate this function in the cube, we need to select Domain instead of Obstacle in the Fluid Type. Now another element that we have to create is the mesh/plane that will emit the fluid. To do that, after the mesh/plane is selected we have to set the Inflow Fluid Type.
Now that we have defined the relations between all of these objects in the fluid simulation, we have to fix some parameters inside the domain details. In the Domain panel in Fluid World we have to fix a value of 2 in Grid Levels and a value of 0.050 in Compressibility. Once we have done this, we need only to set the value for the final resolution. In this simulation, to achieve a realistic result, I fixed a value of 240; I suggest you fix a value between 100 and 300, considering that the final quality will be dependant on this value.
Now, selecting the domain, we have to create the material of the fluid. In my case I used a simple Glass shader, fixing a different colour. Now we can start to bake the fluid domain and watch the final result, which will be a realistic fluid simulation.