Particle & Fluid Simulation Plugins for 3D Hosts
Particle and fluid simulation plugins are powerful tools in 3D design, enabling artists to create realistic effects such as smoke, fire, water, cell swarms, and other dynamic elements. This article will explore some of the leading plugins available for various 3D software, focusing on Cinema 4D Particles, Sitni Sati FumeFX, INSYDIUM Fused, cebas ThinkingParticles, Chaos Phoenix, and Next Limit RealFlow. These tools are essential for those new to 3D design, providing a range of capabilities to enhance your projects.
Particle & Fluid Simulation Uses
- Motion Graphics: Creating dynamic visual effects like particle trails, explosions, and fluid animations.
- Visual Effects (VFX): Simulating realistic fire, smoke, water, and other natural phenomena for film and television.
- Architectural Visualization: Adding realistic environmental effects like fountains, rain, and fog to enhance visual presentations.
- Game Development: Creating interactive and dynamic effects that respond to player actions and environmental changes.
Key Terms & Concepts for Particle & Fluid Simulation
Below are a list of terms you’ll often see used in particle and fluid simulation tutorials and manuals.
- Particles: Small points in 3D space that can represent various elements like dust, smoke, sparks, or water droplets.
- Voxels: Volumetric pixels used in simulations to represent 3D space, often used in fluid and smoke simulations.
- Emitters: Objects that generate particles or fluids in a simulation.
- Modifiers: Tools that alter the behavior of particles, such as wind or gravity.
- Vorticity: The measure of the spin or rotation in fluids.
- GPU Acceleration: The use of graphics processing units to speed up simulation calculations.
Cinema 4D Particles (New in Cinema 4D 2024.4)
In April, Maxon introduced Cinema 4D Particles, a robust particle system that integrates seamlessly with Cinema 4D’s Unified Simulation systems, giving artists greater control over scenes. Design and create complex particle scenes easily using the Cinema 4D Particles! And it comes with new Particle presets, allowing artists to get started quickly.
What’s New in Cinema 4D 2024.4 | The 4 Hour Complete Guide. All New Particle System!
Chris Schmidt from Rocket Lasso gives you 2.5 hours worth of information about the new particle system in Cinema 4D.
Buy Cinema 4D
Maxon Cinema 4D is available as an annual subscription.
Maxon Cinema 4D Subscription
3D computer animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering software
Maxon Cinema 4D is a professional 3D modeling, animation, simulation, and rendering software solution. Its fast, powerful, flexible, and stable toolset make 3D workflows more accessible and efficient for design, motion graphics, VFX, AR/MR/VR, game development, and all types of visualization professionals. Cinema 4D produces stunning results, whether working on your own or in a team.
Cinema 4D 2024 provides unmatched speed and performance for the most sophisticated creative scenes. Rigid Body Simulations can now interact with all existing forces, pyro, cloth, and soft bodies. Pyro shines with a hot new feature that allows fire to be emitted from particles and matrices. And the new Vertex Normal tools offer artists unparalleled precision to perfect surfaces.
Cinema 4D is also available in the Maxon One bundle as an annual subscription.
Maxon One
Cinema 4D, Forger, Red Giant, Redshift, Universe, and ZBrush in One Bundle!
Introducing Maxon One – the ultimate subscription package for 3D artists and motion designers looking to bring their creative projects to life. With Maxon One, you gain instant access to an award-winning 3D animation tool with Cinema 4D as well as Red Giant Complete’s full collection of powerful tools for editing, VFX, and motion design. Plus, with ZBrush included in the bundle, you have the freedom to model sophisticated illustrations limited only by your imagination. Finally, the ultra-fast GPU renderer Redshift for Cinema 4D is also included. Now you can push the boundaries of what’s possible and take your creativity to a whole new level with a single all-encompassing package. Unlock the full potential of your creative brilliance with Maxon One!
Chaos Phoenix
Chaos Phoenix, formerly known as Phoenix FD, is a versatile fluid dynamics plugin that can simulate fire, smoke, liquids, ocean waves, splashes, and foam. It uses a hybrid simulation approach, combining both particle and voxel-based methods to achieve realistic results. Phoenix is known for its ease of use and integration with V-Ray, making it a popular choice for artists who need to create high-quality fluid simulations quickly. The plugin supports major 3D software like 3ds Max and Maya, and it is optimized for GPU acceleration to improve simulation times.
Host support: Autodesk 3ds Max and Maya
Chaos Phoenix Examples
Phoenix for 3ds Max Playlist
Phoenix for Maya Playlist
Get Chaos Phoenix
Chaos Phoenix
Fluid dynamics simulation software
Take your simulations to the next level with Chaos Phoenix 5. New tools give you more control than ever before. New and enhanced presets.
Free 30-Day Trial
Try V-Ray, Phoenix, Vantage, Cosmos, Player, and Scans for free with a 30-day trial. Tech support included.
Tech support included.
Chaos Phoenix
Fluid dynamics simulation software
Take your simulations to the next level with Chaos Phoenix 5. New tools give you more control than ever before. New and enhanced presets.
Free 30-Day Trial
Try V-Ray, Phoenix, Vantage, Cosmos, Player, and Scans for free with a 30-day trial. Tech support included.
Tech support included.
INSYDIUM Fused
INSYDIUM Fused is a comprehensive suite that includes the X-Particles and NeXus plugins for Cinema 4D.
X-Particles is known for its intuitive workflow and powerful simulation capabilities. It allows artists to create everything from smoke, fire, and advection to complex fluid simulations, and even cloth simulations. The plugin includes a range of modifiers, generators, and shaders, providing extensive control over the particle behavior. NeXus is a GPU particle and simulation system that integrates perfectly into the X-Particles ecosystem.
Additionally, INSYDIUM Fused integrates seamlessly with Cinema 4D and it’s compatible with the existing particle modifiers, object deformers, Mograph effectors, and more.
Host support: Cinema 4D
INSYDIUM Fused Examples
Below, watch some examples from the May 2024 release.
Get INSYDIUM Fused
INSYDIUM Fused Annual Subscription
All INSYDIUM products in one collection
INSYDIUM Fused gives you the ultimate toolkit to create mesmerizing particle effects, realistic terrains, animate plants – and more! With this powerful collection of plugins and products at your disposal plus an array of assets just waiting for you to discover them, there’s no limit to what creative solutions can arise. Plus with technical support available any time should anything come up along your artistic journey – you’re guaranteed success in completing even the most complex projects easily.
The INSYDIUM Fused Annual Subscription provides the Fused license on an annual basis. The full collection is only available if your license has Maintenance or you have a Subscription.
INSYDIUM Fused Perpetual License
INSYDIUM's collection of Plug-ins, Products, and Benefits
INSYDIUM Fused gives you the ultimate toolkit to create mesmerizing particle effects, realistic terrains, animate plants – and more! With this powerful collection of plugins and products at your disposal plus an array of assets just waiting for you to discover them, there’s no limit to what creative solutions can arise.
Plus with technical support available any time should anything come up along your artistic journey – you’re guaranteed success in completing even the most complex projects easily.
INSYDIUM Fused Perpetual License
12 Months Maintenance for Fused Users
INSYDIUM Fused Annual Maintenance, existing users get 12 months of Technical Support and instant access to exciting new features for Fused.
If you purchase Fused perpetual, the first 12 months of Technical Support and Updates are included. With this in mind, to continue to receive Technical Support and Updates, you must purchase the INSYDIUM Fused Annual Maintenance.
Sitni Sati FumeFX
FumeFX is a powerful fluid dynamics plugin used primarily for simulating realistic fire, smoke, and explosions. It is widely used in the VFX industry due to its flexibility, speed, and natural-looking results. FumeFX uses a voxel-based simulation approach, which delivers high-detail simulations. It also supports GPU acceleration, significantly speeding up the simulation process.
Host support: Cinema 4D, 3ds Max, and Maya
FumeFX Feature Film and Games Reel
FumeFX has been used on numerous TV shows, game cinematics, and feature films including Ironman 3, Hugo, Avengers, 2012, Superman Returns, Ghost Rider 2, Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Suckerpunch, Red Tails, The Priest, Alice in Wonderland, Star Trek – Into Darkness, Green Lantern, Oblivion, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Great and Powerful Oz, Northmen – A Viking Saga, Dr. Strange, and many more.
Video clips in the reel below are courtesy of Blur Studio, Iloura, Hydraulx, Luma Pictures, Mr. X, Pixomondo, Mr. Ruairi Robinson, and Uncharted Territory.
FumeFX 6 for 3ds max Release
FumeFX6 Vorticity Comparison
Buy Sitni Sati FumeFX
FumeFX is available for 3ds Max, Maya, and Cinema 4D.
Sitni Sati FumeFX for 3ds Max
One of the Fastest and Most Flexible CG Fluid Dynamics Simulation Systems Available
FumeFX is a powerful fluid dynamics plugin-in for Autodesk 3ds max, designed for simulation and rendering of realistic fire, smoke, explosions, and other gaseous phenomena. Unrivaled in its ability to capture the subtlety and complexity of fluid gas behavior it is favored among visual effects artists, game developers, visualization professionals and everyone else who demand the utmost in realism.
Sitni Sati FumeFX for Maya
A powerful fluid dynamics plugin designed for simulation and rendering of realistic explosions, fire, smoke, and other gaseous phenomena
Sitni Sati FumeFX for Maya is unrivaled in its ability to capture the subtlety and complexity of fluid gas behavior it is favored among visual effects artists, game developers, visualization professionals and everyone else who demand the utmost in realism.
Sitni Sati FumeFX for Cinema 4D
A powerful fluid dynamics plugin-in for Maxon Cinema 4D
FumeFX for Cinema 4D is designed for simulation and rendering of realistic fire, smoke, explosions and other gaseous phenomena. Unrivaled in its ability to capture the subtlety and complexity of fluid gas behavior it is favored among visual effects artists, game developers, visualization professionals and everyone else who demand the utmost in realism.
Next Limit RealFlow
RealFlow is one of the most renowned fluid and multiphysics simulation tools in the industry, known for its ability to create highly realistic liquid simulations. It uses the SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) method for small-scale simulations and the FLIP (Fluid-Implicit Particle) method for large-scale simulations like oceans and rivers. RealFlow can handle complex interactions between fluids and rigid bodies, making it suitable for a wide range of applications from film to advertising.
Host support: Cinema 4D, 3ds Max, and Maya, plus a standalone.
RealFlow Examples
Below are examples from RealFlow users, from the RealFlow website. For the artist info, please click through to Vimeo or YouTube.
Buy RealFlow
Next Limit RealFlow
Feel the Power - Fluids the easy way
Next Limit RealFlow is an industry-standard, out-of-the-box fluid simulation software. Fast and easy to use, it is compatible with ALL major 3D platforms. Simulate anything from a single drop of water to a massive tsunami.
Next Limit RealFlow | Maya
Fluids And More Inside Your Platform
RealFlow | Maya gives you the best in fluid simulation and more, directly inside Autodesk Maya®. Now it is faster and easier to simulate granulars, viscous, viscoelastic, rigid, and elastic materials with an even easier and faster workflow. Achieve high-end GPU-accelerated simulations from inside the Maya interface.
Next Limit RealFlow | Cinema 4D
Fluids Inside Your Platform
Next Limit RealFlow | Cinema 4D gives you the best in fluid simulation, directly inside Cinema 4D. Now you can achieve high-end simulations with an even easier workflow.
Next Limit RealFlow | 3ds Max
The Newest Member of the RealFlow Family
RealFlow | 3ds Max brings the well-known RealFlow fluid simulation tools directly to Autodesk 3ds Max®. Stay in 3ds Max® to perform your liquid, granular, viscous, and viscoelastic simulations.
NOTE: RealFlow | 3ds Max is available for Autodesk 3ds Max® 2017, 2018, and 2019 only.
Cebas ThinkingParticles & finalFluid
ThinkingParticles by cebas is a rule-based particle system that excels in creating complex particle effects. It is particularly well-suited for simulations that require precise control and interaction between particles. ThinkingParticles uses a node-based interface, allowing users to define behaviors and interactions through a visual scripting system. This makes it ideal for creating intricate effects like debris, shattering, and procedural destruction. The plugin is compatible with 3ds Max and is widely used in both film and game production
finalFluid is the first NVIDIA – GPU-only based real-time Sparse Grid Eulerian fluid solver for 3ds Max, fully integrated with deep integration into 3ds max workflows.
Host support: 3ds Mac
thinkingParticles & finalFluid Examples
Radioactive Water Fountain with thinkingParticles
Orange Juice Fountain, thinkingParticles Fluid Solver R&D
Softbody Liquid Metal with thinkingParticles
finalFluid Realtime Fire & Smoke for 3ds Max
Buy ThinkingParticles and finalFluid
cebas thinkingParticles for 3ds Max
The ultimate rule-based particle system for 3ds max
Are you tired of working with particle systems that don't give you enough control? Say hello to thinkingParticles 7, the ultimate rule-based particle system for 3ds max. Unlike event-based systems, it offers unparalleled power to users through its unique and non-linear rules-based logic. With simple behaviors governing every aspect of particle movement, life, death, and collisions, you'll have full control over every detail of your masterpiece. Say goodbye to time-based constraints and hello to endless possibilities with thinkingParticles 7.
Countless blockbuster movies and projects depend on thinkingParticles’ limitless ability to recreate advanced physics-based particle effects fully procedural and rule-based.
cebas finalFluid
Real-Time Smoke & Fire for 3ds Max
cebas finalFluid for 3ds Max is a state-of-the-art, fully integrated real-time fire and smoke GPU simulation engine.
Are you an After Effects user? See: In Depth: Particle Plugins for After Effects within your Budget.
Posted by Michele
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