Fluid Shaded Particles
Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 9:54PM
You must put the FSP_Smoke.mel file here.
[USERNAME]\Documents\maya\2009-x64\presets\attrPresets\fluidShape\FSP_Smoke.mel
Here's Peter Shipkov's site: http://petershipkov.com/development/overburn/overburn.htm
and here's David Schoneveld's site: http://agentfx.blogspot.com/2009/05/overburn-technique-video-tutorial.html
I recommend David's tutorial if you want to get into the nitty gritty of how this technique works. The workflow is a lot different from shading particles or fluids, but with a bit of practice, you can get some great results.
There's a ton of things I left out of the video, so if you have any specific questions or want me to do a part 2 of the video, speak up and let me know... I love feedback.
Brent Tyler
I've got a combined total of about 1,500 downloads of this script! Thank you community, you guys are awesome. I want to point out a common issue people seem to be having. I get a lot of "Can you make this script work for Maya 20XX." I created this scipt in Maya 2009, and have successfully used it in 2010, 2011, and 2012, both 32 and 64 bit versions. I believe a lot of people have been having a problem with the 2nd file, and perhaps that's what's happening in most of these cases.Make sure that the fsp_Smoke.mel file is copied to your:
[USERNAME]\Documents\maya\2012-x64\presets\attrPresets\fluidShape\FSP_Smoke.mel
If you are using OSX or Linux, or for whatever reason the above isn't working, I reccommend you open the script in your mel editor and change line 14 of the bt_fluidShadedParticles script to:
string $folder = "(Your absolute file path here)";
eg:
string $folder = "C:/FluidPresets/";
Make sure you don't add "fsp_Smoke.mel" to the end, and always use forward slashes. If you do this, make sure YOU ALSO DELETE LINE 15!!! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! I don't officially support my script, so if this didn't work, all you Apple fanboys will have to figure it out on your own. Sorry guys. As always, feel free to contact me and I'll try to help you with any issues you are having.
Reader Comments (23)
good work man and thx for sharing!!
easy and speeds up the whole process a lot :)
keep it up!
This script looks great, and I was hoping to have a look at the code in Script Editor to try and understand your process but the link appears to be broken. :( Keep up the good work, I'll keep checking to see if you have a chance to get it back online 'cause I'm really interested in figuring this technique out.
Yeah, sorry about that. I'm in the process of switching domains. Check back in a day or two and I should have it up again.
That's a really great script, thank you very much.
I would love to see more info, if you have the time to post a second video tutorial.
I would espacially like to see how this technique would work with nParticles and the interaction with their inbuilt opacity/incadesence ramps.
Cheers !
Dan,
When using fluid shaded particles, you are overriding their color attributes with a fluid shader so that all the color information is being driven by the fluid. I've never tried, but I would think you could hook them up to nParticles, but all the nParticle shading would be useless. One benefit would be that you could use the more advanced collision detection and fluid simulations that nParticles provide!
HEy great script looks like it really makes things organized! Really Thank you for sharing!
Can you combine the master (trans,inc,etc) with the over time(trans,inc,etc) - so have control of a mater and a over time..
and what is your scene lighting the default 1 maya lite and what bout your mental ray settings to get the best look out of the fluid shader?!
I believe I turned all lights off for the render and used the built-in lighting with the Fluid... You can get some really good results without using ray tracing.
Thank you very much for the script. I am very curious how it works. I have downloaded the file but for some reason I cannot run it. Is there any specific way I need to install this script?
I am using Maya 2011 64bit, Windows Vista 64bit.
Thank you for your help
To install, you need to put the script in your scripts folder. Put the FSP_Smoke file in your fluid presets folder. Source the script from your script editor, then type bt_fluidShadedParticles as a mel command. That should do it. It runs in 2011, and it runs on vista. Let me know if that fixed it.
tylerart
Great, it worked perfect!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you very much.
Trying to use this on mac OS, but doesn't seem to work. The script runs, window pops up, but when I go create fluid it doesn't seem to do anything. I'm pretty sure I put the preset in the right place. Any ideas? Thanks for a great script. I hope to get it working soon!
Yeah, sorry for those OSX users. If someone figures it out, could they either email me the fix or post it here?
tylerart
Hi Brent
I am trying to get grips with your script ))
Everything works well except that particles at the end of their life are not expanding sufficiently to create smoky trail
For start I am using cloud particle and to expand during life I created radiusPP and put ramp on it
In a viewport they are expanding but mapped with fluid container the remain roughly the same size and at the end of the smoke they look splotchy not covering each other.
Can you give some light on it please
Thanks for the script!!
Andrew
Having mental ray problems...It provides errors when i use the plugin...Says there is interior conflict or something.Any ide\as why?
God bless u Brent ;)
Hi Brent!
Thanks for your script! Great work and I'm happy that you share it with us!
Is there a way to run your script with Maya 2011 or 2012?
In 2010 it works just fine but when I source it in 2011 or 2012 and try to start it, I get this Error: # Error: NameError: name 'FileTextureManager' is not defined
Thank you for your efforts!
Oli
Ups, sorry for the wrong Error line.... I tried it with another script which has the same problem
The Error says: # Error: NameError: name 'bt_fluidShadedParticles' is not defined
Ok, a friend helped me to fix it. Now it works!
You have to switch your command line from "python" to "MEL".
Fantastic work, thank you!
This looks really cool, and I so wish there were a Maya 2012 OSX version. I get the same result as fullyAnimated - the script runs and the interface opens, and I can select particle1, but can't create fluid.
If anyone gets it working in OSX, let me know!
- jance@janceallen.com
Good stuff and well paced tutorial.
Would definitely love to see a part 2.. would that come with v2 of the script ? :)
I cannot for the life of me get this thing to run the create fluid...ive placed the fsp_Smoke.mel >>C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Maya2011\presets\fluids (and dropped it loose inside)
as for the bt_fluidShadedParticles.mel >> C:\Users\Scott Rose\Documents\maya\2011-x64\scripts
what am I doing wrong ive tried like 5 other configurations after this and nothing will get the create fluid to show any options....is there a way i can just source a puff ball instead or another fluid preset as my base?
Thank you.
hello, can it work in maya 2009 x 32 bit? i load the script, but it can't work. Do i miss up something?
Hello i would like to know how to use it because i put the files in the folders you told but when i copy it in MEL script and execute nothing happen, could you put a shor video showing how to "install" it? Thanks you so much.