Make a splash

Some time has passed since Next Limit released RealFlow 3. Now a new version of this multi-platform fluid and dynamics simulator, used on Ice Age 2: The Meltdown and Poseidon, has arrived – and it comes loaded with cool features. A revamped interface, integrated Python scripting and a massive improvement in stability are just a few of the many good things in this new version. These features make RealFlow 4 the ideal solution for studios faced with the complex task of simulating liquids.

In this tutorial, we are going to recreate a high-speed photograph of a water droplet falling into a larger body of water, controlling the simulation – within limits – to generate a classic crown-shaped splash. We will start by exploring the basics of fluid simulation, then refining the parameters that control the effect that we want to achieve. Once the initial particle-based simulation is complete, we will generate a mesh to export. Finally, we will import this mesh into a 3D software package and render it to achieve a water-like appearance. We’re using XSI, but the .obj file is included in the supporting files, so you could render it in any application you prefer.

Click here for the support files including XSI scene files (~86MB), or here for support files without the XSI scene files (~44MB)

(This tutorial was originally accompanied by a Special Edition of RealFlow 4. To get a trial version of RealFlow 4, head this way)