cebas releases thinkingParticles 6.5
cebas has released thinkingParticles 6.5, the fifth ‘Subscription Drop’ to its particle and physics plugin for 3ds Max, adding new options for object fracturing and liquid simulation.
The update also adds a new option to turn any particle into an Omni light.
New option for clustering fragments generated with Volume Breaker
The Volume Breaker system, used to fracture objects for destruction sims, gets new options for clustering the fragments generated, including both procedural methods and the option to paint cluster areas manually.
The activation of fragments within a simulation can now be controlled by particles, helper objects, or a new threshold option, allowing “for more granular control of activation distances”.
There is also a new ShapeNoise operator for procedurally deforming the shape of a particle, which can be used to give a more realistic-looking eroded effect to the edges of fragments.
Improved liquid simulations
New liquid simulation features include FlowEmitter, a new particle generator that emits a constant flow of particles regardless of the emitter’s size or shape, creating more realistic flowing and pouring effects.
According to cebas, the feature “resolves a key issue in many SPH particle fluid simulations, namely the visible banding or layering when particles are emitted at differing or changing rates”.
It also features one of the best-named settings in recent CG history, in the shape of the new ‘Glucking’ parameter, which controls the way in which liquids glug out of containers.
The existing HydroField system has also been enhanced for more accurate handling of interactions between fluids and rigid bodies, and adding a new impact behaviour for splashes.
Turn any particle into a light source with PLight
Other new features include the PLight operator, which converts any particle in a particle system into an Omni light; and a new ColorGradient node for attaching colour gradients to lights and materials.
There are also a number of smaller updates, which you can read about via the link at the foot of the page.
Pricing and availability
thinkingParticles 6.5 is available now for 3ds Max 2014 and above. The software is available on a rental-only basis, with a subscription costing €540 per year (around $570). The update is free to subscribers.
Read a full list of new features in thinkingParticles 6.5 on cebas’s website