Sneak peek: check out FumeFX’s new ocean simulation toolset
Sitni Sati has previewed a new ocean simulation toolset in FumeFX, its smoke, fire and liquid simulation plugin for 3ds Max, Maya and Cinema 4D.
The upcoming NodeWorks: Ocean tools will make it possible for users to create animated ocean surfaces, with foam and white water generated dynamically.
New ocean toolset builds on FumeFX’s GPU liquid simulation system
Sitni Sati has now posted two teaser videos for the NodeWorks: Ocean tools on Facebook.
They suggest a substantial expansion of the GPU liquid simulation toolset added to FumeFX last year in FumeFX 6.5.
Whereas the initial release was pitched at small-scale liquid simulations, of the type commonly seen in ads and motion graphics, the new videos show an entire expanse of ocean surface.
According to Sitni Sati, the toolset can be used to create anything from “tranquil seas” to “storm-driven surf”, with foam generated procedurally by the wave motion.
Workflow will presumably be node-based, using the new NodeWorks simulation authoring environment introduced in FumeFX 6.0.
When will FumeFX’s NodeWorks: Ocean tools be released publicly?
Sitni Sati hasn’t said when the NodeWorks: Ocean tools will be released publicly, or which version of the software they will be released in.
However, new features are usually rolled out in the 3ds Max edition, and since this is a significant new toolset, we imagine that will be in FumeFX for 3ds Max 7.0.
At the time of writing, the Maya and Cinema 4D editions are still on version 6.0, and do not include the liquid simulation tools, so the updates there are presumably further off.
Price and system requirements
FumeFX is compatible with 3ds Max 2020-2025, Cinema 4D R24-2024, and Maya 2020-2025 on Windows 10+ only. Workstation licences cost $365/year; simulation licences cost $95/year.
At the time of writing, the latest releases are Fume FX 6.7.2 for 3ds Max, and 6.0 for Cinema 4D and Maya.
Visit the FumeFX product website
(No more information on the ocean toolset at the time of writing)
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