Using the Fire Effect


To add the Fire effect to the scene, select the Rendering image from book Environment (8) menu command and open the Environment panel; then click the Add button and select the Fire Effect selection. This opens the Fire Effect Parameters rollout, shown in Figure 44.2. At the top of the Fire Effect Parameters rollout is the Pick Gizmo button; clicking this button lets you select a gizmo in the scene. The selected gizmo appears in the dropdown list to the right. You can select multiple gizmos. To remove a gizmo from the list, select it and click the Remove Gizmo button.

image from book
Figure 44-2: The Fire Effect Parameters rollout lets you define the look of the effect.

Note 

The Fire effect renders only in non-orthographic views such as Perspective or a camera view.

The three color swatches define the color of the fire effect and include an Inner Color, an Outer Color, and a Smoke Color. The Smoke Color is used only when the Explosion option is set. The default red and yellow colors make fairly realistic fire.

The Shape section includes two Flame Type options: Tendril and Fireball. The Tendril shape produces veins of flames, and the Fireball shape is rounder and puffier. Figure 44.3 shows four fire effects. The left two have the Tendril shape, and the two on the right are set to Fireball. The difference is in the Density and Flame Detail settings.

image from book
Figure 44-3: The Fire atmospheric effect can be either Tendril or Fireball shaped.

The Stretch value elongates the individual flames along the gizmo's Z-axis. Figure 44.4 shows the results of using the Stretch value. The Stretch values for these gizmos, from left to right, are 0.1, 1.0, 5.0, and 50.

image from book
Figure 44-4: The Stretch value can elongate flames.

The Regularity value determines how much of the Atmospheric Apparatus is filled. The spherical gizmos in the previous figures were all set to 0.2, so the entire sphere shape wasn't filled. A setting of 1.0 adds a spherical look to the Fire effect because the entire gizmo is filled. For a more random shape, use a small Regularity value.

The Flame Size value affects the overall size of each individual flame (though this is dependent on the gizmo size as well). The Flame Detail value controls the edge sharpness of each flame and can range from 1 to 10. Lower values produce fuzzy, smooth flames, but higher values result in sharper, more distinct flames.

The Density value determines the thickness of each flame in its center; higher Density values result in flames that are brighter at the center, while lower values produce thinner, wispy flames. Figure 44.5 shows the difference caused by Density values of, from left to right, 10, 20, 50, and 100.

image from book
Figure 44-5: The Fire effect brightness is tied closely to the flame Density value.

The Samples value sets the rate at which the effect is sampled. Higher sample values are required for more detail, but they increase the render time.

The Motion section includes options for setting the Phase and Drift of a fire effect. The Phase value determines how wildly the fire burns. For a wild, out-of-control fire, animate the Phase value to change rapidly. For a constant, steady fire, keep the value constant throughout the frames. The Drift value sets the height of the flames. High Drift values produce high, hot-burning flames.

When the Explosion check box is selected, the fire is set to explode. The Start and End Times for the explosion are set in the Setup Explosion Phase Curve dialog box that opens when the Setup Explosion button is clicked. If the Smoke option is checked, then the fire colors change to the smoke color for Phase values between 100 and 200. The Fury value varies the churning of the flames. Values greater than 1.0 cause faster churning, and values lower than 1.0 cause slower churning.

Tutorial: Creating the sun

You can use the Fire effect to create a realistic sun. The modeling part is easy-all it requires is a simple sphere-but the real effects come from the materials and the Fire effect.

To create a sun, follow these steps:

  1. Open the image from book Sun.max file from the Chap 44 directory on the DVD.

    This file contains a simple sphere with a bright yellow material applied to it.

  2. Select Create image from book Helpers image from book Atmospherics image from book Sphere Gizmo, and drag a sphere in the Front viewport that encompasses the "sun" sphere.

  3. With the SphereGizmo still selected, open the Modify panel and click the Add button in the Atmospheres rollout of the Atmospherics and Effects dialog box, which is opened using the Rendering image from book Environment menu command or by pressing the 8 key. Select Fire Effect from the Add Atmospheres &Effects dialog box, and click OK. Then select the Fire effect, and click the Setup button.

    The Environment and Effects dialog box opens.

  4. In the Fire Effects Parameters rollout, leave the default colors as they are-Inner Color yellow, Outer Color red, and Smoke Color black. For the Flame Type, select Tendril with Stretch and Regularity values of 1. Set the Flame Size to 30, the Density to 15, the Flame Detail to 10, and the Samples to 15.

Figure 44.6 shows the resulting sun after it's been rendered.

image from book
Figure 44-6: A sun image created with a simple sphere, a material with a Noise Bump map, and the Fire effect

Tutorial: Creating clouds

Sky images are fairly easy to find, or you can just take your camera outside and capture your own. The trick comes when you are trying to weave an object in and out of clouds. Although you can do this with a Shadow/Matte mask, it would be easier if the clouds were actual 3D objects. In this tutorial, we create some simple clouds using the Fire effect.

To create some clouds for a sky backdrop, follow these steps:

  1. Open the image from book Clouds.max file from the Chap 44 directory on the DVD.

    This file includes several hemispherical-shaped atmospheric apparatus gizmos.

  2. Choose Rendering image from book Environment (or press the 8 key) to open the Environment and Effects dialog box. Click the Background Color swatch, and select a light blue color. In the Atmosphere section, click the Add button, select Fire Effect from the Add Atmospheric Effect list, and click OK.

  3. Name the effect Clouds, and click each of the color swatches. Change the Inner Color to a dark gray, the Outer Color to a light gray, and the Smoke Color to white. Set the Shape to Fireball with a Stretch of 1 and a Regularity of 0.2. Set the Flame Size to 35, the Flame Detail to 3, the Density to 15, and the Samples to 15.

    Tip 

    If you want to add some motion to the clouds, click the Animate button, drag the Time Slider to the last frame, and change the Phase value to 45 and the Drift value to 30. The clouds slowly drift through the sky. Disable the Animate button when you're finished.

  4. In the Fire Effect Parameters rollout, click the Pick Gizmo button and then click one of the gizmos in the viewports. Repeat this step until you've selected all the gizmos.

Figure 44.7 shows the resulting sky backdrop. By altering the Fire parameters, you can create different types of clouds.

image from book
Figure 44-7: You can use the Fire atmospheric effect to create clouds.




3ds Max 9 Bible
3ds Max 9 Bible
ISBN: 0470100893
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2007
Pages: 383

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