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Create Liquid Simulations with nParticles

Creating nParticles

Set nParticle Emission Attributes

 

User Guide > Dynamics and Effects > nDynamics > nParticles > Creating nParticles > 

Convert nParticles to polygons

You can convert an nParticle object to a polygonal mesh, which you can then treat like any other polygon. Using the Output Mesh attributes, you can set the resolution and quality of the resulting polygon mesh.

Static nParticles as well as emitted nParticles can be converted to a polygon mesh. Only nParticle objects with Blobby Surface render types, including Ball and Water style nParticles, can be converted to polygons.

To convert nParticles to a polygon mesh

1. In the scene view, select the nParticle object that you want to convert to a polygon mesh.

   To convert emitted nParticles, either emit some nParticles into the scene and select them, or select the nParticle object from the Outliner.

2. Select Modify > Convert > nParticle to Polygons.

To set nParticle Output Mesh properties

1. In the scene view, select the nParticle object that’s been converted to a polygon mesh.
2. In the Attribute Editor, select the nParticleShape tab.
3. In the Output Mesh section do the following:
   • Set Threshold to control surface blending between the Blobby Surface nParticles. See Set Threshold.
   • Set the Blobby Radius Scale to specify the amount the nParticle Radius is scaled to create a smooth surface on Blobby Surface nParticles. See Blobby Radius Scale.
   • Set Motion Streak to create an effect with the output mesh that is similar to a motion blur. See Motion Streak.
   • Set the Mesh Triangle Size to specify the size of the polygon triangles that are used to create the nParticle output mesh.

     

     Smaller Triangle Size polygons produce smoother meshes, but take more time to simulate.

     See Mesh Triangle Size.

   • Set the Max Triangle Resolution to specify the maximum resolution of the grid used to generate the output mesh triangles.

     If the grid size required to create an nParticle mesh exceeds the Max Triangle Resolution value, the output Mesh Triangle Size automatically increases to compensate for increasing size of the nParticle mesh. See Max Triangle Resolution.

   • Turn on Use Gradient Normals to make the normals on an nParticle output mesh more smooth. See Use Gradient Normals.
   • From the Mesh Method list, select the method you to use to generate the nParticle output mesh. See Mesh Method.
   • Set the Mesh Smoothing Iterations to specify the amount of smoothing you want apply to the nParticle output mesh. See Mesh Smoothing Iterations.