2010

Table Of Contents
Adding a Volume Axis field
You can use Maya Fields to animate the motion of nParticles and create the
effect of nParticles flowing around obstacles, as well as creating pluming
smoke, swirling tornadoes, and rocket exhaust. For a smoke simulation, you
can add a Volume Axis field to the scene to create turbulence and swirling
effects in the smoke as it rises through the air.
Maya Fields are not part of an nParticle object's Nucleus system and therefore
you may need to compensate for the force of Nucleus Gravity and Wind by
increasing or decreasing the field's magnitude. Depending on the effect you
are creating, you can also turn on Ignore Solver Gravity or Ignore Solver Wind
on the nParticleShape node so that your nParticle object is only affected by
Maya Fields. For more information about Maya fields see the Dynamics guide.
To create a Volume Axis field
1 In the Outliner, select nParticle_Smoke, then add a Volume Axis field by
selecting Fields > Volume Axis >
.
The Volume Axis Options window appears.
2 In the Volume Axis Options window, select Edit > Reset Settings.
3 In Volume axis field name, type Field_Smoke.
4 Set the following Volume Axis field settings:
Magnitude: 90
Attenuation: 2.0
Volume Shape: Cube
Away From Center: 4.546
Directional Speed: 1.834
Direction: X to 0 and Y to 1.0.
Turbulence: 0.661
Turbulence Speed: 0.157
5 Click Create.
A Field_Smoke1 node appears in the Attribute Editor and in the Outliner.
940 | Chapter 19 nParticles