SOFT WARE: CINEMA 4D
Paul Hatton replies
Being able to create digital fire is a handy skill for both traditional 3D artists and VFX creatives. In times gone by, I can remember having to rely on ‘billboards’ with a fire image or video applied to create fireplaces in the architectural visualisations I was creating. The results looked so flat and forced and were difficult to integrate into the look and feel of the scene as a whole. They also require an alpha channel, which wasn’t always the best way to ensure a clean-cut fire effect in your work.
But as 3D software has evolved and simulation effects have become easier to use within mainstream applications such as 3ds Max and Cinema 4D, the possibilities of what can be created in 3D rather than relying on hacks is growing all the time. Having an animated 3D fire in your scene is significantly more believable and adaptable than a 2D alternative.
With the release of version 2024 of Cinema 4D, the workflow for creating fire has become even easier. Pyro simulations are now driven by new Pyro tags that can be added to any object in your scene. This could be an object such as some wood for a fireplace, or even a piece of cloth or soft body. It’s unbelievably simple. These Pyro tags can also be added to par ticle emitters so users can create fireworks and spectacular explosions.
Pyro also includes the ability to UpRes your simulations, enabling artists to create low-resolution fire simulations before then generating those same simulations at a much higher resolution. The addition of this functionality means results can be generated much faster, and the overall process of simulation creation avoids the laborious waiting around only to find that the results aren’t what you’d expected.
One of the most distinct advantages of simulating fire compared to relying on the traditional cheat techniques is that the object generating the fire can be animated. This allows for objects that are on fire to be moved around the scene, or interact with other simulated objects. Forces can be applied to the fire too, such as wind, which can help to produce truly amazing results.
In answer to this question, we’ll follow four simple steps that will help get you up and running. We’ll look at some of the initial parameters you can use to adjust your simulation, along with an expert tip to take things to the next level. Hopefully this advice lights a flame in you!
EXPERT TIP
Scrub your timeline to the frame you want to be the starting state of your simulation. Select your Pyro Output object, and in the Attributes panel choose Pyro Scene. In the settings you’l
