RealFlow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
RealFlow is a fluid and dynamics simulator for the 3D industry, created by Madrid-based Next Limit Technologies. Currently at version 4, the stand-alone application can be used to simulate fluids, water surfaces, fluid-solid interactions, rigid bodies, soft bodies and meshes. Victor Gonzalez, Ignacio Vargas and Angel Tena were awarded a 2007 Technical Achievement Award from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the creation of the RealFlow software application.[1]
The technology is unique and groundbreaking because the simulations are particle based. These particles can be influenced in a multitude of ways by point-based nodes, known as daemons, which can do anything from simulating gravity to recreating the vortex-like motion of a tornado. RealFlow can also simulate soft and rigid body collisions and interactions. In recent versions the Python scripting language has been implemented as a way to add control to most aspects of the RealFlow workflow including batch runs, events, daemons, waves and fluids. The inclusion of Python scripting means that users can program their own tools to boost RealFlow capabilities and solve specific program limitations.[2]
[edit] Uses of RealFlow
Feature motion pictures
- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
- National Treasure 2
- Meet the Robinsons
- 300
- Primeval
- Poseidon
- The Guardian
- Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
- X-Men 3:The Last Stand
- Slither
- The Da Vinci Code
- Chicken Little
- Robots
- The Incredibles
- Constantine
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- The Matrix Reloaded
- The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
- Spy Kids 3D
- The Return of the King
- Freddy vs. Jason
- Minority Report
- Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
- Ice Age
- Tomb Raider
- Lost in Space
Television series
Commercials
- Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
- Discovery Channel
- Amp’d Mobile
- Strathmore Water
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch
- Nissan GT-R
- Bacardi
- Nickelodeon
- Mercedes
- Sony Ericsson
- Renault Laguna
- Nescafe Expresso
- Kellogg's Frosties
- Chase Bank
- Guinness Beer
- Heineken
- Grand Marnier
- Ariel Washing Powder
- Biotherm
- Vichy
- Pontiac
- Gatorade
- Carlsberg
- Telia Xpress/ Motorola
- Martini
- BMW
- Land Rover[3]
[edit] Supported Platforms
Windows
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional.
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional (SP2 or higher)
- Windows Vista
Linux
- RedHat Linux 8.0.
- RedHat Linux 9.0.
Hardware requirements:
- Intel Pentium II or higher.
- AMD Athlon.
- 512 MB RAM.
- 50 MB of hard disk space
- Hardware-Accelerated OpenGL graphics card
- 3-button mouse with mouse driver software
Mac OS X
- Mac OS X v10.3.9 or higher
- 512MB or higher
- 1GHz G4 or higher (G5 or Intel recommended)
[edit] Features List
RealFlow
- Liquid, gas, elastic and dumb particles
- Interaction bitmaps
- Soft body
- Custom particle behaviour
- UV data and weight maps
- UV texture mapping
- Automatic mesh generator
RealImpact
- Rigid body dynamics solver
- Mix animation and dynamics
RealWave
- Physically accurate fluid surfaces
Python scripting
- Daemons
- Waves
- Fluids
- Events
- Batch runs[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ [http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2008/08.01.04a.html 10 Scientific and Technical Achievements to Be Honored with Academy Awards]. Retrieved on 2008-02-25.
- ^ RF4: Fluids & dynamics simulation tool. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ RF4: Fluids & dynamics simulation tool. Retrieved on 2007-07-10.
- ^ Features & Specifications. Retrieved on 2008-02-25.
