RealFlow
 Realflow 2012 running on Windows 7 | |
| Developer(s) | Next Limit Technologies |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 1998 |
| Development status | Active |
| Operating system | Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux |
| Type | Computer physics engines |
| Website | www.realflow.com |
RealFlow is a fluid and dynamics simulator for the 3D industry, created by Madrid-based Next Limit Technologies. Currently at version 2013, 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 uses particle based simulations. These particles can be influenced in various ways by point-based nodes, known as daemons, which can do tasks such as simulating gravity or recreating the vortex-like motion of a tornado. RealFlow can also simulate soft and rigid body collisions and interactions. The inclusion of Python scripting and C++ plug-ins allows users to program their own tools to improve RealFlow capabilities, adding control to most aspects of the RealFlow workflow including batch runs, events, daemons, waves and fluids.
Uses of RealFlow
Feature motion pictures
- Watchmen
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
- National Treasure: Book of Secrets
- City of Ember
- Meet the Robinsons
- 300
- Primeval
- Poseidon
- The Guardian (2006 film)
- Ice Age: The Meltdown
- X-Men: 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 Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
- Freddy vs. Jason
- Minority Report
- Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
- Ice Age
- Tomb Raider
- Lost in Space
Television series
- Lost
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
- Get Ed
- Rome
- U2/ Greenday video clip: “The Saints are Coming”
Commercials
- Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
- Discovery Channel
- Coca Cola
- Harpic
- Amp'd Mobile
- Strathmore Water
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch
- Nissan GT-R
- Bacardi
- Nickelodeon
- Mercedes
- Sony Ericsson
- Renault Laguna
- Nescafe Nespresso
- Kellogg's Frosties
- Chase Bank
- Guinness
- Heineken
- Grand Marnier
- Ariel Washing Powder
- Biotherm
- Vichy
- Nescafe
- Pontiac
- Gatorade
- Carlsberg
- Telia Xpress/Motorola
- Martini
- BMW
- Land Rover[2]
- World of Color[3]
System requirements
Windows
- Windows XP Professional
- Windows Vista / 7
- Windows Server 2008
Mac OS X
- Mac OS 10.5 or later
Linux
- Needs a 64-bit distribution that supports a 2.6.x kernel and glibc 2.3.4
Hardware requirements
- 2Ghz Intel Pentium 4 / AMD Athlon 64 or better
- 2GB minimum, 4GB recommended
- 300 - 1,000MB hard drive space, depending on operating system
- Hardware-accelerated OpenGL graphics card
- 3 button mouse[4]
List of features
RealFlow
- Particle based solver (liquid, gas, elastic and particles)
- Interaction bitmaps
- Custom particle behaviour
- UV data and weight maps
- UV texture mapping
- Automatic mesh generator
- Force fields
- Python / C++ plugins
Hybrido
- Hybrid fluid solver technology to simulate large bodies of water with secondary effects such as splashes, foam, and mist
Caronte
- Rigid/soft body dynamics solver
- Mix animation and dynamics
RealWave
- Physically accurate water surfaces
Python scripting / C++ plugins
- Daemons
- Waves
- Fluids
- Events
- Batch runs[5]
See also
- Particle system
- Smoothed particle hydrodynamics
References
- ↑ "10 Scientific and Technical Achievements to Be Honored with Academy Awards".
- ↑ "RF4: Fluids & dynamics simulation tool". Retrieved 2007-07-10.
- ↑ Next Limit Technologies. "Disney "World of Color" - by Motion Theory". Real Flow Case Studies. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
- ↑ "Realflow :: Product". Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- ↑ "Features & Specifications". Archived from the original on 2008-02-12. Retrieved 2008-02-25.