RealFlow comes with an default layout that is always applied while starting the application. This standard interface can be changed to your individual needs and then defined as a new start layout. The initial screen is almost the same for all operating systems. Only a few buttons, some system specific font faces and handles are slightly different. The layout itself is separated into several sections, containing everything you need for setting up a RealFlow scene, modifying objects, and accessing all of the software’s parameters and nodes. Of course, it is possible to rearrange these elements, add or remove windows, and save the layout. The individual parts of the GUI are explained in detail in the following chapters of this documentation.
To get you off to a good start, it is a good idea to classify the different parts:
Please click on the image for a full-screen view.
Window Tools
The top bar of each panel contains a couple of different symbols and icons, two on the left, three on the right. Windows and Linux users will recognize them immediately:
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The second icon on the left is used to create various arrangements of split windows. You can choose between “Split Vertical”, “Split Horizontal” and “Split Quad”. Of course, this option only makes sense with RealFlow’s viewport. Applying “Split Quad”, for example, to the "Nodes" panel creates three additional viewports.
Saving a Layout
RealFlow's standard layout already shows different elements for many tasks, but the software has much more to offer. When you take a look at the “Main Menu” under “Layout” you can see all of RealFlow's available panels and windows. These GUI elements can be considered the main functions, and they can be freely attached to or detached from the user interface. In contrast to the windows of the main group, the tools (e.g. “Fracture” or “Simulation Retime”) cannot be added to the user interface: these are separate modal windows and the underlying parts of the interface cannot be accessed as long as these panels are open.
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