Path Follow Constraint
One of the most common questions with RealWave is how to make an object follow a certain path and interact with the surface's waves. When you use animated objects you always have the problem that they do not react to the waves' height. A MultiJoint is the solution.
The scene's setup in the viewport's side view.
Here is the nodes list:
- 1 “RealWave” object
- 1 “Sphere” object (floating object)
- 1 “Cube” object (tractor)
- 1 “Null” object (locator)
- 1 “Gravity” daemon
- 1 “MultiJoint” node
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All objects and the MultiJoint can be added from RealFlow's “Edit” menu:
- Add > Objects | Daemons | RealWave
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RealFlow nodes can be moved, scaled, and rotated with the the W, R, and and E keys keys.
Imported objects from SD files have to be unlocked before they can be transformed with with Selected object > Node Params > Node > SD ↔ Curve
Viewport perspective is changed with the the 1, 2, 3, and and 4 keys keys.
Shading modes are toggled with the the 7, 8, 9, and and 0 keys keys.
The Setup
Add a RealWave surface node.
Right-click on the RealWave node and choose “Fractal”.
- Open the RealWave node and select "Fractal01".
Under “Node Params” enter “Height” = 1.0, “Octaves” = 7.0, “Slope 2.0”
Right-click on the RealWave node and choose “Gerstner”
Under “Node Params” enter “DirWave = 0, “LengthWave” = 7.0
Select the “RealWave01” node and enter “Polygon size” = 0.05
Go to RealFlow's “Top” view by pressing the 1 key.
Place the sphere near the RealWave mesh's right border.
Switch to “Front” mode with the 2 key.
Let the sphere intersect the RealWave surface.
Create a cube and place it below the sphere. The RealWave mesh should be between “Sphere01” and “Cube01”.
“Sphere01” is an active, “Cube01” a passive rigid body:
- Selected node > Node Params > Node > Dynamics
Animate the “Cube” Node
The “Cube” cube is animated using two keyframes. The motion is performed along the X axes from left to right:
Move the “Cube01” node below the RealWave surface
Drag the timeline slider to frame 0
Right-click on the “Position.X” value, choose “Add key”
Drag the timeline slide to frame 150
Move the cube node to its final position
Right-click on the “Position.X” value, choose “Add key”
Right-click on the “Position.Z” or “Position.Y” value (depends on your current axis setup) and choose “Add curve”.
Type in the “Expression” field:
sin(t*2)*1.52
Position the “Null” Node
A “Null” is placed directly above “Cube01” with the W key.
Create the MultiJoint
Go to the “Creation” panel under “Node Params”:
Objects A > “Cube01”
Objects B > “Sphere01”
Creation mode > At locators positions
Locators > Null01
Create/Recreate
Open the “Forces” panel:
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Play with different “@ Max force” settings.
Adjust the “Sphere01” Node's Properties
Go to the sphere's “Rigid body” panel under “Node Params” and change “@ mass” to 200 – this will help to improve its behaviour.
In the sphere's “Realwave” panel, look for “Strength V/H” and enter 1.0 for both values.
Simulate
Click on “Simulate” to see the results.
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