This daemon creates a force field along a customizable path. Here is how to create and edit such a daemon:
Create a spline with Maya's built-in tools.
Drag the spline to the “Spline Object” entry.
To change the path's shape, change to “Point” mode and shift the points.
Very nice effects can be achieved with animated splines, e.g. a "Cycloid" with an animated "End Angle".
The daemon's parameter set has one subcategory:
RealFlow Scene
In RealFlow | Maya it is possible to use multiple "Scene" trees in the same project. To link a daemon to a different scene tree right-click on the field, choose "Set Scene", and select an item from the appearing list.
Linked Domains
All fluid, rigid, and elastic containers inside the field will be affected by the daemon. If there is only one container in the scene it will be linked automatically. Otherwise the connection has to be established manually.
Spline Object
Drag a Maya spline to this field to convert it into a daemon.
Affect
There are two options:
- "Force" accelerates the particles and they become faster and faster as long as the force is acting on them.
- “Velocity” only works with particles and adds the daemon's "Strength" value to a particle's speed. The resulting peak velocity remains constant during the simulation.
An example: Let's assume the daemon's "Strength" is 9.8 and the emitter's "Speed" value is 2.0. Here, a particle's velocity will be roughly 11.8 m/s.
Vortex Strength
Here you can enter a global multiplier for the individual control points' “Vortex” values. Positive values create a clockwise rotation, negative settings create a counter-clockwise rotation around the spline's path.
Axial Strength
Here you can enter a global multiplier for the individual control points' “Axial” values. Positive values create an attraction effect towards the spline, negative settings create a repulsion.
Radial Strength
Here it is possible to browse through the individual control points and edit them separately. All values will be multiplied with the associated "Strength" settings from above, for example.:
Total axial force = Axial Strength * Axial
Add
Add a new control point after the selected control point.
Delete
Delete the selected control point.
Previous | Next
Click on these buttons for selecting the previous or next control point.
Offset
You can change the selected a control point's position on the spline with this value, e.g.
- 0.0. The control point is moved to the spline's start.
- 0.5. The control point is moved to the spline's midpoint.
- 1.0. The control point is moved to the spline's end.
Vortex
Set the control point's individual vortex strength. Positive values create a clockwise rotation, negative settings create a counter-clockwise rotation around the spline's path.
Axial
Set the control point's individual axial strength. Positive values create an attraction effect towards the spline, negative settings create a repulsion.
Radial
Set the control point's individual axial strength. Positive values create an attraction to the spline's control point, negative settings create a repulsion effect.
Radius
Here you can enter a global multiplier for the individual control points' “Radial” values. Positive values create an attraction to the spline's control points, negative settings create a repulsion effect.
...
The circle around a control point indicates the forces' scope or radius. Only particles inside a circle (or better: sphere) will be affected. The circle's size can be controlled with the yellow dot in the viewport as well.
Helper
When active, the spline's force field is displayed as green circles around the spline. This is the area, where particles will be affected.