Emitter : Emission Image

“Image” lets you either load a single image or an entire image sequence as an emission mask. The viewport gizmo represents the size of the emission area. Emitters define the point of particle creation in 3D space, while the particles are part of the fluid container. Emitters can be scaled, rotated, and translated like objects; an arrow indicates the direction of emission.

 

RealFlow Scene

In RealFlow | Cinema 4D it is possible to use multiple "Scene" trees in the same project:

  • To link the emitter to a different scene tree dragging the appropriate "Scene" node to this field 
  • Furthermore you have direct access to the selected "Scene" tree's → "Solver", → "Cache", and → "Display" tabs. For descriptions of these parameters follow the links.

To link the emitter to a "Fluid" drag the appropriate "Fluid" node(s) to this field.

To learn more about how to link RealFlow scene elements and make them interact take a look at the → "Manual Linking" page with examples.

Emitter Type

Toggle the emitter type with this drop-down menu. The following parameters and the viewport representation will be updated according to your selection. Bear in mind that type changes will change the emitter's and fluid's behaviour completely.

Volume

This feature creates a defined volume of particles. The size of this volume is defined by the emission area and the value entered here. The parameter is connected to Cinema 4D's scale settings. Another way of creating a volume is to go the emitter's viewport gizmo and drag the middle handle up and down. This action will change the volume interactively and update the parameter accordingly.

Speed

Here the particles' initial speed is defined in metres per second. Higher values will generate more particles per frame. The number of emitted particles also depends on the fluid's "Resolution" settings. A value of 0.0 stops the emission of particles.

Vertical Random

To avoid regular emission, it is possible to randomly displace the particles with these functions. The value's range is between 0 and 1.

Horizontal Random

To avoid regular emission, it is possible to randomly displace the particles with these functions. The value's range is between 0 and 1.

Texture

Create or open a material and drag an image or a shader from the "Texture" field to this slot:

  • The emitter uses the image's non-black parts for the emission.
  • Cinema 4D's built-in procedural shaders (e.g. noise) are supported including animation.
  • It is possible to change the image's resolution in Cinema 4D's "Preferences" under RealFlow > Texture Sampling Resolution. Higher values will also create more particles.
  • Read more under → "Image and Object Emitters".