Daemons : DSpline

This daemon creates a force field along a customizable path. Here is how to create and edit such a daemon: 

  • Create a spline with Cinema 4D'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".

image-20240315-121227.png
DSpline Daemon controlling the fluid of a Circle Emitter while the Visualizer tool shows its forces

The daemon's parameter set has two subcategory:

RealFlow Scene

In RealFlow | Cinema 4D it is possible to use multiple "Scene" trees in the same project. To link a daemon to a different scene tree drag the appropriate "Scene" node to this field.

Links

All fluid, rigid, and elastic containers inside the drag-and-drop 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 Cinema 4D 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 circles' “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 circles' “Axial” values. Positive values create an attraction effect towards the spline, negative settings create a repulsion.

Radial Strength

Here you can enter a global multiplier for the individual control circles' “Radial” values. Positive values create an attraction to the spline's control circles, negative settings create a repulsion effect.

Control

Add Control Circle

Add a new control circle.

Default

Reset all the existing control circles nodes attached to the spline emitter to default values. 

Reset

Remove al existing control circles and create a new ones with default values.

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.

Spline Control Circles Nodes

Here it is possible to browse through the individual control circles and edit them separately. All values will be multiplied with the associated "Strength" settings from above, for example.:

Total axial force = Axial Strength * Axial

image-20240315-121609.png

 

 

Offset

You can change the selected a control circle's position on the spline with this value, e.g.

  • 0.0. The control circle is moved to the spline's start.

  • 0.5. The control circle is moved to the spline's midpoint.

  • 1.0. The control circle is moved to the spline's end.

Vortex

Set the control circle'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 circle's individual axial strength. Positive values create an attraction effect towards the spline, negative settings create a repulsion.

Radial

Set the control circle's individual axial strength. Positive values create an attraction to the spline's control circle, negative settings create a repulsion effect.

Radius

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.