SP - Binary Loader

A "Binary Loader"is not capable of creating particles, but it can be used to load existing BIN file sequences into RealFlow.

BIN sequence

This is the place where the BIN files are loaded. For best results the file names should follow RealFlow’s rules for naming and padding: emitter name + 5-digit padding + extension.

Mode

Here are your options:

With “Normal” the sequence simply ends with the last file.
“Hold” saves the last BIN file and displays it in the viewport.
With “Loop” the files sequence starts again with the very first frame.
“PingPong” plays the series of BINs forth and back.

The last three options are only visible if the last simulation frame is greater than the number of loaded BIN files, e.g. last simulation frame = 300, number of BIN files = 150.

Reverse

When enabled RealFlow will playback the sequence in reverse order.

Number of files

This read-only field shows how many BIN files were found.

Frame offset

This value shifts the starting frame of the sequence to the entered value.

Release particles

The default of -1 means that the particle are not released and the entire sequence is read from disk. With other values, no more BIN files will be read from disk, but the particles are free to move. From that point on you are about to create a completely new simulation.

Load particles

A click on this button reloads the specified sequence.

Reset xform

If you have applied a transformation (new position or rotation) the emitter can be reset to its original position.

First frame

This read-only value helps you to define an appropriate offset. An example:

Let's assume you load a sequence starting with “Circle0100000.bin”
The sequence does not match default notation which is “Circle01_00000.bin”. As a consequence RealFlow misinterprets the start frame.
Under “First frame” you will therefore see 100000.
To get a correct simulation again, “Frame Offset” must be set to -100000.

Time multiplier

Here is how this factor works:

A value of 1.0 will keep the current time scale of the imported BIN sequence.
Values greater than 1.0 are used to create a time-lapse effect. With a value of 2.0, for example, playback speed will be halved.
Values smaller than 1.0 will create a slow-motion effect and create a longer simulation, e.g. 0.5 doubles the length of the simulation.

Interpolation method

Interpolation is the process of adding new particles to fill in the gaps between the frames:

With “Linear interpolation” the values of the previous and the following frame are used and RealFlow simply calculates an average.
The “Cubic interpolation” can be used to achieve smoother results.
The “No interpolation” option deactivates this feature.

Readjust magnitudes

When a simulation is retimed all properties of the affected particles will change, e.g. velocity, force, or age. When enabled RealFlow calculates scale factors for the channel data and applies them automatically to get correct values again.

Kill particles at

When frames are interpolated during the retiming process it is necessary to specify how dying particles should be handled:

"Frame beginning". The currently observed (dying) particle will not exist in any of the interpolated frames.
“Frame middle interpolating”.The observed particle will keep its velocity and move with the fluid until halfway through the interpolated frames, and will then be removed.
“Frame middle freezing". The dying particles will keep their positions at the time of death for all interpolated frames.
"Frame end interpolating". The observed particle's velocity and motion is kept throughout all interpolated frames.
"Frame end freezing".The particles will be frozen at the end of the frame.

Time warp

When enabled you have access to “Time function” where you can define a retiming curve or expression.

Time function

Here it is possible to add a custom retiming curve or an expression. Please double-click on the parameter name to open a curve editor. Examples and an in-depth guide about how to work with this feature can be found here: