DyEmitters - Spline

Toggle the emitter's 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.

Creation

Here are your options:

• "Axis". The particles are created along the spline's path similar to a curtain. Emission direction is indicated in the viewport's through small arrows at the spline's control points. This direction can be changed with "Rotation".
• "Tube" The particles are created along the spline's path. The fluid tube's thickness is defined through the circles at each control point. As with "Axis", emission direction is indicated through small arrows.
• "Edge". The particles are created at the first control point and moved along the spline through customizable forces. The first point's circle represents the area of emission.

Speed

Here the particles' initial speed is defined in metres per second. Higher values will generate more particles per frame. Faster particles act with stronger forces on other particles or objects. The number of emitted particles also depends on the domain's “Resolution” settings. A value of 0.0 → stops the emission of particles.

Randomness

To avoid regular emission, it is possible to randomly displace the particles at creation time. Higher settings create more randomness. This parameter accepts all positive values and 0.

Thickness

This parameter is only available with "Creation" set to "Axis". Here, you control the thickness of the particle stream emitted from the spline's axis – this is also possible on a per-control-point basis (see "CP thickness"). The unit is metres.

Avoid particle intersection

When enabled, RealFlow tries to avoid the creation of particles in areas where particles already exist.

Close spline

This option creates a connection between the spline's end points.

Reverse spline

If you want to flip the control points' order please activate the checkbox. The control points' indices can be displayed under Node Params > Display Spline > Show CP indexes, but only in “EDIT” mode which is indicated by a yellow frame around the viewport.

Spline detail

Controls the number of intermediate points between two control points. Higher numbers create smoother splines.

Close spline

It is possible to transfer already existing splines to a “DSpline” node:

• Click on the “Copy spline...” button.
• Select a node from the list.
• The control points and tangents will be used to draw the daemon's path.

EDIT

A click on this button enables the “Edit” mode, indicated by a yellow frame around the viewport. While in “Edit” mode you are able to move (W key) the control points and their handles. You also have access to a selected point's individual “CP” settings. Please read the → “Spline Techniques” chapters.

CP radius

Click on “EDIT” and select a control point to change the parameter's settings. The circle around indicates the forces' scope or radius. Only particles or rigid/soft bodies inside the viewport's circles will be affected. The circles' sizes can be controlled with the yellow dot: hit the R key, select one or more dots, and move it.

CP speed

When the emitter is in "Axis" or "Tube" mode it is possible to define different emission speed values for every control point separately. This parameter is given in metres per second and accepts all positive values including 0.

CP rotation

Every control point of the emitter has a small turquoise arrow, indicating the fluid's emission direction in "Axis" and "Tube" mode. By entering a positive degree value this emission direction can be changed.

CP thickness

It is possible to control the thickness of the emission per control point. The final value will be CP thickness * Thickness. 

CP link

Every control point can be linked to another node, e.g. to animate a point's position. Normally, “Null” nodes are used for this purpose, but any other node will work as well. Simply click on “-” to open a node list.

CP handle smoothness

With “Smooth” both tangents are affected while moving a single handle. When you switch to “Broken” the tangents can be edited separately.

CP handle weighting

When set to “Even” both tangents have the same influence on the spline's curvature. With “Uneven” the tangents' influence is treated individually.