Layers: Icon Bar

Owned by thomas (Unlicensed)
Last updated: 30 Aug, 2016
3 min read

Some functions need at least one existing and selected layer, some also accept multi-selections of layers. Inactive buttons are greyed out.

Common Icons

There are identical icons for the → “Visibility” and → “Simulation” tabs. These functions are also accessible via right-click menus:



Show | Edit layer members (A)

This function opens a node browser where the members of the selected layer are highlighted:

  • You can multi-select or deselect nodes to add/remove them to/from the current layer.
  • If these nodes have different attributes, for example different visibility states, then “Visible” will be changed to “Multiple”.
  • Under “Simulation” the principle is the same: layer members with different “Export Data” or “Simulation status” settings are set to “Multiple”.
Select layer members (B)

Select the members of a layer in the "Nodes" panel, the “Relationship Editor”, and the viewport simultaneously.

Add selected nodes to selected layers (C)

When you click on this icon, the selected nodes will be added to the currently activated layer.

Add new layer (D)

Here you can add a new empty layer.

Add new layer with selected nodes (E)

Create a new layer from the current node selection.

Delete layer (F)

Remove a layer without further confirmation. This action can be undone.

Move selected layer up (G) | Move selected layer down (H)

Click on this button until the selected layer has reached the desired list position.

Visibility Icons

These icons are used to manage shading modes and visibility:



Set selected Visible (A) | Set selected Hidden (B)

Show and hide the members of a layer in the viewport:

  • With “Multiple”, the nodes have different settings.
  • To unify the layer member's states click on the appropriate icon.
Set selected Bounding Box (C) | Wireframe (D) | Flat Shaded (E) | Smooth Shaded (F)

Change the shading mode for all members of the layer at once:

  • With “Multiple”, the nodes have different settings.
  • To unify the layer member's states click on the appropriate icon.
Set Selected Render with Maxwell Render (G) | Set Selected Hidden from Maxwell Render (H)

These buttons are used to make a layer's nodes visible to the Maxwell Render engine, or hide them:

  • With “Multiple”, the nodes have different settings.
  • To unify the layer member's states click on the appropriate icon.

Simulation Icons

These icons are used to change the current simulation state and the export options:



Set selected Active (A) | Inactive (B) | Cache (C)
  • With “Active” a node will be able contribute to the simulation.
  • An “Inactive” node appears dimmed and is disabled.
  • The “Cache” mode allows you to read already-simulated elements and use them for further interactions without re-simulating them, e.g. in other scenes.
Export data of selected (D) | Do not export data of selected (E)

Each RealFlow node has its own data file formats and export resources – they are managed under → “Export Central”. With large amounts of nodes it is more time-saving to layers. This feature also supports multi-layer selections so you can enable and disable even more resources on the fly.