fractal particle maker?

bugo

Hey guys, I wonder if there's a node based or any softwares that create a fractal particle, or billboard easy maker?

For an example, smoke set, fire set, etc.

I don't want to test the particles, I want just to create a type of particle/image.

Thanks

bugo

There's Houdini I know, but anything easier?

Ben Apuna

Smoke and Fire? Just saw this the other day for Blender 2.5, haven't done it myself though so I can't say how easy it is.

http://cg.tutsplus.com/tutorials/blender/introduction-to-smoke-simulation-in-blender-2-5-day-1/

http://cg.tutsplus.com/tutorials/blender/introduction-to-smoke-simulation-in-blender-2-5-day-2/

http://cg.tutsplus.com/tutorials/blender/introduction-to-smokefire-simulation-in-blender-2-5-day-3/

http://cg.tutsplus.com/tutorials/blender/introduction-to-smokefire-simulation-in-blender-2-5-day-4/

http://cg.tutsplus.com/tutorials/blender/blender_simulation__smoke_fire_particle_fx_rendering_pt5/

EDIT:

I've also heard good things about XSI ICE, but I don't know any more than that.

http://vimeo.com/3017933

EDIT2:

More blender tutorials:

http://www.blendernation.com/2010/09/01/blender-2-5-particle-tutorials/

Ark

Bugo you use Maya right? Mayas fluid solver can create stuff like fire and smoke if you put a bit of effort into tweaking it.

Mark Dygert

Max Maya XSI? Can you use plug-ins like FumeFX, Thinking Particles, Rayfire, RealFlow? Krakatoa to get it all running quickly, loop-able and reversible.

FumeFX is great at smoke and fire and probably the easiest way to create those effects.
Thinking Particles is great for applying rules to particles.
Rayfire is great at breaking things.
RealFlow is great at liquids.
Krakatoa is Bobo's proof that he loves us all. (not our bobo but the scripting genius)

Once you have the effect created its normally a straight forward process to render it out and apply it to facing planes. Both Max and Maya have facing billboard particle types if you want to work with them in the app(s). If you just want the sequences you're pretty much stuck working out the effect with whatever tools and techniques are available to you.

Personally I love Particle Flow in Max but you can do most of what your asking a handful of other ways in other apps too.

bugo

Hey Ark, yes, I use Maya, i just want more variations then whatever Max, Maya offers.

Thanks everyone, I will check all of these tonight!

Eric Chadwick

You just want to create the particle texture itself? Painting is super-quick. You could also look for add-on procedural textures (like DarkTree for Max) if that floats your boat.

bugo

Thanks Eric, yeah, i want to kinda have a nodebased way of doing sprites, kinda like air substance does or houdini, but cheaper or faster. Probably doesn't exist... but thanks everyone, there's some choices here, and I will check it out.

ZacD

XSI has a great node based system.
http://www.i3dtutorials.com/tutorial/52_working-with-ice

Eric Chadwick

Filter Forge also might float your boat.
http://www.filterforge.com/filters/6943.html
Though you need to plunk down at least $249 to make your own.

commander_keen

If you plan on making some kind of particle animation and rendering it to be used as a single screen facing sprite, that looks very cheap. You should be creating particle animations in engine and just use static textures, or very simple flipbook animations. Both of those can be painted in photoshop without much trouble, as Eric said.

bugo

Commander_keen: Well yeah! But some of the particles I need to do I wont have the time to just paint on them even because I was doing that until now. I do need some animations but I don't have the time to keep paiting for such a small thing.

There you go Eric, exactly what I needed! I'll check this one out tonight!

Eric Chadwick

Filter Forge doesn't support animation though, at least not without a lot of work (manually change a parameter each frame, render, save, repeat).

Hahah, even the developer himself suggests Dark Tree!
http://www.filterforge.com/forum/read.php?FID=9&TID=500&MID=2698&sphrase_id=100644#message2698

Eric Chadwick

Hey, saw this and thought of you. See the "Special Effects" section.
http://www.indievision.org/?p=204