Maya - Can I create a still flame with dynamics?

Mathew O

Hi guys,

I'm trying to create fire that will stay still during an animation, like a freeze frame. I can get it working if I use the flame.ma from fluid examples in the visor and then detach time in the connection editor. This works perfectly until I close the file and then re-open it again.

I assume cache'ing might have something to do with it but I don't understand dynamics at all....

r_fletch_r

have you tried connecting time to something else with a constant value?

Mathew O

Ah yeah I just tried that and it worked until I closed the scene and re-opened it again I think it's basically forgetting what the simulation actually looked like at the point i'm freezing it...

MikeF

i'd say try doing a cache, then split the animation at the desired frame using the trax editor

Mathew O

Sorry to sound like a fool but how on earth would I go about any of that?

Mathew O

Ok I think I have figured it all out and I'm pretty sure it's worked perfectly, just testing now. Thanks guys

Mathew O

Ok so I'm having one more little issue with the flame in my scene that I was hoping you guys might have a fix for?

Basically the flame looks fine until there's nothing behind it and then it's so transparent that you can barely see it... here's an image so you know what I mean.