Chaos Group Phoenix FD 4.0 for 3ds Max and Maya

Chaos Group has released Phoenix FD 4.0, the next major update to its fluid simulation software for 3ds Max and Maya. The update adds support for basic rigid body dynamics, a new texture co-ordinate system, new particle and voxel tuners for modifying simulations, and a standalone viewer for simulation caches.

In addition, the 3ds Max edition has been integrated with thinkingParticles, cebas’s physics particles plugin.

Both editions: new rigid body solver, TexUVW channel and pixel and voxel tuners.

New features common to both editions of Phoenix FD include a new rigid body solver node, described as providing “basic” rigid body support. In the initial implementation, rigid bodies can interact with fluid simulations, but not with one another.

The update also adds a new Texture UVW channel that moves with a fluid simulation, making it possible to map textures to the fluid surface at render time, including colour, opacity and displacement.

Other key changes include new tuners for controlling simulations on a per-pixel or per-voxel basis. Users can delete particles, modify any particle channel value, or modify grid channel values based on “values, textures or distance to meshes”.

Outside the core application, Chaos Group has added a standalone viewer for AUR, VDB and F3D simulation caches, described as “much faster” than the native viewport previews. The viewer shows both the voxels of a simulation and a new preview of velocity streamlines.

In addition, both 3ds Max and Maya editions have been decoupled from V-Ray, Chaos Group’s production renderer, making it possible to load Phoenix FD and run a simulation without V-Ray installed. As well as the features listed above, the Maya edition gets a new Foam Texture for use with the Phoenix FD Ocean Texture.

Phoenix FD 4.0 for 3ds Max and Maya — Available now


Phoenix FD is an all-in one solution for fluid dynamics. Simulate fire, smoke, liquids, ocean waves, splashes, spray, mist and more. Built for 3D artists who want to create dynamic FX using quick presets, fast setup and intuitive controls. Preview and render interactively in the viewport. Adjust simulations on the fly. Create all types of physically-based fluid effects with fast, flexible controls for rendering, retiming and refining simulations. Integrated seamlessly into 3ds Max and optimized to render with V-Ray. Compatible with top industry tools such as Alembic, Krakatoa, Stoke MX and OpenVDB.

In these videos covers the basic workflow for creating a basic liquid simulation in Phoenix FD for 3ds Max and Maya, using both a toolbar preset, and then again manually, step-by-step for good measure. By the end of it, you will be able to create your own liquid simulation, understand how the simulation interacts with other objects, and know the basics of editing a number of primary settings for a sim.



Chaos Group is a worldwide leader in computer graphics technology, helping artists and designers create photoreal imagery and animation for design, television, and feature films. Chaos Group specializes in physically-based rendering and simulation software used daily by top design studios, architectural firms, advertising agencies, and visual effects companies around the globe. Today, the company's research and development in cloud rendering, material scanning, and virtual reality is shaping the future of creative storytelling and digital design. Founded in 1997, Chaos Group is privately owned with offices in Sofia, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Product: Chaos Group Phoenix FD
Version: 4.00.00
Supported Architectures: x64
Website Home Page : www.chaosgroup.com
Language: english
System Requirements: PC *
Supported Operating Systems: *
Software Prerequisites: *
Size: 1.2 Gb