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Learn Blender Simulations the Right Way
Learn Blender Simulations the Right Way

Learn Blender Simulations the Right Way: Transform your artistic vision into stunning, realistic simulations with Blender 4.0 , Second Edition

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Profile Icon Stephen Pearson
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Learn Blender Simulations the Right Way

An Introduction to Mantaflow

Over the past five years, Blender has surged in popularity by an extraordinary margin. With the introduction of version 2.8 in July 2019 came a whole lot of new users wanting to learn what this free open source program is all about. More users are coming in every day, and in 2022, Blender was downloaded over 17 million times, plus another 1.6 million times from other sources such as Microsoft Store, Steam, and Snap!

This software includes the entire 3D workflow of creating 3D models, texturing, animation, rigging, compositing, motion tracking, game design, video editing, and, of course, the topic of this book, simulating physics! We will be covering all the simulations that Blender has to offer, starting with the liquid and smoke simulations.

Creating a liquid or smoke simulation in Blender is complicated and sometimes quite frustrating when you are just starting. From personal experience, trying to figure out how all the settings work in Blender...

Technical requirements

This chapter requires that you have Blender version 4.2 or above installed. To download Blender, visit www.blender.org.

You can find the assets for this chapter in this book’s GitHub repository: https://github.com/PacktPublishing/Learn-Blender-4-Simulations-the-Right-Way/tree/main/Chapter%201.

What is Mantaflow?

Mantaflow is the framework in Blender for simulating gas and liquid. Mantaflow was introduced in Blender 2.82 and has seen many updates since then. It was first developed back in 2009 at the ETH Computer Graphics Laboratory. Now, it’s being maintained and developed by the Thuerey group at the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

In Blender version 2.81 and below, the smoke and fluid simulations were two completely different things, and they weren’t very compatible with each other. When 2.82 came out, the Blender developers removed these two simulations and introduced Mantaflow. This was a much better system because it combined both the fluid and smoke simulations into one.

To enable Mantaflow on an object, you need to head over to the Physics properties area (it will look like a circle with a dot in the middle) and select Fluid:

 Figure 1.1 – Blender’s Physics properties area

Figure 1.1 – Blender’s Physics properties area

Don’t get confused...

Gas and liquid simulations

You’ve seen me throw around the terms gas, liquid, and fluid, but what are the differences? As mentioned previously, Fluid is used to describe the entire simulation. Inside the simulation, there are two options to choose from:

  • Gas: Used to create things such as smoke, fire, or airborne solids
  • Liquid: Used to simulate things such as water or honey

Let’s talk about each one separately so that you can understand the differences between them and how each one works.

Gas simulations

Gas simulations allow you to create smoke and fire in Blender. But what can you do with it? Well, you can combine fire and smoke to create a massive explosion. Other examples might include a flame thrower, campfire, steam, mist, or fog.

Figure 1.2 – Flame thrower example

Figure 1.2 – Flame thrower example

There so are many things that you can create, and the possibilities are almost endless. The following figure shows what we will learn to...

What you need to create a simulation

In short, there are two things you will always need for a Mantaflow simulation, as follows:

  • A domain object
  • A flow object

We will look at each in more detail, along with effectors, which are not mandatory but are still useful.

Domain objects

A domain object is the container for the entire simulation. No gas or liquid will be allowed outside this domain. When the simulation gets close to the edge, it will either collide or disappear, depending on what setting you have set.

The bigger the domain, the more resolution you will need

This will cause the simulation to bake longer. A general rule is to have the domain just big enough to fit the simulation.

The domain object is always going to be the shape of a cube. Even if the domain isn’t a cube, the simulation will treat it as one and will simulate outside the original mesh:

 Figure 1.8 – Domain example

Figure 1.8 – Domain example

The sphere in this...

Creating your first simulation

Now that we understand what creating a Mantaflow simulation in Blender looks like, let’s create one together. In this section, we will go through the entire process of creating a fire simulation in Blender; this process will include doing the following:

  • Adding the objects
  • Creating the simulation
  • Creating a material for the fire
  • Setting up the camera
  • Rendering the animation

This may sound like a lot but don’t get overwhelmed. I will be going through every step, and together, we will create something awesome! This section is aimed at beginners, but it also assumes you have basic knowledge of Blender’s interface and how to use it.

With that out of the way, let’s get started!

Adding the objects

Let’s start by adding the objects we will need in the scene. Remember, we need a domain object and a flow object for every simulation. With the default scene open in Blender, we already have...

Summary

If you have never touched Mantaflow simulations in Blender until today, congratulations on making it through this chapter and creating your first fire simulation!

We covered quite a few topics in this chapter, so let’s recap! First, we learned what Mantaflow is and how it was introduced to Blender. We looked at what creating a simulation is about and the two types to choose from – gas and liquid. We also covered all the objects you can add to your simulations – that is, domains, flows, and effectors.

After that, we worked together and created an awesome fire simulation. Using Mantaflow can be a bit challenging at times but, hopefully, this chapter gave you a clear understanding and a boost of confidence to go and create simulations!

I encourage you to open Blender and try to create a simulation and have fun with it! You can do something interesting such as setting a custom text object on fire and having the color of the flames be purple! Or you...

Join our community on Discord

Join our community’s Discord space for discussions with the author and other readers: https://packt.link/learn-blender-simulations-discord-invite

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Key benefits

  • Gain in-depth knowledge of each physics-based simulation that Blender has to offer
  • Construct advanced fire, smoke, and liquid animations using Blender’s built-in Mantaflow system
  • Create nine different realistic animations with step-by-step guides using every simulation in Blender
  • Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Description

Ready to unleash the power of visual effects? From explosive movie scenes to mind-bending game animations, this second edition pushes Blender 4.0+ beyond what you thought possible. Featuring a brand-new chapter on combining multiple simulations for a burning effect and updated guidance on rendering with EEVEE, this book takes your Blender expertise to new heights. While Blender excels in 3D modeling and animation, this guide focuses specifically on VFX, helping you master realistic simulations using EEVEE and Cycles. You'll explore five physics-based simulations—Fluid, Rigid Body, Soft Body, Cloth, and Dynamic Paint—learning essential settings, troubleshooting techniques, and practical workflows. Through nine hands-on projects, including fire, waterfalls, and explosions, you’ll develop the skills to create stunning digital effects. Written by a VFX specialist who has taught thousands through best-selling courses, this book will help you build an impressive portfolio of professional-quality VFX projects in Blender and bring your creative visions to life!

Who is this book for?

This book is for VFX artists, 3D artists, game designers, and Blender artists who want to improve their skill set and learn all about the wonderful world of computer-generated physics simulations. Having a good grasp of the Blender interface is necessary to get started.

What you will learn

  • Create a realistic campfire simulation with sparks and motion blur
  • Simulate a chaotic explosion using smoke, fire, and particle effects
  • Implement Fluid simulation for a waterfall with waves and foam
  • Use the Soft Body system to simulate a sphere moving through obstacles
  • Apply Cloth physics to animate a waving flag attached to a pole with ropes
  • Master the Rigid Body system to create a Rube Goldberg machine-like animation
  • Animate painting effects and raindrops using Dynamic Paint
  • Combine multiple simulation effects to create a burning effect animation
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Length: 412 pages
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Language : English
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Table of Contents

21 Chapters
Part 1: Using Mantaflow for Fire, Smoke, and Fluids Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Mantaflow Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 2: Understanding Domains, Flows, and Effectors Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 3: Creating a Realistic Campfire Simulation Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 4: Creating a Waterfall Using Mantaflow Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 5: Creating a Realistic Explosion Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 2: Simulating Physics with Soft Bodies and Cloth Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 6: Getting Started with Soft Bodies Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 7: Creating a Soft Body Obstacle Course Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 8: An Introduction to Cloth Simulations Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 9: Creating a Realistic Flag Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 3: Diving into Rigid Bodies Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 10: An Introduction to Rigid Bodies Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 11: Creating a Rigid Body Physics Course Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 4: Understanding Dynamic Paint in Blender Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 12: An Introduction to Dynamic Paint Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 13: Creating a Paintbrush Effect Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 14: Creating a Raindrop Effect Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 15: Creating a Burning-Up Effect Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
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