Notch Reference Manual

Field Root

Method

The field root node controls the physical dimensions and density of the voxel grid as well as its simulation properties.

Setting the “Up-Res Distance Field” parameter will run the density data at twice the width, height and depth of the velocity data. This typically allows for a more detailed visual result for the simulation, but without as great an increase in memory usage and impact on frame rate as running the whole field at twice the width, height and depth.

Transform

Name Description
Position X Move its position along the x-axis in local space.
Position Y Move its position along the y-axis in local space.
Position Z Move its position along the z-axis in local space.
Rotation Heading Rotate the object about the y-axis.
Rotation Pitch Rotate the object about the x-axis.
Rotation Bank Rotate the object about the z-axis.
Scale X Scale along the x-axis.
Scale Y Scale along the y-axis.
Scale Z Scale along the z-axis.

Inherit Transform Channels

Toggle which transform channels should be inherited. By default, all are on.

Attributes

Name Description
Width Pixel resolution of the field horizontally.
Height Pixel resolution of the field vertically.
Depth Changes how much resolution the depth of the field has.
Colour Fade How quickly the colour/ink fades.
Velocity Dampening How fast the velocities are dampened.
Temperature Dampening How fast the temperature values are dampened.
Updraft Velocity How quickly higher temperatures move upwards.
Lock Update Rate Locks the update rate of the field to a particular frame rate.
Locked Update Framerate Set the frame rate at which the field simulation is updated. Only functions with “Lock Update Rate” enabled.
Wrap Update At Edges Allow ink and velocities to wrap around from the edges. i.e. velocities at the right edge can push through to left.
Clear Every Frame Clears the ink and velocities of the field every frame. This means affectors will no longer function if connected to this node.
Visualise Field Generates an optical flow image, and renders it to the veiwport.
Density Field Mode Change how field density is visualised and simulated.
  • Colours, various colours from each emitter are generated into the field.
  • Densities, Only the alpha values from the field are emitted into the field.
  • Densities and Temperatures, Only the alpha values are used, and temperature values are simulated in the field.
Upres Density Field When enabled, the Density field will be double in resolution, but the velocity field remain the same size. This will give much greater clarity to the image, with a smaller impact on performance.
Solver Shader Ability to over-ride internal shader. See writing custom shaders.

Inputs

Name Description Typical Node Input
Bounding Box Bounding box beyond which fields are killed. Bounding Box
Transform Modifier Links all transform properties to the input node. Null
Target Node Always faces the x-axis towards the inputs anchor point. Null
Local Transform Override Override the transformation values of the node, relative to its parent. Null

Outputs

Fields can output into Particle Systems using the Particle Field Affector. Fields can also output their field velocities to other fields using the Field Affector, and can also output their colour values to other field systems using the Field Emitter.