Field 2D Root
Updated: 12 Aug 2025
The root node for a 2D Field system
Field 2D Root
Method #
This node is the root node and container for any 2D Field system. Field Emitters, Affectors, Colliders, and Rendering nodes should be parented to this node directly or indirectly in order to be operational.
A 2D Field system is built from a pixel grid, containing various kinds of information such as colour, velocity, temperature, and more. Each pixel runs a fluid simulation, where the data in each pixel contributes to the how the simulation behaves. 2D Fields are optimised for 2D and runs a bit faster than you might expect. This does mean some emitters and affectors which run in 2D might not work in 3D, and vice versa.
As the Root node, it contains a number of controls that are globally effective across the system, and can have wide ranging effects on the simulation. With Fields in particular, much of the motion and shape of the simulation is derived from the simulation properties, therefore familiarity with the settings below is a must for adept use of a field system. The resolution is especially important in this case, as it has a great influence over both performance and the resulting quality. Keeping square pixels, and matching the resolution of the field to the output required is strongly advised.
The Field 2D root can be used in 3D space throught the Field 2D Renderer, which renders the Field as an unlit 2D surface, or alternatively by connecting the output to a material, where the output can be used within a PBR workflow.
Parameters
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
Parameter Details Position X
The objects position along the local x-axis.
Position Y
The objects position along the local y-axis.
Position Z
The objects position along the local z-axis.
Rotation Heading
The objects rotation around the local y-axis.
Rotation Pitch
The objects rotation around the local x-axis.
Rotation Bank
The objects rotation around the local z-axis.
Scale X
The objects scale along the local x-axis.
Scale Y
The objects scale along the local y-axis.
Scale Z
The objects scale along the local z-axis.
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
Parameter Details Position
Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent.
Rotation
Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent.
Scale
Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent.
World Position Only
Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties.
Inherit Time
Toggle inheritance of time from the parent.
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
Parameter Details Bake Now..
Cache the field system to file.
Width
Width resolution of the field system.
Height
Height resolution of the field system.
Colour Fade
How quickly the colour/ink fades.
Velocity Dampening
The rate at which velocity is reduced over time.
Lock Update Rate
Set a defined update rate.
Locked Update Framerate
Set the frame rate if “Lock Update Rate” is selected.
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
Visualised the velocity field, showing what forces are impacting the field.
Velocity Resolution
Set the resolution of the velocity calculations as a percentage of the field resolution.
Advect Mode
Method by which the advection of properties from one cell to another is calculated.
- Maccormack : Higher detail, less performant. Adds an error correction step to preserve detail
- Simple : More performant, less detail.
Advect Substeps
Amount of advection calculations performed per frame.
Field Cache
Select a cached field system file to use for cached playback.
Cache Playback Speed
Speed at which to playback the cached file.
Cache Playback Time Offset
Amount to offset the start point of the cached file.
Inputs
These properties control the 3D transforms of the node. Transforms will generally be inherited by child nodes, although they can be ignored through the Inherit Transform Channels attributes.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position X | The objects position along the local x-axis. |
| Position Y | The objects position along the local y-axis. |
| Position Z | The objects position along the local z-axis. |
| Rotation Heading | The objects rotation around the local y-axis. |
| Rotation Pitch | The objects rotation around the local x-axis. |
| Rotation Bank | The objects rotation around the local z-axis. |
| Scale X | The objects scale along the local x-axis. |
| Scale Y | The objects scale along the local y-axis. |
| Scale Z | The objects scale along the local z-axis. |
Control the inheritance of the transforms from the parent.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Toggle inheritance of the Position from the parent. |
| Rotation | Toggle inheritance of the Rotation from the parent. |
| Scale | Toggle inheritance of the Scale from the parent. |
| World Position Only | Inherit the world position from the parent only, rotation and scale will be ignored. Overrides above properties. |
| Inherit Time | Toggle inheritance of time from the parent. |
These properties control the core behaviours of the node.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Bake Now.. | Cache the field system to file. |
| Width | Width resolution of the field system. |
| Height | Height resolution of the field system. |
| Colour Fade | How quickly the colour/ink fades. |
| Velocity Dampening | The rate at which velocity is reduced over time. |
| Lock Update Rate | Set a defined update rate. |
| Locked Update Framerate | Set the frame rate if “Lock Update Rate” is selected. |
| 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 | Visualised the velocity field, showing what forces are impacting the field. |
| Velocity Resolution | Set the resolution of the velocity calculations as a percentage of the field resolution. |
| Advect Mode |
Method by which the advection of properties from one cell to another is calculated.
|
| Advect Substeps | Amount of advection calculations performed per frame. |
| Field Cache | Select a cached field system file to use for cached playback. |
| Cache Playback Speed | Speed at which to playback the cached file. |
| Cache Playback Time Offset | Amount to offset the start point of the cached file. |
| Name | Description | Typical Input |
|---|---|---|
| Bounding Box | Bounding box input to define boundary of field system. | Bounding Box |
| Transform Modifiers | Apply the transforms of another node to this node. | Null |
| Target Node | Modifiy the rotations of the node to always direct the z axis towards the input. | Null |
| Local Transform Override | Apply the transforms of another node to this node, relative to its parent. | Null |